Page 55 of Baking and Angels

Helena sighed, leaning back on the bench. “I mean, there are worse ways they could have resolved it. It wasn’t technically a disqualification.”

“They should have done more than just give you your entry fee back,” Cindyinsisted.

“Like what?” Rafferty asked.

Cindy huffed out a breath. “I don’t know,” she admitted. “But they could have at least made a real attempt at apologizing.”

“I didn’t fulfill the challenge,” Rafferty said, closing his eyes. “What more is there to say? An apology would have meantnothing.”

“Why aren’t you more upset about this?” Cindy asked.

He shrugged. “There are more things in life that are far more unfair. It was fun, and it was free. I win either way.”

Helena shook her head. “I mean, let’s be honest, the whole setup was a mess. There are a ton of things I would do differently,” she countered, her gaze far off as she was imagining it while she ticked off her fingers. “If I was in charge of something like that… well for one thing there would be a whole lot more promotion. Guest commentators. Appropriate judging criteria. I would make sure all the equipmentworkedand have a recourse if it wasn’t. I mean there are just so many little details that could be taken care of that would make the whole experience so much better.”

Cindy looked at Rafferty again. “Are you okay with that Eleanor chick winning, though?” Cindyretorted.

“It was not her fault either. It just happened,” Helena said.

“It didn’t just happen,” Rafferty said as he glanced at Cindy. “You-know-who was there.”

“You-know-who?” Helena asked, looking quizzically. “You mean the agents?”

He met her gaze meaningfully. She gave him a little shake of her head. Sighing, he leaned forward and set his forehead to hers, quietly inviting her to take the memory. He would rather that than risk breaking his deal with the demon inquestion.

Helena understood that at least and touched her forehead to his.

“Okay, I’m going to the bathroom, you love birds,” Cindy said with wry humor. “Don’t let the train leave without me.”

They waited a few seconds for Cindy to disappear into the little field house, then Helena leaned back, his memory uneaten.

“It was Vassago, wasn’t it?”

Rafferty nodded.

“Damn it,” Helena cursed, “I thought I felt like something was wrong, but I couldn’t put my finger on it. It was that guy, the one who wouldn’t let you switch out your toaster oven.Hewas Vassago? What… what a jerk!”

Rafferty chuckled. “That is probably the mildest thing anyone has ever said about him.”

She shook her head. “And there isnothingwe can doabout it?”

“He kept his end of the deal. He did us no harm,” he pointed out.

“He sabotaged you! I would say that’s doing harm,” she argued.

Shrugging, Rafferty folded his arms. “Not really. He could have been the one that got you the entry fee back, resolving the issue. I wasn’t entitled to win, and there were no real consequences for menotwinning. It came out as neutral aspossible.”

“Cindy is right. You seem really chill about this,” Helena pressed, her ire cooling.

“If anything, I find it reassuring. If we hadn’t kept our end of the deal up to this point, he would not have been compelled to bend over backward to do the same. And besides, I still had fun.” He smiled so hard it made his face hurt. “I still feel like I won.”

Helena laid her head on his shoulder. “I’m glad. Now I just need to finish figuring out how towin, too.”

“What would winning look like for you?”he asked.

“I want to do it,” she said, her voice soft and intense. “I want to run one of these events, but I want to do itright.” She straightened and dug out her phone. “I was looking at the organization’s website. Anyone can host one of these, they just have to register it, and Scarlet Promotions could do this if I can convince Scarlet not togive up.”

He nodded. “I see what you’re trying to do.”

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