Summer Breeze Kisses - Addison Moore Page 0,121

if trying to stop a steamroller bent on destruction. Actually, I am rolling, pin rolling this bright blue fondant into submission. I’ve been at Roxy’s apartment for the better half of the day helping her bake, frost, and package up her tiny little confections for a bat mitzvah later this evening.

“You’re doing great. Just be sure to keep it a fourth of an inch all the way through.” She inspects her blue hands and runs them under the water one more time, but it’s no use. We’re both stained as blueberries from trying to get this electric blue concoction just the right hue. It’s for a special client’s baby boy who gets a three-tiered cake for his very first birthday. Roxy usually doesn’t do cakes, but since it’s his first, she’s going all-out. “Oh, and bad news, I can’t make that run to Carlton, so would you mind doing the delivery for me?”

My body temperature spikes. “No—not at all.” Mentally, I try to calculate street routes all the way out to that miniature metropolis, but every one of those leads straight to the highway. My heart lets out a few wild wallops at the thought of hopping onto that super highway and merging my way to the other side of existence. In the least, I’ll get into a massive pileup, and all of Roxy’s precious confections will go flying. If the interstate doesn’t kill me, Roxy will for sure.

“Great. Baya is having her final fitting for her matron of honor dress, so Laney and I are tagging along. The brides will be there, too, so this way I get a sneak peek at all that satiny splendor.” She wrinkles her nose. “When Cole and I get hitched, I’m wearing black—something smoking hot, not too matronly. I’d elope, but both my brother and Laney would kill us.” She fishes a key from the junk drawer and hands it to me. “You don’t need to leave for another hour, so if you have to make a quick pit stop back at your dorm feel free. Just lock up when you leave.” She scoots to the exit and snaps up her purse. “The address is sitting there on top. Don’t work too hard. See you tomorrow!”

The door slams shut, and I snatch the directions off the stack of boxes set for delivery.

God, God, God! What am I going to do? I stare blankly at the word Carlton printed boldly at the bottom of the rather vague map and break out into a biting sweat. Carlton is all the way out in Timbuk-freaking-tu! Why the hell do people in Carlton need cupcakes?

“Crap!” I fumble for my phone and put a call into Daisy. Of course, I breathe easy for a moment, but it goes straight to voicemail. “Crap.” Nobody picks up their damn phone anymore. What the hell am I thinking? I send a group text to Daisy, Piper, and Cassidy asking if anyone would mind driving out with me to Carlton, citing lunch would be on me! Little do they know they’ll actually be doing the peddling. I’ve spent a lifetime coercing unsuspecting friends and family to take me where I needed to be should my final destination warrant a jaunt on the turnpike of terror.

One by one they text back, each with a very valid excuse. Piper has a hot date with Owen—literally hot, they’re about to boil one another at the Witch’s Cauldron, a cesspool of coital encounters if you ask me. I’d be terrified to dip my toe in it in fear it’d fall right off. Cassidy and Cade just got back from a quick trip to Tennessee and are exhausted. Daisy is already at Stilettos trying out a new routine.

“I’m screwed.” I glare up at the tower of boxes, each with their dozens of cute little pink cupcakes drizzled with a rainbow of classic sprinkles. I thought they were so darn adorable when I was putting them together, and now they’re all glaring at me like a coven of pink demons. I hate the damn things. I’m going to die in a fiery crash, and it’s all because of those over iced confections.

Rex pops into my head, and I don’t hesitate putting in a text.

Where are you? No, wait. Delete, delete, delete. Sounds too demanding. I need to come across as kindhearted and friendly—two things I find it very hard to be around Rex Toberman. In fact, if I can elicit a little sympathy, it might work in my