Page 4 of Sugar Lips

“You really think you’re going to win it, Jackson?”

“I mean, you guys aren’t going to let me hear the end of it if I don’t.”

She laughs. “You’re right about that.”

Back inside the studio, I find the other contestants hanging out in the green room, nibbling on the snacks that the show has provided for us. I sit at the edge of the group and don’t say much.

To borrow a cliché reality TV line, I’m not here to make friends.

As I sit there, though, listening to the others talk, I can’t help but sneak a glance at Elizabeth. Our hug is still lingering in my mind. Part of me wants to do it again, wants to know whether the same thing will happen a second time. The other part of me thinks: what’s the point? Even if there is some crazy kind of chemistry between us, it’s not like I’d ask her out. My life is too consumed by work. I’m at Coast practically all the time. It’s too hard to date with a job like mine.

The door to the green room opens up and a crew member with a headset on sticks her head into the room.

“Okay, guys,” she says. “We’re about to start up again.”

For round two,we’re tasked with baking a layer cake—the only two requirements being that it’s Halloween themed and that we integrate something surprising inside of it. As Ben announces the challenge, my mind immediately fills with all kinds of ideas: a big pumpkin cake filled with candied pumpkin seeds, a red velvet cake that oozes blood, a spider cake filled with hundreds of little spiders. But the one that I think will get the highest praise from the judges is a zombie head cake that will, when cut into, reveal a pest-infested brain.

As soon as Ben gives us the go ahead, I rush into the pantry to grab my supplies. With my speed, long legs, and decisiveness, I’m the first into the pantry and the first out. As soon as I get to my station, I set up everything the way I want it and get to work. For the next two hours, I’m laser-focused on making my zombie head cake, determined to make it the best damn zombie head cake that has ever been made.

When the buzzer sounds, I step back from my creation and wipe the sweat off my forehead. My cake looks damn good. It came out even better than I expected. Feeling satisfied, I glance around at my competitor’s creations. I’m not intimidated by any of them…except for one.

If you guessed it’s Elizabeth’s cake I’m impressed by, you would be right.

Elizabeth has used fondant to create a mummy cake that can actually beunwrapped. And not only that, but I soon find out, courtesy of the judges, that she’s got the flavors down this time, too.

“Holy Mother of God,” says Tati, covering her mouth with a cupped hand. “This is incredibly delicious, Elizabeth. Andsucha great concept.”

My chest grows tighter and tighter as the other two judges rave about it, too. Fuck. What if Elizabeth wins this damn bake-off? I can’t be beat by a home cook. It’s one thing to lose to another professional chef, but to lose to an amateur…the crew at Coast wouldneverlet me live that down.

Elizabeth thanks the judges and steps back into line, her face absolutely beaming. Paul goes next, and then Michael. Then it’s my turn. The judges are impressed by the zombie head, and they get a huge kick out of the brain inside.

“Really fantastic flavors, Jackson,” says Derek.

“And amazing presentation,” says Monica.

“Ilovethe eyeballs,” says Tati, popping the second one into her mouth. “They’re oozy and delicious.”

Then it’s time for the elimination ceremony. And, to be honest, I go into it with the expectation of being called first. I know I made a damn good cake.

It’s not my name that’s called first, though. It’s Elizabeth’s.

“Oh my God,” says Elizabeth, her hands flying to her mouth. “Seriously?”

“Seriously, Elizabeth,” says Monica, grinning. “Your mummy cake was incredible. We were all blown away by it.”

“And who is making it into the final round with Elizabeth, judges?” Ben asks.

The three judges look at each other. They nod. Then Derek clears his throat.

“That would be Jackson,” he says.

Thank fuck for that.

Chapter Three

Elizabeth

To say I’m excited about making it into the final round would be an understatement. I think I might even be in shock. I knew I had something special with that mummy cake, but...it wasthatgood? Really? And now all I have to do is outshine Jackson one more time?

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