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Margo breathes in a few more times.

“Alright. A few hours. Let me go check the supplies.”

She weaves around us and heads into the supply room.

The three of us scatter, Cole heading over to lean against the doorjamb of the supply room. Marcus leans against the fridge, and I stand by the open doorway of the kitchen.

“Bet you we finish every last cupcake before the festival opens,” Cole calls. “If we do, you wear a Halloween costume to the festival. A sexy one. If we don’t, I wear one. Your pick.”

Margo snorts and I hear shuffling sounds as she takes inventory.

“That’s the most ridiculous bet I’ve ever heard.”

“And if you lose, Hayes, I’m buying you fishnets.”

Cole grins. “Now I’m motivated.”

“What would you wear?” I ask, curious.

“I’m not⁠—”

“She’ll wear a witch hat and call it a costume,” Marcus says confidently.

“I’m not wearing a witch hat.”

“Then you’d better hope we burn everything,” Cole says sweetly.

Margo laughs but then she falls silent.

She walks out of the supply room, looking paler than usual.

“I’m missing a box.”

“What?” Cole asks, frowning.

“I’m missing a box!” Her voice goes high-pitched and panicked. “It’s got all the decorations in it. Pumpkins for the pumpkin creme pastries. Bats for the black frosting rose cupcakes. Sugar & Coal ones for the pavilion.”

She presses a hand to her forehead. “They’re still at the bakery. I left them out of the trial batches so we’d have enough for Saturday.”

“They’re just decorations,” Marcus starts but Margo’s gaze snaps to him and he closes his mouth.

“They’re my signature,” she says, pacing around in a small circle. “It’s how everyone will know they’re from Sugar & Coal.”

“They’ll know,” I try to comfort her. “They’ll all know⁠—”

“I need them!” she bursts out and her brown eyes are wet when she looks at me.

Marcus stares out the window at the storm.

“I’ll go. I’ll get them.”

Margo sniffles, wiping the back of her hand across her face.

“You can’t do that. Not in this.”

“Yes, I can,” he says confidently. “My truck has been through worse.”

Her lip trembles. “You’d do that? For me?”