“What conversation?” I say, the words purposely brusque.
Knowing I’m being obtuse on purpose, he almost smiles. “The one where you admitted you’re in love with me.”
Well, that was direct. But I’ve never accused the boy of being subtle.
I stare at him for a full five seconds before I stand, snapping the magazine I was browsing closed. Then I walk past him. “Tell Sadie her chocolate linzer cookies will be fine.”
He grasps hold of my arm before I’m away. “Harper?—”
“Was in love with you, Brandon,” I snap.“Was.”
His eyes widen, and his mouth drops open. Taking advantage of his surprise, I pull away from him and walk out the front door.
CHAPTER FOUR
The Harbinger is packed.The actual tryouts will take place in their huge, gleaming commercial kitchen, and there’s enough room and ovens for five teams to work at the same time. Sadie and I are in Group Three. There are twelve groups and a total of fifty-eight teams.Fifty-eight. And that doesn’t include the teams that auditioned in other parts of the country. There are auditions all day today and tomorrow, and we’ve been here since six this morning.
According to the light-haired producer from the network who spoke to us while we were all gathered in the ballroom, two teams will be chosen tomorrow evening. With the two each from New York, Florida, Illinois, Texas, and California, there will be twelve teams at the beginning of the actual bake-off.
Still in the ballroom, Sadie and I wait for our turn in the kitchen. Television crews, both from our local news station and the HBN network, make their way around the room, interviewing contestants and their families. It’s almost amusing to see how people follow them, practically begging for their fifteen minutes of fame.
The contestants are easy to spot, as we’re all wearing white aprons with the HBN logo stitched on the front. Our teamnumber is pinned on my chest like a name tag and readsGroup Three, Team Twelve.
“Group Three, five minutes,” a man says over the intercom. “I repeat, Group Three, this is your five-minute warning.”
Sadie, who has her multi-toned, blond hair pulled up in the cutest bun you’ll ever see, clasps her hands in front of her chest. Even though it’s a million degrees in the room, she shivers once as if she’s cold.
“Nervous?” I ask.
She grins. “Terrified, aren’t you?”
I shrug.
“I wish I had your confidence.” She gives me a warm, wavering smile. “I feel like my heart is going to leap from my chest.”
“Best keep it contained. I’m pretty sure that would be considered a health violation.”
She blinks at me for a moment, mystified, and then finally grins. “Right. You’re funny, too.”
Before I can think of an answer forthat, Riley rushes through the crowd, practically pushing people aside to get to us. “I just heard! You’re almost up! Are you ready?”
She’s bouncing like a squirrel in an espresso warehouse, and I knock her hand away when she tries to adjust my hair.
“What if you see Mason?” she demands, hands falling on her waist.
I roll my eyes. “He’s not going to be here, Riley.”
“He was at the Florida auditions—I watched them. Three times.”
“Where is Linus?” I ask, vaguely remembering that her boyfriend was supposed to fly in this morning. He’s as unflappable as she is high-strung, and we could use him right now.
She narrows her eyes and gives me a thin smile, knowing exactly why I’m asking. “His flight was delayed. He’ll be here tomorrow.”
I wrinkle my nose, knowing how eager she is to have him here. Since Linus goes to college in Colorado, she hasn’t seen him since Thanksgiving. “I’m sorry, Riley.”
Her exuberance fades, and she huffs out a breath. “I know—me too.”
“Group three to the kitchens,” the man says over the intercom.
