Cupcake

A day later, I still couldn’t believe it.

A guy—not just any guy but the one I was pretty sure I was falling for—had asked me to Homecoming. And he hadn’t done it in a big, flashy way. There were no bells and whistles. Rhys waited for the perfect moment when we were alone in his kitchen, the yummy smell of baking and chocolate in the air, to sweep me off my feet.

It was like I was living someone else’s life.

“Why can’t you believe it?” Toni said after I told her everything. “I knew Rhys liked you. I told you that.”

I sighed. “Yeah, but stuff like this doesn’t happen to me.”

She rolled her eyes. “Except that it does. It happened.”

She was right. It had.

And I was left reeling as we sat discussing it in homeroom.

“Did his mom like the gift?” she asked.

I thought back, remembering Mrs. Castle’s face as she opened the bag.

“Yeah, she did.” I’d included three scones, clotted cream, strawberry jam, and a box of Earl Grey tea along with the North & South mini-series. Mom and I kept a brand-new, unopened set of the DVDs on hand in case the series ever dropped off a streaming service. “Her eyes lit up when she read the description, and she said she couldn’t wait to watch. But she cried when she found out Rhys made the cake.”

“Must’ve been pretty tasty.”

“It was so good, Toni,” I said. “All chocolaty and rich. Her younger son, Zach, made her a card, and that definitely brought on the waterworks, too.”

Toni gave a sniff. “Yeah well, that’s because they’re her kids. North & South is like Pride & Prejudice but better. She just doesn’t know it yet.”

“True,” I said. “She may need moral support when she falls head over heels for Mr. Thornton.”

“Oh, she definitely will.”

“I know I did.”

We sighed in unison.

“Who would you choose?” I asked. “Darcy or Mr. Thornton?”

Toni shot me a look. “Thornton, duh.”

“Same. He’s so lovely.”

“Ooh, I have a better one,” Toni said. “Who would you pick: Darcy, Thornton…or Rhys?”

If she’d asked me that question three weeks ago, I would’ve had a very different answer. But now…

“That’s a hard one.” Toni waited as a blush stole up my cheeks. “Okay, so no one beats Mr. Thornton in the movie world. His accent alone would kill me. But—”

“But?”

“I’d have to say Rhys,” I said, and Toni squealed.

“You’re totally in love with him,” she declared.

I was shaking my head before she even finished.

“Yes, you are. Ariel, you chose him over Mr. Thornton. That’s serious stuff.” Toni’s smile was bright as she shrugged. “It has to be love.”

The strange thing was that I didn’t fight her on it. Even though my brain was saying there’s no way you can be in love with this guy—you don’t even really know him, my heart was singing a different tune.

You do know him, it said.

You’ve gone to his games. He’s been over to your house and met your mother. He felt comfortable enough to tell you about therapy. You watched the first two episodes of your favorite mini-series. You even showed him your baking challenge and baked Grandma’s cake together.

My heart was right.

I knew him, and I liked him—and right then, all I wanted to do was see Rhys.

Hoping to catch him at his locker again, I walked that way when the bell rang to change classes. The idea was to surprise him, so I was careful to keep my distance. Rhys was talking to Zander, both of them leaning against the wall. I was just about to walk over when their conversation filtered to me.

“I don’t think it’s going to work,” Rhys said.

“But I thought you liked her,” was Zander’s reply.

“I do like her. She’s great. She’s done a lot for me.”

I frowned, deciding to remain where I was. What were they talking about?

“I don’t get it,” Zander said. “If she’s great, then what’s the problem?”

Rhys ran a hand along the back of his neck. “She’s so…big. I don’t know about bringing her out in public—especially to Homecoming. People might stare.”

His words felt like a dagger to the chest.

But like the coward I was, I stayed to listen, hoping I was wrong, that I’d misunderstood.

“Why did you say you’d bring her to Homecoming then?”

Rhys shrugged. “It felt like I owed her.”

Zander put a hand on Rhys’s shoulder. “I got you, man. I feel your pain,” he said. “But a bet’s a bet. If you don’t bring her, you lose, and I win.”

Rhys grimaced.

“And I know how much you hate to lose.”

“You’re right. I’ll take her,” Rhys said. “What’s a few more days?”

As they moved to walk away, I stayed out of sight.

“I just hope she doesn’t humiliate me too much.”

A wet drop hit my cheek, and it was then I realized I was crying.

Hurrying to the bathroom, I quickly cleaned my face. Or at least, I tried to. The tears were running fast now like a river. Maybe a braver person would’ve stepped up to him right then and demanded an explanation, but I knew what I’d heard. It felt like history repeating itself. Maybe I had a thing for guys who seemed sweet but were actually vile. Ugh. I didn’t need him making excuses to soften the blow or to make himself feel better. It would only mortify me more.

There’s no bet.

I remembered Rhys saying those exact words when he first asked me out.

He’d joked about it, made me feel silly for bringing it up, said I’d watched too many movies.

But the joke was on him.

I found out about his little bet with Zander. Yes, it was completely by accident, and the truth stung like a mother. It hurt even worse because I hadn’t seen this coming.

My heart felt battered, bruised beyond recognition. But that meant it was still beating. I looked at my reflection in the mirror and made my decision.

I wouldn’t let this break me.

Wouldn’t let Rhys have that much power over me.

My prince wasn’t a prince at all. He was a jerk.

He didn’t deserve my tears or a chance to explain.

So, he felt like he owed me?

Too bad, I thought. I didn’t want anything to do with him. Rhys Castle and I were over—and we’d never even really gotten started.