Cupcakes and Christmas - R.J. Scott Page 0,35

was worried because it was Shauna, walking at my side and chatting about fondant icing, that was in the most danger of leaving. Last in the blind challenge, she’d not done brilliantly in the cupcake challenge either. I didn’t want to lose Shauna. I remember her on season two, and the way she shyly caught the hearts of everyone watching. I liked her in the show, but I didn’t like the way she was so quiet and was close to tears. I held onto her as she slipped on the cold path. In the front of the group, Kristen was clinging to Ivan, which left Justin walking to my left and slightly in front. His hands were in his jacket pockets. The collar popped to protect his neck and his beanie hiding all that blond hair.

Was I being stupid? Was he really that manipulative that he would pretend affection for another contestant? Did he think it was right to queer-bait the audience for ratings? And why the hell was I flailing from one moment liking the dude to the next distrusting him because he reminded me of another master manipulator—my ex.

“Can we stop and get a selfie?” Justin asked as we reached the hotel, which was spectacularly pretty, all lit up in the falling snow. I bet it was a gorgeous place at Christmas, with a tree and decorations and families meeting up. We’d be long gone by Christmas. Even though episode five would be shown on Christmas Eve, filming on the show would be finished by Halloween. We posed, although I mostly hid behind Ivan, still disgruntled at myself over what I should be thinking about Justin, and why it even mattered what I thought at all.

Justin posted it immediately and of course, my cell vibrated, but I refused to acknowledge I followed him in front of the others. Kristen didn’t hold back though, pulling out her cell and opening Instagram, oohing and aahing over the photo and adding it to her story.

“Hashtag where is Clare? I love that.” She took a photo of a snowy hedge and posted it. “I’m using that. A gorgeous scene. Hashtag where is Clare?” She pocketed her cell, and I imagined that I should really go and follow her, and in fact, I should follow all my fellow bakers. Connect with the world more than I do.

If I’d been more connected to what was happening outside 3B, then maybe I would have realized what Marc had been doing behind my back.

Nope, not going there.

We made plans to meet for dinner, and I took the stairs to my room rather than the elevator. Too much tasting of the buttercream and I genuinely needed exercise, only I wasn’t alone. Justin followed me and caught up with me halfway between flights and then tugged me to stop.

“Are you okay?” he asked in all seriousness, and I stared at him not entirely understanding the question.

“Sorry?”

“I thought we were talking okay.” He took a step closer, and I backed up against the wall. “Then when Rita was talking, your face went all weird.” He waved a hand in front of his eyes, indicating what I don’t know. “Then you stormed off.”

I could have waved it off then, but after Marc, life was too damn short to trust anyone. “You tell me what’s wrong. Was Rita filming everything? The way you gave me help? That moment in the hallway? Are you lying to me about the whole flirting thing? Do you even really want to get coffee with me?” My face heated with embarrassment, and I dropped my voice. “Are you using me to get more follows and likes?”

Justin blinked at me then one eyebrow lifted, which was either his confused expression or his ‘I’ve just been found out’ face.

“You want me to be honest?” he finally asked.

“Absolutely, completely honest.”

“I admit we could have used each other for promo if you’d agreed.”

“But I said no—”

“You said no, and I was wrong to even think it, and I backed off.”

He seemed as if he meant what he said but suspicion still poked at me. “You didn’t ask Rita to film those things?”

“I promise you I didn’t.” He was so earnest and I wanted to trust him, but I’d been shown the dark side of a man before, and what did I even know about Justin Mallory? Was he any better than Marc? Would he lie and manipulate and leave me messed up? I didn’t want to give any man the