Brandon raises his eyebrows, shrugging. “The interview was…it was a little intense. But all people can talk about is the moment you had with Mason in the kitchen. Once again, you’re all over YouTube.”
He says it flippantly, but there’s a twinge of hurt in his voice.
“Moment?”
Rolling his shoulders, he averts his eyes to the black television. “After Christy, Chrissy—whatever her name is—bumped into you and Mason kept you from falling. The camera caught it all, even zoomed in on your faces. Everyone’s making a big deal out of it.”
“Brandon—”
He holds up a hand. “Don’t…it’s fine. I’ve made such a mess of everything, I have no room to talk.”
I’m about to answer when there’s another knock at the door—this one insistent.
“Harper!” Paula hollers. “Tammy wants you in her office in thirty minutes.”
I crack the door open, careful to keep Brandon out of view. “It’s our day off.”
Paula gives me a sympathetic look. “Thirty minutes.”
Rolling my eyes, I close the door. “I’ve gotta—”
“I heard.”
He’s already walking toward the door when there’s another knock. When did I get so popular?
“Harper?” Sadie’s soft voice calls.
Brandon freezes. We stare at each other, two deer caught in the headlights.
“Bathroom!” I mouth and jerk my head toward the door to the right.
He darts inside, keeping the light off. Once he’s out of sight, I open the door. Sadie stands in the hall. Her hair is disheveled, yesterday’s mascara is smudged down her cheeks, and she’s wrapped in a flannel robe that looks like it belongs to an eighty-year-old woman.
“Can I come in for a minute?” she asks.
“Sure,” I say, holding the door open and trying not to shoot a guilty glance into the bathroom.
Sadie toys with her robe’s belt, and she won’t meet my eyes. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t know you had feelings for Brandon. He said…” She sniffs like she’s going to cry. “He said that you didn’t. I knew going into all this you two had history…but…”
I nod, because what the heck do you say to that?
She looks up. “I really like him, Harper. I thought all night about it. I was going to step aside, let the two of you work things out. But I…I think he might care for me too. We’re in a good place, you know? And I feel awful about all this, but I—”
Tears roll down her cheeks, and she scrubs them away with the back of her hand.
“I’m just really sorry we hurt you,” she finishes.
She still isn’t aware that I know her relationship with Brandon is a charade, but her words…those are coming from a raw place. She means them. She’s not talking about her and Brandon’s fake relationship. She’s talking about one she’s imagining for the future.
She really believes she has a shot.
And if I had stayed in Texas, where I apparently belonged, she probably would have. Good grief—after hearing that, maybe she does anyway. What could Brandon possibly be thinking, standing there in the dark bathroom, listening to Sadie pour her heart out?
“Me too,” I say, and I mean it. I am so truly, deeply sorry that I’ve caused her this turmoil.
“Are we…are we okay?” she asks, blinking at me.
After a moment, I nod.
“Okay.” She hugs herself and sniffles one more time. “I’m going to…”
She points to the door. After another few awkward seconds, she lets herself out.
Once the door clicks behind her, Brandon cautiously exits the bathroom. He rubs his chest, looking almost ashen. “We’re not even dating, and I feel like I’m cheating on her,” he whispers, not daring to speak any louder.
I nod, knowing exactly what he means.
We stand here, staring at the floor. The minutes are ticking away. I only have twenty left before I have to meet Tammy downstairs.
“You need to get ready,” he says, rubbing both his hands over his face. “I’ll…”
Without finishing that thought, he lets himself out the door.
***
I turn the corner to Tammy’s office, hurrying because I’m one minute late, and find Mason strolling through the hall, holding two disposable coffee cups.
He eyes my hastily pulled together outfit and grins, offering me one of the cups. “Morning.”
I stare at it. “Is that for me?”
Mason gives the cup a teeny jiggle. “No, I was hoping you could hold it for me until I was done with my first.”
Shaking my head and laughing for the first time today, I accept the cup. We stand just outside Tammy’s door, and I take the first sip and sigh. “It’s been the worst morning.”
He glances at the door. “Hold on tight, because I doubt it’s going to get better.”
“You were summoned as well?” I ask.
“Yep.”
I take another fortifying sip of sweet, sweet caffeine, and then I knock. Tammy’s assistant opens the door. I don’t know the woman’s name, but she always looks slightly harried. Of course she does—she works for Tammy.
“Have a seat,” Tammy says instead of a greeting. She shuffles a stack of papers, not even bothering to look up at us. All the producers are here—Tammy, Paula, and a guy named Raoul. This is the first time I’ve seen him that he hasn’t been on the phone.
Like a gentleman, Mason pulls out my chair and then sits in the one to my right.
“Views were at an all-time high last night,” Tammy jumps right in without a preamble. “And our engagement rates were through the roof. We’ve never had this many viewers call in to vote.”
She looks up, almost as if she expects us to say something. Mason’s next to me, lounging in the chair like he owns it, taking in the scene with sharp eyes.
“Okay…?” I say when it becomes clear Mason isn’t going to speak.
“I’m going to be blunt, Harper,” Tammy says, setting her hands on the table. “Mason is here because the show was in trouble, and we made a deal with his agent. The publicity is good for his solo career, and it gives the bake-off a much-needed boost. We were losing viewers. Now we have more than triple what we had last year at this episode.”
I nod. Mason’s good for the show—no kidding.
“Your possible romance has lit a fire in America that we never anticipated. ‘Bake-off Romance’ was the number one trending search yesterday on Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube.”
I blink at her and glance at Mason. He doesn’t seem surprised, so apparently, someone already broke the news to him.
“People like the two of you—and they really like you together. We’re going to play this up, but we have to be careful how we go about it. Some of the contestants are already making noise about the two of you—”
“But Mason’s not even a judge!” I interrupt.
“So you must keep things subtle,” she continues. “On camera, we want our viewers to see glances that last a few moments too long, maybe a few whispered conversations. Sweet exchanges during interviews—”
“Speaking of interviews,” I practically growl.
Before I can finish my thought, Tammy goes on, completely ignoring me, “But I want limited interaction between the two of you when the camera isn’t rolling. The less the other teams see you together, the better.”
I clench my hand on my coffee cup. “You want us to fake a romance so your ratings will go up?”
Tammy raises a perfectly plucked eyebrow. “Are you faking it, Harper?”
I feel my cheeks flush, and I look down. My life is in an unstable place right now.
“However, please understand, to ensure the integrity of the competition, we will not guarantee your spot,” Tammy finishes. Judging from her tone, I believe we’re reaching the end of this lovely meeting. “And our judges will not be made aware of this conversation.”
I almost laugh when she says “integrity.” I’ve always known real
ity shows are manipulated, but a cookie competition? It seems wrong.
Tammy stands, showing she’s finished with us. None of the others spoke even once. They sat there like statuesque guards, ensuring we behaved.
“Where did you come up with the interview questions?” I demand as I rise.
“Christy overheard you speaking with Mason,” Tammy says absently, more concerned with a missing piece of paper than me. “And she thought she should bring it to our attention. Perfect timing too—the viewers love a knight in shining armor coming to the aid of a damsel in distress.”
Christy. It doesn’t surprise me. Who else, besides maybe her wicked partner, would lurk nearby, eavesdropping on a private conversation.
Tammy finds the paper and looks up, smiling. “And the fact that you and Sadie are so forgiving—well, the viewers are simply eating it up.”
I feel like they’ve violated some of my personal rights, but I don’t know what I can do about it. Besides, the damage is done.
“Enjoy your day off,” Paula says from her seat, speaking for the first time. She offers us a weak smile as we turn to leave.
Frowning, I head to the door.
Mason shuts it behind us, looking grim. “I’m sorry, Harper. I had no idea—”
“It’s not your fault.” I rub my temples. A headache looms, and I can tell it’s going to be a bad one.
After I say goodbye, I head to my room. On the way, I pass Chrissy and Christy.
They look immaculate, with their blown-out hair, carefully applied makeup, and designer clothing.
Christy wrinkles her nose at my outfit. “Harper, darling. You look like you didn’t get a wink of sleep.”
“Poor thing,” Chrissy coos. “Did we just see you coming from Tammy’s office? With how horrible you look, I can only imagine the worst. I hope everything is all right.”
Because murder is generally frowned upon, I give them a smile as fake as their own. “No, everything’s great. I’m so excited about Thursday’s competition.”
Their smiles falter. Chrissy finds her tongue first. “That’s wonderful! I’ve heard we can use the kitchens in our off time.” She leans close as if she’s going to tell me a secret. “You might want to take some time today to work on your piping. Your last cookies looked a little wobbly.”
“That’s true.” Then I can’t resist. “But I suppose you could say I’ve always preferred a more natural style. If you go overboard, the cookies become fake and unappetizing, and then no one likes them.”
With that, I give them my best perky smile and walk away.
CHAPTER TWELVE
I recheck my phone. Riley and Linus should have been here by now, but I’m afraid the snow has slowed them down. I glance out the window of the restaurant that overlooks the massive, snow-covered lake. The snow’s really coming down.
It’s Friday night, and the teams still in the competition are euphoric, even if there will be an elimination on Monday. Scott and Misty are at a table with Eugene and Max. Max has a huge plate of nachos, and he doesn’t appear to be sharing with anyone—not even his grandfather. Even from across the room, I can hear Scott’s occasional laugh as he tries to steal a chip in good fun only to have his hand swatted away.
Sadie, Brandon, and I are at a larger table with Cole and Jerome. Jessica and Anne, the pretty cousins from Tennessee, joined us a few minutes ago. The guys are arguing about burgers while Jessica, Sadie, and Anne eye the dessert menu. You’d think we’ve had enough sweets in the last week, but no.
My phone chimes, and I jump.
Think I could hide in a hat and sunglasses and join you?
I smile at Mason’s text and write him back. Doubt it. One of the waitresses already recognized us, and she asked where you are.
And you didn’t tell her? I bet she’d be willing to make me a poster.
“Mason?” Sadie asks from my side, and I nod.
She and I are doing all right. We managed to get through the last few competitions unscathed, though it was a close call yesterday. We had a batch of cookies come out of the oven a little too close to time, and our frosting was a melted mess. The judges were brutal, and Sadie cried. I’m hoping the fact that they tasted exquisite will save us, though I have no idea how the viewers will vote. We could very well be going home come Monday.
Brandon shoots me a smile. It’s friendly, but hesitant, and a lot frustrated. I’m beginning to think this is ridiculous. Sadie’s a big girl—she dealt with the awful interview. Surely she can handle the news that Brandon admitted their relationship was a sham.
Except, I’ve been watching them, and I’m not sure it is. They’re not just friends—they’re good friends.
They exchange inside jokes, and though it sounds cliché, they finish each other’s sentences. I study them, and concern gnaws at my belly.
Sometime in the last few years, while Brandon and I attended different colleges, he and Sadie got close. But now we have a chance to be together. Surely Brandon won’t throw that away, not after all this time.
It’s just so inconvenient Sadie has feelings for Brandon too. Real feelings. The kind that aren’t so easy to get over.
I feel her pain. I know better than anyone how hard it is to love Brandon from afar.
The door to the restaurant swings open, and in traipses my blond and bubbly baby sister. She laughs brightly as she dusts a substantial amount of snow off her jacket. I swear every pair of male eyes swivel her way, but her attention is firmly locked on her boyfriend, who stands next to her, quiet, calm, and as steadfast as can be. I adore Linus, and I love watching them together.
Linus helps Riley out of her wet coat, and then she finally looks around the room. I stand, waving her over.
She grins as soon as she sees us. With her hand clasped with Linus’, she hurries our way.
Brandon stands, grinning, and yanks her into a bear hug. “Did my sister work you to death?”
Riley gives him a mock scowl. “She’s insane. Every day, Lauren becomes more like her taskmaster boss. And she glittered my hair—to add a touch of whimsy, she said. I’ll be washing out sparkles for a month!”
To prove her point, Riley angles her head, letting us take a better look at her hair. Sure enough, there are a few pinpricks of bright light where rogue pieces of glitter must be hiding.
Brandon laughs and clasps Linus’ shoulder, giving him a hearty welcome. We don’t really know Linus all that well—not yet anyway, but it’s hard not to like a guy who turned down a prestigious internship on the east coast because he didn’t want to be that far from Riley.
I watch the exchange between Brandon, my sister, and her boyfriend, and my heart aches. Brandon and I are supposed to be together, but things are always wrong—something is always in the way. At this rate, it might never happen.
Stepping away from Brandon, Riley hugs me too. “How are you?”
“I’m fine,” I say, my voice on the abrupt side. “Why wouldn’t I be?”
My sister raises an eyebrow and glances at Brandon. “No reason.”
“We need to talk,” I say under my breath.
I haven’t told Riley about the kiss yet. It seemed too monumental to discuss over the phone, especially when I knew she’d be here today.
Linus is staying in the same hotel that Brandon’s staying at, but Riley is going to crash with me. I can tell her tonight.
The evening passes quickly, though I’m eager to have my sister to myself. She’s the only person I feel completely comfortable talking to, and I have a lot to say.
After taking pictures with half a dozen members of the waitstaff, we finally leave the restaurant. There are several new inches of snow on the ground, and it doesn’t look like it’s going to let up anytime soon.
Riley looks up at the dark sky, almost gleeful. “Colorado snow. We are so going snowboarding tomorrow.”
Immediately, Brandon’s eyes find mine. Apparently, I’m not the only one who remembers our last trip.
My sister turns to m
e. “What do you think? You’re free for the weekend, aren’t you?”
I nod, though I’m not sure I feel up to it.
“Perfect!” Being nice, Riley turns to Sadie. “Do you snowboard?”
“Not really. I’m not very coordinated.” Sadie hugs herself, already shivering. “And I don’t like to be cold.”
Now would be the moment a good boyfriend would put his arm around her, pull her close. Brandon, however, glances at me and hesitates. After several moments, he takes Sadie’s hands and rubs them in his own. It’s an entirely innocent move, but it’s so sweet, it makes me want to cry or throw something. Maybe both.
Sadie smiles up at him, as lovesick as a person can get.
Riley glances at me, unsure how I will react. She needn’t worry. I avert my eyes, purposely ignoring them.
“All right,” Brandon says after a moment, ushering Sadie to the parking lot. “Into the truck. Come on, Harper.”
“I’m going to ride with Riley and Linus,” I say, still not meeting his eyes.
Brandon waits half a moment before he answers, “You sure?”
Finally, I look up. Bad idea. I’m pinned to the spot by his dark blue eyes. “Yeah, you go on.”
He looks like he wants to argue, but he finally nods. I watch as he opens Sadie’s door for her like a gentleman, and I don’t look away until they’re pulling out of the parking lot.
Someone whistles low behind me, and I look over my shoulder to see Jessica watching Brandon’s taillights. She gives me a guilty look. “That boy is easy on the eyes.”
I look away as if I couldn’t care less.
“Is it true?” she asks in her pretty southern accent. “Were you two an item before Sadie came along?”
My stomach knots, but I shake my head. “No. We were friends—that’s all.”
“What about you and Mason?” Anne asks as she joins her cousin.
The girls aren’t catty like Chrissy or Christy, but these aren’t subjects open for discussion.
“Of course not. It’s television,” I answer, hoping to sound bored. “You know how it is.”
They share a glance, almost looking disappointed.
“You ready, Harper?” Linus asks, probably able to tell how uncomfortable I am.
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