Peter looks at us after a few moments, his expression thoughtful. “Is that cayenne?”
We nod.
“You certainly took a chance with that.” His frown deepens. “But I like it—it’s very subtle. If you’d used any more than that, it would have been overpowering.”
My heart decides it can beat again.
Alexandra agrees. “I like it as well. The sugar on top gives it a lovely crunchy texture, while the middle is soft and chewy.”
“Jonathan?” Mason prompts.
The last judge frowns at the half-eaten cookie, thinking. “It’s good. A little different, maybe not something I’d make myself, but it still has a nice traditional flavor.”
I sag with relief. That could have gone so badly.
We are finally dismissed, and we thank the judges and leave. Mason meets my eyes and holds them for several seconds before Paula whisks us away.
I step into the dining area where everyone is waiting with their families, and then I stop dead in my tracks. Sadie ends up running into me, but I barely notice.
“What are you doing here?” I blurt out to the entire room, though I’m looking right at one dark-haired young man in particular.
“Brandon!” Sadie exclaims, and she runs over and tosses herself at him.
He catches her in his arms, but his gaze stays locked on me. My chest constricts in a painful way. I’m thankful when Sadie finally pulls back, making Brandon transfer his attention from me to her.
“What are you doing here?” she asks, beaming. Any fool can see she’s completely besotted with him. For half a second, he gives her a concerned look, something I can’t quite decipher.
And though I don’t want them to, and though I wish with all my heart I could look away, my eyes stray to his hands. He gently pats Sadie’s back before he steps away. The motion is genuinely sweet, softly affectionate, and it makes me want to scream. Or maybe cry. It’s one of the two.
“How did it go?” he asks Sadie, but his gaze again strays to me.
I shrug like I don’t care one way or the other. “It was all right. I think we did well enough to firmly secure our spot in the middle.”
Brandon’s mouth twitches as he suppresses a smile. “The middle? Since when are you satisfied with that?”
He knows I’m not. Of course I’m not. If you’re not here to win—if you’re not going to give it everything you have and a little more—then what’s the point in showing up at all?
I narrow my eyes, refusing to give in to his friendly banter.
With another soft stroke to his girlfriend’s shoulder, he sets her aside. “Hey, Sadie, I’m going to talk to Harper for a moment.”
Wrinkles appear in her brow, but she quickly smooths her features. “Of course.”
Her reaction is off—it’s a strange mix of disappointment, resignation, and denial. And I don’t understand it. If Brandonwere mine, I wouldn’t stand idly by while he tells me he’s going to take a few minutes with a different girl.
But he’s not mine; he’s Sadie’s. She must be doing something right.
I try to look cool and collected as Brandon walks my way, but it’s an impossible task. I glance around, wishing I had something to hold or carry—anything to do with my hands.
“Riley wanted me to give you this.” Brandon holds out a folded bundle of fabric.
Eying him, irked that he’s here and that he still has this effect on my stupid, infatuated heart, I take the T-shirt and shake it out.
I try not to smile when I see the little cartoon elephant holding a pom-pom in its trunk, doing what appears to be a battle cry. Above it, the words read,Too Cute to Lose.
It’s ridiculous and has Riley written all over it. I smile despite myself. It’s an extra-large, obviously from a children’s boutique, and even if I can get it on, it will be too tight.
“She tried to ride here with me, but Lauren threatened to never speak with her again.”
