Cupcake Explosion (Cupcakes 4)

Then about me, Carmen, and Bran going out to Copper Creek County. Hitting up the bar and meeting Cueball, then following the Diablos to the compound. I told her everything that happened when they discovered us, how we found out Cade had planned the whole thing, and how we grabbed Bubba and got out of there.

“So, you’re saying Cade initiated the whole thing and was never really in any danger.”

“Yup.”

“And what was he there for? What did he find out about the Diablos?” she asked.

“You know he’s not going to tell me that, Bea. That’s club business,” I replied, then stood up and walked over to her slowly.

“You understand why I did it, right? If it was Shannon . . .”

Bea held up her hand and I halted my progress.

“Yes, I get it, Lila. And, I’m sure some part of me expected you to do exactly what you did. Still, it stings that you don’t trust me to do my job, or at the very least, didn’t come clean with me about pulling our friends into your own investigation.”

“I do trust you, I swear it, but I knew you wouldn’t want us jumping head first into a dangerous situation. Forgive me?”

I batted my eyelashes at her.

“Did you really get your face slammed into a piece of cake?” she asked.

I nodded.

“Okay, I guess that makes up for it a little bit.”

“Wow,” I said, feigning hurt.

“Just kidding, the next time I see that Cueball, I’ll arrest him for you,” Bea joked.

“Thanks,” I replied, then stepped closer. “Hug it out?”

She sighed but gave in and let me hug her.

“Hey, we heard from Cade’s mom and are going over tomorrow to help with food prep,” Bea said as she pulled back.

“Me, too,” Amy May said.

“What?” Carmen cried and I looked over to see her pouting.

Shit, I forgot to give her number to Cade’s mom.

“I’m sure she’ll be calling you soon,” I lied, and made another mental note to talk to Mom about Carmen.

With the air cleared, I grabbed a mint chocolate cupcake and looked at Carmen.

“We’d better go to Sarah’s. I’ve gotta be home for dinner by six, or Cade’s mom’s gonna have my ass.”

We thanked Amy May, I apologized to Bea again, and Carmen and I headed out.

Sarah’s nurse led us back, just like before, except this time when we got to her room, she wasn’t alone.

A familiar red-haired man sat on the bed next to Sarah. They were holding hands and smiling at each other. The love on their faces was almost too much to bear.

“Hello,” I called softly, not wanting to intrude on the moment, but also not wanting to stand there and watch like a stalker.

Mr. Larsen looked up and took Carmen and me in with a welcoming grin.

“Hey, you must be the friends Sarah told me about,” he said. “It’s so nice of you to come by and spend time with her, I know how much she loves company. Let me go put on some coffee and leave you three alone.”