Was she supposed to know?
Would Yasmine be upset that Ashley told her?
She should have asked when Ashley told her if it was okay for her to know, but she’d been too distracted by the heaps of guilt caused by her initial reaction.Immediately, her gaze locked onto Yasmine’s face, searching for any signs of upset or heartbreak.She looked exactly the same as she had every other time Audrey had seen her.Calm.Confident.
Stunningly gorgeous.
Either she was perfectly fine, or she was hiding it really well.
“Hey, there, I heard you and Mason called things off.”Grandma stood up and opened her arms to offer Yasmine a hug.She immediately stepped into it, bending slightly because Grandma was so much shorter than her.Audrey felt another wave of relief.Trust her grandmother to immediately broach the subject, awkward or not.“I’m sorry, honey.”
“Thanks, Brenda.”Yasmine smiled gently as she straightened, stepping away, only to have to hug Cassidy, who had gotten up from her seat as well.“The curse continues, apparently.”
Was Audrey supposed to hug her?Or not?She wasn’t sure of the new friend etiquette.
“I have something for you,” she blurted out, jumping to her feet, which immediately protested having to be used again.They had been enjoying the reprieve.Ignoring the soreness, she hurried to the back, circumventing the need to decide whether to hug Yasmine.
Thankfully, the orange and chocolate cupcakes were finished.She gave Alexis a reassuring smile—the other woman had been sitting down and also resting, but she jumped to her feet when Audrey appeared as if worried at being caught taking a break—and picked up the tray to take it out front.The actual cake was orange flavored, with a chocolate center, chocolate and orange-flavored icing, and decorated with a candied orange slice on top.
It was the first time Audrey had made this particular combination, but she thought they’d come out pretty well.Hopefully, Yasmine agreed.If not… well, she’d tried.
Ashley glanced over as Audrey came out of the back room, but since she was talking to a new customer at the counter, she had to stay where she was.
Yasmine, on the other hand, was standing by herself at the end of the counter nearest to the door to the back, obviously waiting for Audrey to reappear.She skidded to a halt, holding the tray out in front of her like an offering… or a shield.
“Hey.”Audrey’s voice squeaked.“Um, so these are chocolate orange cupcakes.Ashley said that you like that combination.”
Dark eyes widening, Yasmine stared down at the tray, and a small smile curved her lips.
“I do.This is really thoughtful of you, Audrey.Thank you.”
“First one is on the house.”Audrey lifted the tray a little, encouraging Yasmine to take one.
“You don’t have to do that.”
“I know, but I want to,” she said firmly.Guilt cupcakes didn’t work if the receiver had to pay for them.
“Thank you.”Yasmine hesitated a moment, hand hovering over the offerings, before picking one up.Once she’d chosen one, Audrey set the tray down on the counter beside them, ready to be put in the display case.
“Let me get you a plate.Do you want anything to drink?”
“I’m good.Actually, can I have a box?Claudia and I are on our way to lunch.We just wanted to stop in and see how the grand opening was going.I’ll eat this for dessert later.”
“Oh, right, of course.”Why was she so flustered?It wasn’t like Yasmineknewshe had a crush on Mason or that she’d been relieved to hear they’d broken up.
Feeling her cheeks heat pink, Audrey ducked behind the counter to get one of the to-go boxes.
“Here you go.”Audrey set the little box down on the counter and held it open for Yasmine to place the cupcake inside.
“So, today is going well?”Yasmine asked as she gently lowered the cupcake into the box, careful not to squish it and get icing all over her hands.
“Really well.It’s been a great turnout.As long as Ashley and Alexis don’t quit from being overworked, I’m golden,” Audrey joked.Although she wasn’t entirely joking.
“I’m glad to hear that.”
“And… are you okay?”She wasn’t sure if it was okay to ask, but she felt compelled to.
“I am.Disappointed, of course.But a part of me isn’t surprised.”Yasmine smiled sadly, but Audrey also remembered what Claudia and Naomi had said about Yasmine’s curse being a self-fulfilling prophecy.Maybe she wasn’t surprised because she was the one who’d made it happen.“Mason isn’t the one for me.I’m starting to think no one is.”
