Page 67 of Exposed

Hopefully James was actually going to help me with the planning. Because apparently Tanner only knew how to throw orgies. And I wanted my proposal to be perfect this time around.

Chapter 24

Tuesday

Brooklyn

I’d texted Kennedy, asking if she’d mind if Jacob and I invaded their practice. She said she couldn’t wait to see us.

But I knew she was hurting. I knew she’d fallen for Matt. Honestly, I knew exactly how she felt. Because Matt had broken my heart before too.

A part of me wanted to just stay home and bake more cupcakes with my new assistant. Nigel had been here all day with us. And even though he sampled as much as Jacob, he was much more helpful in the kitchen.

The timer went off and Nigel scrambled off the counter to pull out the most recent batch. Yes, he was sitting on the counter with Jacob. I tried to tell him he could sit in a normal chair, but he wouldn’t hear of it.

Nigel pulled on his oven mitts and grabbed the tray. “Perfection, mademoiselle,” he said and smiled at me. “Time to taste test!” He hoisted himself back onto the counter and grabbed a cookie for himself and Jacob.

“Wait until you try Mommy’s cuppycakes,” Jacob said. “They’re delicioso.”

“You’re a fan of the fine art of language, Mr. Jacob? My Spanish is rusty. But I can teach you French.”

“Sí.”

“It’s oui in French,” Nigel said.

Jacob nodded. “Oui.”

Honestly, Jacob learning yet another language didn’t sound great to me. I didn’t even know all the words he’d started using in Spanish. But I was happy that the two of them were getting along.

“It’ll have to wait though,” Nigel said. “We must get to practice.”

“Oh, are you coming too?” I asked.

Nigel slid off the counter and turned the oven off. “Oui.”

“Oui!” Jacob yelled.

“They can’t practice without me,” Nigel said. “I’m the water boy.”

Somehow that made so much sense.

“And we mustn’t be late. I’ll drive. I don’t have the limo today though. We’ll have to take my Hummer. Are you ready, Mr. Jacob?”

“Sí oui!”

“We’ll work on it. Let’s wrap up these cookies for the hungry gents. Today I’m also the snack boy!”

I was nervous the whole ride over to Empire High. I hadn’t seen Kennedy and Matt together up close. What if they looked…right together? What if me showing up back here was just messing up Kennedy’s life all over again? I’d stayed away because I thought everyone was better off without me. I never intended to show up and cause chaos.

I wasn’t sure if I could walk away now though. It was selfish, but I wanted to be here. And I wanted Matt.

And Nigel’s driving didn’t help my nerves. He was a freaking crazy driver. I swear he drove through two red lights within two minutes.

“Nigel!” I yelled as he sped up and switched lanes without a signal.

“What?”

“Slow down! And obey traffic lights. And use your signal.”

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