Always Second Best

The baking competition is in two weeks, and I’m still deciding on the ingredients. If I win, I will get to go on a baking tour in Portugal, Ireland, France, Germany, Austria, and Italy.

I will spend the entire summer in Europe.

Baking.

I gently cut the vanilla bean in half. If I add a bit of vanilla to the dough and a touch to the frosting, it could work. To really get the crème brûlée flavor, I need to add caramelized sugar on top…Oh, maybe on top of the cupcake and then on top of the frosting?

So many questions. And I need to perfect it.

This baking competition would open so many doors. It could help my future career. It could help me impress my instructors at the Culinary School. Some of them might be harder to impress than my ballet instructors at the School of Performing Arts.

Plus…I could visit the village my Nonna and Poppa came from, and maybe even spend some time with my brother’s boyfriend. I could learn from the very best and bring back all of that knowledge to my family’s restaurant. I could come up with new recipes.

There’s a knock at the kitchen door and my frown turns into a smile as I see Nick leaning against the door, waiting for me to tell him it’s okay to enter. “Please, come in and tell me how this tastes.”

“You’re full of flour and you smell delicious.” His lips touch that spot on my neck that almost makes me forget the cupcakes and the competition.

Almost.

He dips a spoon in the frosting and brings it to his lips. And I can’t stop looking at his mouth and I can’t wait to hear what he thinks.

“Hmmm. Wow. Em…This is…so good.” He tilts his head. “It’s even better than your last try.”

“Wait until the cupcakes are ready. I also added a touch of vanilla to them…and I’m trying to decide whether I should caramelize brown sugar on top.” I can feel the excitement bubbling. I think I really have a winner. “I could win this thing,” I whisper.

And Nick gives me this look full of pride that still makes me blush. “Yeah. Of course. You’re one amazing cook and a wonderful baker, and you’re also adorable and I feel like you also want to give me more frosting.” I laugh and swat his hand away from the frosting bowl. “I have some ideas about what we could do with this frosting.” And his gaze narrows to my lips and my cheeks flush and I step forward until our bodies touch.

“Not with this frosting…” I warn him—but I don’t sound super convincing.

He leans toward me and his lips touch mine. It’s quick. Way too quick. But I’m on a deadline and we both know it.

“How was your day?” I ask, checking on the oven. It still needs a few minutes to warm up.

“I’ll tell you at dinner tonight. We’re still on for our date, right?” We’ve been dating for more than a year and we’ve been friends for what seems like forever and I know by the way he shifts from one foot to another that he really wants to tell me something…and that he’s probably not sure he can wait until tonight.

“Everything okay?” I narrow my eyes, thinking about what it could be. Since graduation, he’s been working at the School Of Performing Arts, helping in different roles: from administrative to being a sort of graduate teaching assistant to the lower-classes. His contract was just renewed…

He rubs the back of his neck and then his smile turns into that grin I love. “I’ve been approached by Cooper’s company.”

I rush to him, probably bringing flour and sugar along with me. His arms wrap around me and this time, when we kiss, it’s not a soft and sweet kiss. It’s soft and sweet, but it’s also so much more.

“I’m so proud of you.” I almost tear up I’m so happy for him. He could join any company he wants. And Cooper’s company has been high on his list—ever since he did a workshop with them six months ago.

“It feels right. Not what I expected years ago…but it feels right.” He kisses me again…more slowly and I melt into his arms like butter.

“Butter. Oh. Maybe I could do a butter frosting instead.” I mumble and laughter rumbles deep in his chest.

“I love you. You know that?” He steps back and his smile is full of tenderness and love and memories and promises that always give me this warm and happy and grateful feeling.

“I love you too. I am really so proud of you.”

He tilts his head. “And I’m so proud of you. Your cupcakes are the best I’ve ever eaten. You got this.”

“Thanks. I really think this is the recipe.”

“There’s something else,” he whispers. “I wanted to tell you everything tonight. But I can’t wait.” He pulls a paper out of his back pocket. “Remember that submission I sent to Recipe World?”

“The one about the restaurant?” Months ago, Nick had taken the time to write to my favorite magazine as they were calling for stories about restaurants from around the world. He told them about the food and he told them about Nonna and my family.

“Yep.” He tilts his head, watching me. “They emailed me back.”

I read the answer, slowly, almost giggling. “Dear Nick, Thank you for your submission. We are interested in sitting down with Emilia and her family for a portrait of her family restaurant and are looking forward to tasting their favorite recipes. We will contact them shortly to arrange the meeting. All the very best, Sienna Marley, Recipe World Communications Manager.” I look up at him. “This is happening? This is really happening!” I throw my arms around him again. “Thank you. Thank you so much. Mom is going to be so excited.” I lean back and the warm feeling in my chest spreads to every inch of my body. “Thank you,” I repeat. Because he took the time to do this. He did this for me. Just because.

“You’re welcome.” His hand slowly caresses my back. “How long do you need for those cupcakes?” His breath tickles my neck and a delicious tingle dances through me.

“Not too long,” I breathe out.

He steps back. “Tonight. Our date. We got a lot to celebrate.” He drops another kiss to my lips before leaving the kitchen.

I don’t think I stop smiling as I put the cupcakes in the oven and glance at the frosting that’s just waiting for the caramelized sugar.

My heart feels full. And the tension I felt earlier is receding, leaving place for excitement and gratitude.

I have so much to look forward to. We have so much to look forward to, together.

And who would have thought that this summer, years ago, would bring us to this place right here, right now?

There are still ups and down. And nothing is always picture-perfect. Even though, in a way, it is.

Because we’re facing the downs together.

Because we’re celebrating the ups together.

Because I know, deep inside of me, that Nick is my forever.

THE END (AGAIN) 😊