Page 165 of With Us

Jerk.

When my only response was a glare, he added, “I’m going to go out on a limb and say cake decorating wasn’t for you.”

“What was the tip off?”

“Lucky guess.”

I was covered in frosting dye. There was fondant under my fingernails. And in my hair.

And I was pretty sure down my shirt.

My disaster of a cake had collapsed into such an unsalvageable mess, I hadn’t even bothered to try to take it home.

Once the decision was set in my mind to stay with Theo, I’d spent two weeks trying baking classes. I’d set my cake on fire the first class. The following week, my cake had exploded over the edge of the pans and created a foul-smelling mess. After that, I’d decided to skip the baking portion and go right to decorating.

I loved pretty cakes. But that love hadn’t translated into any sort of skill.

“I think Theo has a new idea,” Ben said, heading toward home. “I’m supposed to take you there, so you may want to text to let him know you’re going for a change of clothes first.”

“Good thinking.”

Me:Stopping home to change. I decorated myself more than the cake.

Theo:I wish you would come here so I can lick you clean. But I’ll settle for seeing you soon.

I flushed at his words and almost considered asking Ben to just take me to Amaric. That would’ve required walking through the lobby with frosting hair, though, so I stuck with the plan.

“What’s his new idea?” I asked.

Ben shrugged. “No clue. But I overheard him sending Rosa to the store for whatever you needed.”

I didn’t doubt it. Rosa had assembled a long list of possible ways for me to pass the time. After a lot of consideration, I’d temporarily crossed going back to school off the list. It felt like I’d just stepped outside into the world. I didn’t want to close myself back up in a classroom yet.

For every idea I took away, it seemed like her and Theo added four more.

Looking at Ben, I put my hand to my chest and gave an exaggerated sigh. “Are you saying Theo somehow knew cake decorating wouldn’t be for me? I’m shocked.”

He glanced at me and raised his brows. “Maybe they should sign you up for acting class. I think you’re a natural.”

Adding a hand to my forehead, I leaned to the side toward the window. “Ugh, I’m wounded.” Once I got the eye roll and snort I was going for, I sat back up. “Fondant is evil.”

“You just need practice.”

“What I need is something that tastes good. I thought it would be delicious. Like if frosting and marshmallow had a baby. But it’s awful, and it collapsed my cake.”

“How did that happen?”

For the rest of the drive home, and most of the trip to Amaric, I detailed my disaster of a cake. By the time I got to describing the look of horror in the instructor’s eyes, Ben and I were both laughing to the point of tears.

“So cake will never be my thing to make, but it’ll always be my thing to eat,” I said as he pulled in front of the building.

“That’s the best part anyway.”

“Are you not coming in?”

Ben shook his head. “Friday is fight night. I’ve got to go with Luc and make sure the location is set for tomorrow night.”

Remembering Julie’s tales, I made a mental note to ask Theo if we could go.

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