Inheriting a SECRET (Corrigan & Co. #7)(59)

“I’m fine. Just a little banged up.”

“Just try not to have any more visible injuries. All I need is for the Cyndryann press to think I’ve been beating you.”

“Oh God. They might actually think that.”

“I know,” I tell him with a wink as I walk out.

“He really did give up his kingdom for you,” Muska says when she sees me.

“Yes, he really did.”

She looks impressed, but our friendship ship has sailed. I surround myself with people who like me for me, thorns and all, not ones who are impressed with the King and I.

* * *

3. Make Darcy a meal

Darcy

“Um, Darce, you better turn on the news,” Faith tells me, grimacing as she walks into my office.

“Is it bad?”

“Oh yeah. I need to head out there, but I thought I should be the one to tell you. Since, well, you’ll see.”

I turn on the news and see fire trucks surrounding Gavin’s cooking school for inner city kids. What the hell? He’s super careful, and what’s a fire there have to do with me? And then I see it—or I should say, him. I pick up my cell phone and dial.

“He’s a menace, Darcy. A f*cking menace.”

“I’m sorry, Gavin.”

“He was cooking pasta. Pasta. Who the f*ck sets a building on fire when they’re cooking pasta.”

“Is that Darcy?” I hear Brayden ask in the background, as I watch him walk to Gavin on live TV.

“Yes. Call her on your own phone if you want to talk to her. Mine just might explode or some shit like that if you touch it.”

The line goes dead, and then my phone rings a few seconds later. “I don’t know how I did it. I swear. I was just boiling the pasta, and then there was fire. I think maybe it was the olive oil or the butter or…I don’t know.”

“Calm down, Bray. No one was hurt, right?”

“No.”

“And you can pay to fix whatever the insurance won’t, right?”

“The insurance guy said they’re paying nothing. He said he’s never seen anything like this in his 20 years on the job. But yes, of course I can pay.”

I burst out laughing, thinking about him setting a fire while cooking pasta. “I thought…I thought I told you to be careful.”

“I’m glad you find this funny.”

“Oh, I do. I really do.”

“Here comes the fire inspector to interview me. I’ll talk to you later.”

“Don’t incriminate yourself.”

“I don’t think fire by pasta will be considered arson.”

“Sir, are you making light of this incident,” I hear in the background. Oh shit.

“No. I would never do that. I take any kind of fire very seriously. I promise.”

The line goes dead, and I dissolve into another fit of laughter. My poor, sweet king.

* * *

3. Bake a cake for Darcy

Brayden

I’m not actually baking the cake for Darcy. I can’t. Doreen Drago saw the news, and forbade me from even touching her oven. Then again, the whole world saw the news. Even my mother called me, and she hates to use her cell phone. All press is good press, right? I mean, I could’ve told the press about my huge donation to the Firemen’s Fund, but that would’ve been bad form.

Maggie Griffin got me set up here at Drago Sisters, and I really want to do my part in this whole process, but no one really thinks that’s a good idea. I did try to mix the batter for my cake, but yeah, that didn’t really work out. So here I sit, covered in flour and cake batter, while Eliza tries to show me how to make a flower out of fondant. I dreamed of doing something more exciting, but by now, we all know that’s not going to happen. The other workers are staying as far away from me in this small space as possible.

I try a flower, and it comes out looking like a lump of color with a few ridges. “Dude. I mean, I know you’re trying, but seriously, what the f*ck? It’s a simple flower.”

“I’m a lost cause.”

“I want to argue, but yeah.”

Even frosting the cake turns out to be problematic. I have too much on one side, and I end up tearing off half the top layer when I try and fix it. Everyone just leaves me alone in my little corner. I’d like to think that they’re just letting me independently express my creativity, but I know better. Just another failure to check off. At this rate, I won’t successfully complete anything.

“I’m here for my cake,” I hear Darcy say to Eliza as she walks into the bakery.

I look down at the monstrosity I’ve created, and cringe. “Here, you can give her this one,” Doreen says, brining over a perfectly decorated masterpiece.

“No. I can’t pretend. I’m doing this to prove to her that I can live like a normal person. I’m just failing badly.”

“You came in here and tried Brayden; that has to count for something. I honestly would prefer if you just place an order in the future, but I applaud you for giving it a go.”

“Thanks.”

I walk out with my cake and watch as Darcy’s eyes widen in horror. She quickly recovers and smiles brightly. “Wow, Bray. Just, umm, wow.”

“It’s hideous. I know.”