Cupcakes and Christmas - R.J. Scott Page 0,10

his face and their expressions abruptly got serious. I wonder what they were talking about. Was it something to do with the show? Was it a continuing conversation from a reunion? Were they close friends? She’d called him Brodes, which I’d never heard used before, so I assume they were close enough for her to give him a pet name.

If I had to give him a pet name it would be Sexy McSexy or something that I could whisper in his ear as he writhed under me in bed.

He crossed over to me as Kristen joined Ivan and they went into their briefing together, which made sense given they were clearly in a relationship.

“Were you waiting for me?” Brody asked. “I’m heading to the hotel. You want to go with?”

Had I been waiting for him? I glanced up at him and his easy smile.

“Yeah, sure.” I’d parked at the Fairmont and walked here with Erin as she rambled on about this promo or that opportunity or this threat. Apparently, Brody was designated a threat, but I’d stopped listening at that point. I’d planned to walk back, but I should have done that when he went in because I wasn’t really waiting for him as such.

Liar.

We wrapped up in our coats, and he pulled a ridiculously cute beanie down to cover his ears that had to be a gift from a niece or nephew given it was emblazoned with the message ‘I’m the best uncle’. I wanted to ask him about it. I felt like I wanted to peel back a layer from the man I knew only through a television screen, but as usual the words weren’t there for me. On social media, I would caption a shot of him with something like ‘cute beanie, way to be a sexy uncle’ but in real life that would sound nonsensical. When we headed outside, the cold wind slapped us with a promise of snow. The day was even colder than earlier, the sun weak behind gray clouds fat with snow, and we headed across the grass at a brisk pace, both of us letting out audible shivering noises to indicate just how cold it was.

“Did they make you sign a non-disclosure?” he asked as he jumped a small pile of snow. “Why would they even think we’d go out and tell anyone about who won each round? That would be spoiling it for the viewers.”

I made a non-committal hmmm noise because Erin would demand I share anything I could to get more likes. With her words in my ear, I’d balked at signing the damn form until the show’s legal team reminded me that it was their way or the highway. Apparently, they could just as easily make this a five person charity event if I wanted them to, and they didn’t hesitate to let me know.

He carried on talking. “Although, I still can’t believe they tweeted the photo of the winner of Drag Race in an advert for the finale.”

“They did? For real?” Drag Race? I loved that show, but as usual I was still catching up, and I was only on episode one of the new season. I couldn’t share my love for it. Apparently, the show wasn’t good for my profile, too in your face, too flamboyant, too everything that Erin’s team deemed awkward for my sponsors. I thought we had a lot of crossover, mostly because I loved it, and secondly, because it would be so cool to do a Drag Race inspired event on my Instagram, maybe a charity event like this?

“Yeah, spoiled it for everyone.”

“I’ve only seen the first episode.”

He side-eyed me and then made a motion to zip his lips. “Stay off Twitter, and don’t get me drunk.”

“Huh?” Seriously, what was it about Brody that had me unable to form full sentences?

“Two glasses of wine and I’m liable to tell you who won.”

“Okay, then I won’t get you drunk.” I laughed along with him, although the thought of a giggling Brody having to lean on me to stand up and whispering Drag Race secrets in my ear had my jeans getting tight. What I wouldn’t give for Brody to get up in my space like that.

A particularly icy blast of wind bearing new snow caught us, but instead of grimacing, Brody held his face up to the sky and stuck out his tongue, catching a snowflake and then side-eyeing me again.

“Stupid, I know, but the first snow, it’s like a thing I do.”

A thing.