Chapter 43

He scowled. "You're embarrassed." "I can't tell if it's because of your friend or because of these pastries." Knowing full well that Vera was listening in on our little talk, I scoffed at that.

"A little bit of both," I acknowledged.

Derrick briefly drummed his fingers on the table while gazing down at the tower, which included pastries, cupcakes, and cream cakes. He had never tasted anything I had made before, save for the disastrous sandwich I had made him two days prior, and for some reason it worried me.

He made his decision as he lifted a tiny tartelette with a caramelized strawberry in the center and...