The smirk makes an appearance. “What, Baking Bonanza was taken?”
I whack him lightly on the arm. “I like the name!”
He snorts, leaning back and crossing his arms. “And you actuallypayto go to this thing?”
“Yes. Stop making fun of it.” But I don’t really care because whatever was on his mind when he came out here seems to be forgotten now, and the light’s back in his eyes. I’d do pretty much anything to see that light.
“I’m not making fun of it,” he says. “I’m just intrigued.”
“Mhm, sure.”
“So where does thisspectacletake place exactly?”
“Atlanta.”
“And how are you planning to get there? You realize it’s a nine-hour drive on a good day.”
Considering I just made up my mind a minute ago, I haven’t given any thought to logistics. I shrug a shoulder. “Yeah, so?”
“Have youseenyour car? You’ll be lucky to make it to Tampa before it self-destructs.”
“My car is fine. I just replaced the battery,the alternator,andthe terminals. It’s practically brand new.”
“Brand new? So, you also replaced the starter? What about the transmission?”
“Okay,no, but-”
“What about the breaks? Timing belt? How old are your tires, by the way?”
“I don’t know, but-”
“When’s the last time you got your oil changed? Or refilled the blinker fluid?”
I stare at him. “The blinker fluid? Is that…that’s not a real thing!” I think about it for a second. “Is it?”
“You know, I went to grad school in Atlanta,” he says, ignoring my question. “They’ve been asking me to come talk to their entrepreneur class for a few years now.”
It’s impossible not to roll my eyes. “I bet that does wonders for your ego.”
“It does.” He pauses. “I could take them up on it.”
Now it’s my turn to be surprised. “Take them up on it? You mean, go up there?”
“Sure.”
“When?”
“Baking Bonanza seems good a time as any.”
His words hang in the air between us as I try to process exactly what he’s saying. Surely, he’s not cracking some kind of joke.
“It’s Sugar Spectacle,” I correct, if only because I’m not sure how to respond to his offer.
“I like my name better.”
“Are you saying-”
“That I will fly us to Atlanta on the company dime? That is exactly what I’m saying.”
