Cupcake Overload (Cupcakes 2)

“Hey,” Bea said from behind me as I pulled the pretty yellow cupcake from the cooler. “Is everything okay?”

I filled her in on what I’d learned from Jaclyn, then asked, “What ever happened with the Mother Ship lady?”

Bea shot me a dirty look, then replied, “We went out with her to the last place she’d seen it, then saw where she was living. Turned out she was squatting on someone else’s property.”

“Oh, no, you didn’t arrest her, did you?”

“No, I didn’t arrest her, but I did get her set up with a psychiatrist and into a shelter until she can get on her feet.”

“I’m sorry, I just didn’t know what to do for her.”

“No problem. It’s my job, and I was glad to help her. I just wish I could have done more.”

“Yeah, me too,” I said, then remembering the taste testing I’d walked in on, I asked,

“You guys decide on a flavor for your cake?”

“I’m in love with the tiramisu, and Shannon wants the java. Luckily, I think they complement each other pretty well, so we’ve agreed to do half and half.”

“Awesome,” I said, already anticipating the flavors on my tongue.

“So, I hear you’re all going to Hawaii,” Bea said, bumping me with her shoulder as we walked back out front. “Things are pretty serious, huh?”

“Yeah,” I agreed with a big, sappy smile. “We’re in love and Cade’s taking us to meet his family. I never thought, after everything went down with Eric, that I’d ever want to be in this place again, but it’s different with Cade. I’m really, really happy.”

“That’s great,” Shannon said as she sucked some frosting off of her thumb. “You deserve it.”

“I’m happy for you,” Bea a

dded, and since she hadn’t been a hundred percent on board with Cade initially, it meant a lot that she’d grown to accept my relationship with him.

“It’s so awesome, how happy you all are,” Carmen said with a sigh. “Amy May and Jason, Bea and Shannon, and Lila and Cade. It’s like love exploded all over all of you. I’m so totally jealous.”

“Have you given any more thought to asking Bran out?” Amy May asked, and Carmen turned to me with a glare.

“What?” I asked, holding up my hands. “It wasn’t me this time.”

“C’mon, you guys,” Carmen said, looking at all of us as we watched her expectantly. “Don’t you think if he was interested, he would have made a move by now?”

“Not necessarily,” Shannon replied.

“He may be intimidated by your beauty,” Amy May added.

“You haven’t exactly put out any vibes that said you’re interested,” I reminded her.

“Yeah, from what everyone has said, you won’t even talk to him,” Bea said. “You need to let him know that you’re into him.”

Carmen rolled her eyes and sighed loudly, and if a sigh could be sarcastic, she definitely sighed sarcastically.

“Fine.”

“You’ll do it?” Amy May asked, clapping her hands with excitement.

“We have training tomorrow, will you do it then?” I asked, putting the pressure on.

“Yes, fine,” Carmen said again. “I’ll put the vibes out tomorrow. I’ll talk to him. And, if he doesn’t make a move by the end of our session, I’ll ask him out before I leave.”

“Pinky swear?” Shannon asked, and we all laughed.