Page 57 of The Cupcake Standard

He mumbled something incoherent at the same time there was a knock at the door.

Gina frowned. “What?”

“He invited Liam over.”

“Oh.” Gina huffed as she found a glazed donut and poured herself a cup of coffee. “Whatever. No biggie.”

Her strained tone made me wince. It was too early for drama, and I glared at Derek again.

He shrugged as he rushed to open the door. “Hey, man.”

Liam slapped his shoulder as he walked by, giving me a grin and a hello. Then he faltered when he saw Gina. “Good morning,” he said, stiffly.

She slid the box of donuts a fingernail’s width in his direction. “Donut?”

“Thanks.” Liam grabbed a chocolate covered one with sprinkles, then shot her a teasing smirk. “What, no coffee?”

Gina gritted her teeth, and I stepped in before she could bite his head off.

“Liam, watch it.” I gave him a look that said I wasn’t kidding.

He sighed but shut his mouth, his eyes darting to Gina as he made his way over to fill a mug. He cleared his throat. “Actually, Gina, I’m glad you’re here.”

As one, we all turned to gape at him.

His gaze flicked between us before landing once more on her. He ran a hand up the back of his head. “I talked to Carla, and she likes a wine called Riesling or some shit. Since you work at a bar, maybe you’d have a recommendation of one I could pick up?”

My jaw could not have dropped any further.

Gina glanced at me, as if to make sure she’d heard him right. “Um, yeah. Actually, that’s one of my mom’s favorites, and a store not far from here sells some decent local ones. Want me to text them to you?”

Relief flooded Liam’s face. “That’d be great.” They exchanged phone numbers, and his phone dinged when Gina sent the brands through. “Thanks so much.”

A small smile played on Gina’s lips. “I hope she likes them.”

Awkward silence hovered between all of us, until Derek broke it by asking me, “You taking Greg today?”

It always amused me that we talked about Greg like he was a car we shared. “If that’s okay. Unless you need him?”

Derek shook his head. “No, he’s all yours. And I’ve got a tab going over at Club Pearl, so if you want to have lunch…”

I pretended to glare at him as I finished my bear claw. “You’re supposed to back off on the spoiling.” The last few drops of coffee stubbornly lingered in the bottom of the cup as I tipped it up. I stood to put my empty mug in the sink, but Derek wrapped a strong arm around my waist as I walked by pulling me onto his lap. I loved when we had company because we had to play the part of the couple madly in love.

He whispered in my ear as I tried to squirm away. “It’s the only way you’ll let me spoil you. And if Gina overhears, it practically guarantees you’ll have to take advantage of it.” With a loud, smacking kiss on my cheek, he released me.

I shot him a dirty look and stuck out my tongue. Surprising me, he put a hand to the back of my head, capturing my tongue with his own. My shock must have shown because he softened the kiss, his tongue retreating.

And I forgot to pretend.

The kiss turned into something beautiful, sweet. The kind of kiss in movies where the music swelled, and the heroine’s knees buckled beneath her as the white knight pulled away. I let myself slip into the role of the heroine, allowing Derek to become my fairy tale prince. A breathy moan escaped my lips, and I was just about to fling my arms around his neck, when he ruined it all by whispering, “Don’t forget to think about me naked.”

Because I need the reminder. I scowled, annoyed I’d let down my guard again, allowing myself to succumb to his spell for even the briefest of moments. It was definitely time to go.

Despite Gina’s protests that she hadn’t finished her donut, I dragged her out of the apartment, fuming the entire time. When I told her what the rush was all about, she laughed so hard tears came to her eyes.

“That’s just hilarious. And the fact he keeps rubbing it in your face? Girl, he wants you. Bad. Everyone commented on how cute you two were after you left that night we played pool.”

I wished that were true. I wish Princess wasn’t real, that fairy tales were and that Derek wanted me half as much as I want him. Hope kept knocking at my door, persistent and tenacious. But I kept sending her away, knowing nothing good could come of letting her in.

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