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I went to talk but stilled when there was a knock on the door.
“Nicholaus? Are you in there?”
My eyes widened in horror. Nic and I stared at each other. He put his finger up to his mouth in a motion for me to keep quiet. I tilted my head and shot him a really look.
“I don’t know where they went.”
I mouthed, who was that?
Nic rolled his eyes and pulled me to him. Pressing his lips to mine, he kissed me. So deeply and so passionately I forgot that his mother was on the other side of the door. I forgot about the competition and most importantly, I forgot I was running from my past.
I PACED BACK and forth wringing my hands together as we waited for the judges to give their results. All I wanted was to place. And of course beating Katerina would be nice.
“Stop pacing, Gabi. You’re making me nervous.”
Stopping, I smiled at Liza. “Sorry. I’m going out of my mind waiting.”
“What you need is another sneak away with Nic,” she said while wiggling her eyebrows. My face heated and I looked past her to see Nic. He was over at his mother’s station across the room. My heart dropped thinking about almost being caught by Katerina. That was twice she’d almost caught us in the middle of the deed.
“We only went for some air.”
“Uh-huh. Please. I can practically smell the sex on you.”
My mouth fell open. “Liza!”
With a nonchalant shrug, she replied, “What? I’m not naïve, Gabi. I see the way he looks at you like he wants to devour you. It’s hot.”
I chewed on my lip and grinned. “He’s so amazing.”
Liza laughed. “Charity said, from what she hears coming from your room, Nic surely must have a magical dick.”
Now my face really felt hot. I slumped down into the chair and stared at Liza. “She did not say that.”
“Oh, she said it. I think she said it in front of Max because she thinks he has the hots for you.” Liza laughed. “Which is so far from the truth.”
With a frown, I asked, “Why is that so far from the truth?”
With a surprised expression on her face, she pinched her brows together. “You don’t know, do you? Oh. My. Gosh. Neither one of you know.”
“Know what?” I asked in anticipation of what she was going to say.
“Max is gay, Gabi! He’s been in a relationship with the same guy for three years.”
I looked at her like she had grown two heads. Not that I cared Max was gay, but how could Charity and I miss that?
“Max is gay? How did I miss that?”
Her right shoulder lifted. “Beats me, but I can’t wait to tell him this.”
I jumped up to beg her not to when the host of the event spoke.
Nic walked up right then and wrapped me in his arms. “It’s okay, agapiméni. No matter what happens, you’re my number one.”
Smiling, I reached up on my toes and kissed him. They were announcing the top five winners, staring with number five. I prayed like hell I got it.
“Our fifth runner up is, Lauren Night.”
My body sank against Nic. “There are four other spots,” he whispered. I smiled, knowing he was right. There was a small chance I could make fourth . . . maybe even third.
Glancing over to Katerina, she looked confident. Why couldn’t I be that confident?
“Fourth place goes to Michelle Smith.”
My heart was pounding in my ears.
“Third place goes to Katerina Drivas.”
Closing my eyes, I fought to not cry out. Nic chuckled next to me. “Oh, she is not going to be happy with third.”
I turned and sat down on the chair. She still won and I would never live it down.
“Second place goes to Elizabeth Rainy.” Burying my face in my hands, I tried not to let it get to me.
Why?
Why did Liza have to tell her about the competition?
“And the winner of the Tenth Annual Colorado Springs Cooking and Baking Competition is Gabi Mandola.”
My head jerked up as Liza and Nic both cried out in celebration. “You won! You won!” Liza yelled as she pulled me up and threw her arms around me.
Tears started to form in my eyes and when I pulled back and gazed over at Nic, I lost all control. He looked so proud of me and when he held his arms out, I nearly knocked him over when I rushed into them.
“You won, Gabi. I knew you would.”
His words filled my heart with so much love it felt as if it would burst. When I pulled back, I had tears streaming down my face.
Nic smiled. “I’m so glad you’re happy you won. You deserved it.”
I shook my head while wiping my tears away.
“I’m happy I won, but I’m freaking ecstatic I beat your mother!”
Nic stared at me for a few seconds before he busted out laughing and pulled me in for another hug.
