Page 24 of Baking Battles

MATTIAS: Why is everyone threatening me today? And why the hell am I still a contestant? I was supposed to get voted off first?

DANIJEL: Shut up and ring Christopher. I won’t reply to that other crap.

The phone goes blank, not even a speech bubble forming on the screen.

MATTIAS: Hi Christopher, it’s Mattias.I’m sorry. Can you please, please just talk to me? Please.

There are too many pleases in that sentence, but he still sends it. Shuddering lightly with nerves.

The reply makes him jump.

CHRISTOPHER: I’m not sure that’s a good idea.

MATTIAS: Can you at least tell me where you are? Are you staying with Isolde? She absolutely hates me, and I need to know why.

CHRISTOPHER: I’m being all adult and responsible, staying in a proper hotel.

MATTIAS: Oh.

He feels like an idiot sending that, but he can’t havethat. He knows how much Christopher hates staying on his own. In hotels. He has kind of told him that, quite a few times.

MATTIAS: Please come over. Please come and stay with me.

CHRISTOPHER: Your daughter is with you this week, so I can’t.

MATTIAS: Bullshit. She’s two. She’s awesome, and asleep. Just come and stay on my shit sofa. Please.

CHRISTOPHER: It’s not fair. Not on you, not on your kid and not on me. Please just leave me alone and good luck tomorrow. I’m sure that you will do well.

MATTIAS: Iwilldo well tomorrow, but I will do better if I know that you are okay, and YOU will do better when you have slept.

CHRISTOPHER: Don’t pretend you care when you don’t.

MATTIAS: I do care. If I didn’t care, I would be sitting here nursing a beer and watching the hockey, instead of trying to see if I can pinpoint down where you are, so I can come and get you.

CHRISTOPHER: Lies. You have your daughter there. You are not going anywhere, and I am going to try to go to sleep so I can do my job tomorrow.

MATTIAS: Try me. Where are you Christopher?

CHRISTOPHER: Why Mattias? Why would I?

MATTIAS: Where. Are. You?

CHRISTOPHER: So damn bossy.

Christopher Pedersen shared his location with you.

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