ChapterFifteen
FROSTIE
“Who gives a shit if you use box mix? Still tastes good,” Tins tries to reassure me, but I still can’t believe what happened.
When one of the judges walked over and informed me I’d been disqualified because of using boxed cake mix, I didn’t even try to argue with him. All I could think about was Clause telling my secret. I didn’t want to believe it, but how else would that have gotten out? I wouldn't have thought he’d walk away from me either, but he had. What if I don’t know him as well as I thought I did?
I still don’t understand why he stormed off. Did he think I wanted Ray? I was so shocked when Clause pounced on him, and I might have enjoyed it a bit too. I’ve never seen Clause so angry before, and for a second I loved how possessive he was…until it turned into something else. I never thought in a million years he’d lash out at me or ever tell anyone about the box mix bullshit, because that’s what it was. At least I thought it was bullshit. His flimsy but adorable way of getting my attention.
“I don’t care about the stupid boxed mix.” I swipe the tears from my cheeks. That’s the last thing I care about right now. “He betrayed me.”
“Just so I know we’re on the same page here. You’ve been using box mix, and Clause knew about it? That’s fucked up, Frostie.”
“I really don’t need to be scolded about the box crap. What happened to who gives a shit?”
“I meant it’s fucked up he knew a secret about you that I didn’t. He was really trying to come for my BFF spot.”
“I didn’t tell him; he caught me buying it. This is all your fault!” I hiss at her. She got me into this mess with her… I’ll build you a website. It will be so easy.
“Okay, I’ll take the blame.” She nods as she drives down the highway toward Troping. “What did I do so I know my story? I’ll take the fall.” A small laugh bubbles up from me. Of course she would.
“It was the website. I couldn’t keep up with the orders, so I thought I could cut a few corners and use a box mix for some of it.”
“Makes sense. I mean, it’s your frosting that’s killer.”
“What’s wrong with my cake?”
“Nothing. I’m just sayin’ the frosting is kickass.”
“I’m sorry. None of that matters.” I sink back into my seat.
“Clearly because no one noticed you used box mix, so it doesn’t matter.”
“I didn’t use it.”
“You didn’t use it?” Her expression turns to confusion, and I shake my head.
“I snuck over to Westchester and bought all their box mix, but I couldn’t bring myself to use it. At least not without disclosing it. I reached out to the people who placed the orders online and offered refunds or gave them the option for me to go ahead with the order using the mix.”
“Bet they still wanted them, didn't they?” Tins smirks, already knowing the answer to her question.
“Yeah.”
“See, ‘cause it’s the frosting,” she sing-songs smugly. “Now you can prove that the people who got the box stuff knew. Why didn’t you tell that judge that? Why did he just believe it?” Tins’s brows furrow together.
“I wasn’t going to stand there and fight about stupid cake mix when the man I love just betrayed me.” Tins’s shoulders drop, and the inside of the car grows silent.
“Wait, how did he catch you? You wore a disguise, right?”
“Of course I wore a disguise!”
“I knew those wigs would come in handy. See, I was right about not throwing them out.”
“They didn’t work. Clause saw right through it and then blackmailed me.”
“He blackmailed you! It’s the quiet ones you need to keep your eyes on because you never know what they’re gonna do.” She strums her fingers on the steering wheel as her brows furrow together again in deep thought.
“Take me to Clause’s,” I tell her when we’re almost to town.