Page 37 of The Cupcake Standard

I just stared at Derek’s friend, needing more of an explanation.

He sighed. “I had typical, demanding parents who expected me to be a doctor or lawyer. So I started college with a doctorate in mathematics in mind, right alongside Derek.” A wistful smile came over Bin’s face. “He is absolutely brilliant. The way his mind works is really something else. That project he’s been working on? Let me be the first to tell you, it’s going to change the shipping business as we know it.”

Wait, is that the same one he’d tried to tell his dad about today? That Rhonda interrupted?

“Anyway, we quickly discovered I wasn’t cut out for math. I wouldn’t have made it through the first semester if not for him. But I did have a knack for food and management. He saw my potential, talked me into using the inheritance I got from my grandfather as a down payment on this restaurant with him as a partner, and here we are.” He smiled as he looked around the place. “Business is good. We have reservations three months out for peak times on Friday and Saturday nights. And all because your boyfriend believed in me.”

I took my time watching Derek as he reappeared. The white knight is shining through again.

“He doesn’t usually drink like this either.”

My attention shifted back to Bin, who watched Derek with a sad smile.

“I can count on one hand the number of times he’s drunk more than he should have.” Bin’s eyes brimmed with sadness. “And they were all after run-ins with his parents.”

I thought of the hurt on Derek’s face as Rhonda talked over him, the way he’d shut down. I’d hoped my distraction and retaliation were enough, but evidently they hadn’t been.

“Oh no.” Bin cringed, putting a hand to his forehead. “I know that look.”

“What?” I turned to see Derek snapping his fingers to the faint music overhead.

Bin groaned. “He’s going to ask me to put on country. He wants to line dance. It’s his go-to when he gets drunk enough.”

This I have to see. “Is he any good?”

Bin just smiled as Derek yelled for him to change the station. He disappeared with an “I told you so.” When the chef reappeared, the music was cranked up, twang filling the air. Then Derek started to move.

Is there anything he’s not good at?

All he needed was the outfit, looking a bit out of place in his three-piece suit. But his movements? He was completely at home.

The song switched to one of country legend Piper Kensington’s famous hits, called Heartbreak Canyon. Derek’s head popped up, and he shot us a grin, sliding into the moves like they were second nature. My eyes were glued to his fluid body as he vined across the floor, scuffing his shoe before executing a perfectly timed kick. He looped his thumbs through his belt loops as he did several more complicated box steps.

Bewildered that Derek, who could hardly walk to the bathroom, was able to pull off this dance without a single misstep, I turned to Bin. “Where’d he learn to dance like that?”

Bin sobered. He kept his face away from Derek when he answered. “The Princess.” His words were low, quiet. “He was her favorite dance partner. She tried out all the new moves on him.” He glanced at Derek, then faced me once more. “She crushed him when she left. I don’t know if he’ll ever recover. Usually he switches the station when this song comes on.”

Stupid Princess. Anger at this phantom hit me right in the gut, and I went to ask more about her.

But Bin’s eyes widened, head swiveling once more in Derek’s direction. “Shit.” He fumbled in his pocket for his phone.

I frowned. “Are you recording him?”

He shook his head. “Just letting Liam know.”

“Why?”

Bin set his phone on the table, giving me a sidelong look. “You haven’t seen him drunk before, have you?” At the shake of my head, he said, “Liam needs a heads-up because someone will have to put him to bed tonight, and I doubt you’ll be able to do it alone.”

I mulled over Bin’s words as I watched Derek and listened to the song.

“You found me at the bottom,

Of Heartbreak Canyon where I lay.

You climbed down to rescue me,

From the dark into the light of day.

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