Page 104 of Frosting and Flames

“Rachel.” Her shoulders are rigid, lips pressed into a thin line. “Tell me the truth. Please. Even…” She loses her hard edge for a moment. “Even though I don’t deserve it.”

I sigh, tugging on the ends of my ponytail. If it were me, I would want to know. I never want to be as naive as I once was. “Kyle’s approached me twice in the last couple of weeks. Saying—”

“I haven’t said anything,” he insists, but Autumn doesn’t pay him a lick of attention.

“Saying he misses me,” I continue, even though I hate seeing her crestfallen expression. “And that he wants to make up for things.” I won’t add anything else.

“Autumn, baby.” Kyle takes her hands in his. “Who are you going to believe? Her? Or me?”

I hold up my hands, backing away. “Like I said, I don’t want to get involved. I wish you all the best, Autumn.”

I make my escape before I can get roped into any more of their drama and make a beeline for the face painting table. My heart is pounding from the awkward confrontation as I sidestep others, hoping I don’t appear too crazed.

Jae is finishing up with Mandy Wilkerson’s daughter, dabbing glitter onto the butterfly she drew on her face. A burble of hysterical laughter escapes me at the sight of Nick’s ex, and I tamp it down hastily. At least Mandy and Nick are ancient history, unlike all this stupid shit Kyle is putting me through.

I loiter to the side, giving Mandy and the little girl a friendly smile when they finally stroll away, and scramble to fill the vacated seat in front of Jae before someone else wants their face painted.

Jae’s smile fades as she catches my expression. “What happened?”

I almost drag my hands through my hair before remembering it’s in a ponytail. A feral part of me wants to tear the hair tie out and yank at the strands until they rip out. “I ran into Autumn.”

Her face twists in sympathy and I hold up a staying hand.

“She apologized for sleeping with Kyle. Said he had told her we’d broken up.”

She purses her lips in judgment. “Do you believe her?”

“I… do. She seemed genuine. Mostly, I feel sorry for her.”

“Well, duh. I feel sorry for anyone stuck with him.”

“Okay, but it gets worse. Kyle comes rushing up and starts spinning some story about how I’m the one trying to get back together with him.”

Her mouth falls open. “No.” She stands, scanning the crowd. “When I get hold of him—”

“You’re not doing anything,” I tell her, pulling her back down. “I told her the truth. I think she believed me, but I got out of there before they could drag me into any more of their problems.”

Jae’s jaw tics, but she doesn’t continue on her Kyle tirade. “You okay?”

I let out a shaky breath, some of the tension unwinding now that I’ve told someone. “I shouldn’t even care. But seeing Kyle like that, trying to manipulate her… I don’t know. It’s unfair he continues to get away with things.”

“Maybe Autumn won’t buy his b.s.”

I shrug. “Maybe.” I get up as a dad and son approach the table to make room for them. “I’ll talk to you about it tomorrow. Come by the bakery?”

She nods and greets the boy, asking which design he’d like, and I slip away. I need to check on the chili contestants, anyway.

Everything is going swimmingly with the chili, and the fire chief’s bubbling pot smells particularly divine. No offense to Nick, but I don’t think he’ll be winning this contest.

I give him a smile but don’t linger to talk. If I do, I’ll never finish making my rounds of all the different stations.

I only make it halfway to the stage area where the band is taking a break, though, before someone grabs my elbow. I jerk back instinctively, looking up at Kyle’s flushed face, his hair mussed.

“I hope you’re happy,” he hisses. “Autumn’s not talking to me now.”

I manage to extricate myself from his hold, rubbing my elbow. “Leave me alone.”

He blocks my way when I try to move past him, and I huff in annoyance.

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