“Aphrodisiacs, huh?” he murmurs. “That explains why I suddenly feel like skipping dinner and going straight to dessert.”
“It’s the chili, Becker,” I mutter, heart racing.
“No,” he says, brushing his nose against mine. “It’s you. Even when you burn the figs.”
Is he performing for the cameras? Sure.
But I know Cohen well enough by now to know he’d say these things even if we were locked alone in a broom closet.
What I still don’t know… is how much he actuallymeansthem.
“Ladies and gentlemen!” Tina announces. “For culinary excellence, congrats to Silas and Daisy! But…”
She points at us.
“For maintaining a level of sexual tension that nearly melted the chocolate on its own… Sloane and Cohen get another Diva Bonus!”
Applause.
Joe claps stiffly, face sour.
But I don’t look at him.
I look at Cohen—who’s holding me like he won the World Cup.
We’re terrible in the kitchen.
We’re a disaster together.
But right now… that’s enough.
As we leave the Hall, my phone buzzes violently in my apron pocket.
I pull it out.
Group Chat: “The Queens of Elm Hollow”.
Twenty unread messages.
Lina ??:SLOANE ELIZABETH HEART.
You burned the chocolate? YOU BURNED THE 90% DARK CHOCOLATE?! That’s a crime against humanity! A federal offense! Sebastian has been laughing for ten minutes. You made my sworn enemy laugh. I hate you.
Ivy ??:Oh, Lina, they were cute! They looked… very focused on each other!
Rae ??:Grant says the smoke added drama to the scene. Also, that apron on Cohen was perfection.
Lina ??:I DON’T CARE ABOUT THE APRON! THAT FIG SAUCE LOOKED LIKE TAR!
Sloane, I’m enrolling you in a kids’ cooking class. Tomorrow.
I show Cohen the messages, laughing.
“I think Lina is about to revoke my friendship privileges.”
He smirks and pulls out his own phone.
“Cheer up. My locker room reputation just went up in flames along with those figs.”
