“It is supremely weird seeing yourself on television,” Lindsay said.
“You did such a great job!” said Paige. “I’m not even just saying that. You sounded so smart. I don’t know anything about flavor profiles or Spanish cuisine, and I still found what you said in the skirt-steak round interesting.”
“Well, the second episode I judged airs in two weeks. You all can watch that one without me.”
“Oh, here comes Brad,” said Lauren.
Lindsay had seen the live feed of Brad’s episode, not the edited version. There was a talking-head interview with him where he name-dropped the cat café twice—Paige pumped her fist and said, “Yeah, baby,” each time he did—and then he made a lobster roll.
“I know it would kill Lindsay,” said Lauren, “but if you ever want to make lobster rolls for the rest of us, I’m first in line.”
“What was in the aioli?” Lindsay asked.
Brad winked. “Trade secret.”
“I saw egg, garlic, olive oil…pepper?”
“I threw a dash of Old Bay in there, too.”
After the commercial, they all watched Brad make the Mexican chocolate cupcakes.
“I can’t believe you won with a cupcake,” said Paige.
“I can’t believe he made cupcakes in half an hour.”
“The trick to this show seems to be timing,” said Brad. “I think that’s what tripped up some of the eliminated chefs. They didn’t manage their time well.”
An old episode ofChampion Chefcame on afterMystery Meal, and everyone kept chatting while they polished off the rest of Lindsay’s food.
Josh asked Paige, “Can we have sliders and french fries at the wedding?”
“No, darling. Seafood. The wedding is at a seafood restaurant.”
“Oh, right. Well, this was great, Lindsay. I’d eat three more sliders if there were any left.”
“There are still cookies,” Brad said, standing. “Chocolate chip, butter shortbread, and cinnamon molasses.”
“Oh, that last one sounds wonderful,” said Lauren.
“I created the recipe. I’m sure I’m not the first person who thought to put both cinnamon and molasses in a cookie, but I’ve spent some time perfecting these.”
“You can put those on the coffee table,” Paige said.
Brad got up to get the cookies, and Josh got up to let the cats out of the bedroom. Both zoomed out, but then got a good look at the crowd in the living room and ran back to the bedroom.
Brad walked back into the living room area with his bin of cookies. When he peeled the top off the container, the scent of cinnamon and sugar hit Lindsay’s nostrils.
In other words, Brad was hot, he was charming, and he knew how to make all kinds of confections. Lindsay had enough of a sweet tooth for this to make him an ideal mate. If she remembered correctly, he made a mean breakfast, too. Could they in some future live in an apartment with a big enough kitchen that they could spend weekend mornings eating his cream cheese–stuffed French toast at the island? Could they feed each other bacon and the latest of Brad’s experimental muffins?
Why was she resisting him so much?
Everyone protested being full and then gorged themselves on cookies. Hannah fell asleep in her father’s lap and he gently put her in her baby seat while he commandeered a plastic baggie to take even more of the cookies home.
It was a nice little family they’d all made. Caleb and Josh had been good additions to their friend group, both of them upstanding guys who clearly doted on their significant others. Caleb was serious and sometimes a little grouchy, but fatherhood had mellowed him out a little. Josh was upbeat and sometimes goofy, but he clearly thought Paige hung the moon. Would Brad do well with her friends, too? He’d fit right in so far.
The longer the night wore on, the harder it was to remember why she didn’t want to be with Brad.
Lauren and Caleb left the party first so they could get Hannah home and to bed. Evan left shortly thereafter, saying he had to get some work done before he could sleep. That left Lindsay and Paige cleaning up the kitchen when Brad offered to help. So Lindsay let him do the dishes.
