Page 16 of Serving Bunt

The thought made my stomach twist.

We’d be under a microscope. Cameras in our faces, editors cutting together every glance and awkward silence, millions of people watching us try to figure out how to coexist without one or both of us—or whatever fucked-up cake we put together—blowing up.

Neither of us was ready for that kind of spotlight.

Soren returned just then, clutching a pink and purple snow cone in his hand “What’d I miss?” he asked, sliding back into his seat next to Clarke.

“Diaz is doing the baking show,” Clarke said cheerfully.

I threw my hands up. “For fuck’s sake.”

“Peter Rafael,” Abuelita chastised.

“Language, I know. Sorry.”

“Is this Sleigh the Bake?” Bella asked. I nodded weakly. “I love that show. Whatever you do, don’t try to make a croquembouche in under two hours. The amount of croquembouches I’ve watched collapse because the contestants’ pâte à choux was too hot is crazy.”

I blinked. “What are you even saying?”

Bennett wrapped his arm around her side and dragged her closer. “Oh, baby, please say ‘croquembouche’ again.”

Her cheeks flushed at his tone.

I rubbed a hand over my face. “Look, I can’t do it. Even if I wanted to, which I don’t, Abuelita’s only here for another couple of weeks. I can’t just leave her alone.”

Abuelita waved that away like it was smoke. “I’m eighty-two, not dead. I can survive for five days on my own. Go, bake, and win money for the niños. And while you’re gone, I can finally reorganize those cupboards of yours.”

“My cupboards are fine.”

“They’re a disaster,” she said firmly.

Clarke took a big spoonful of her snow cone and sighed happily. “Mm, this is so good.”

Bennett’s eyes briefly flashed to mine before returning to Bella. “You know what? I suddenly have a snow cone craving, too. Would you mind taking Abuelita and Clarke over to grab a few more for the table?”

He shoved a wad of cash into Bella’s palm.

Her brows furrowed. “But Clarke already has—”

“Arabella.”

He rapidly moved his fingers, signing to her far too quickly for the rest of us to understand. Though, if I had to guess, it was something like can you give us a minute alone with this idiot?

In any case, Bella gave him a subtle nod and stood up from the table. “What do you say, ladies? Snow cone adventure?”

“Twist my arm,” Abuelita said, looping her arm through Bella’s.

The three of them wandered off toward the snow cone cart, leaving just Soren, Bennett, and me at the table.

The moment they were out of earshot, Bennett leaned forward, his expression suddenly serious. “You need to do the show.”

“Damn, you too, mi pana?”

“C’mon, man, I’m thinking of the team. Doesn’t matter how much you try to hide behind the stupid jokes and smiles. The dugout has been tense ever since . . . well, you know.”

I did know, and Bennett did, too. In fact, he was the only one who knew, and that was only because he had witnessed my kiss with Matty firsthand.

But Soren didn’t. Although, judging by the shit-eating grin on his face, I had a feeling that might not be true either.