Cupcake by Cookie O'Gorman

Author:Cookie O'Gorman
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Teen & Young Adult Dating & Sex Fiction; Teen & Young Adult New Experiences Fiction; Teen & Young Adult Humorous Fiction; Teen & Young Adult Contemporary Romance eBooks; Teen & Young Adult Emotions & Feelings Fiction; Teen & Young Adult Loners & Outcasts Fiction; Teen & Young Adult Romance eBooks; Cupcake by Cookie O’Gorman; Adorkable by Cookie O’Gorman; Contemporary YA Romance; Contemporary Teen Romance; Entangled Teen; Single Title Fiction; Single Title Young Adult Book; Popular Teen Novel; Contemporary Teen Novel; Contemporary YA Fiction; Homecoming Queen; Young Love; First Crush; Food Blogger; Homecoming Court; Teen Peer Pressure; Enemies to Lovers YA Romance; Homecoming Princess; Baker; Moody Teen Hero;
Publisher: Entangled Publishing, LLC
Published: 2022-09-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 19

“You okay, Princess?” Rhys said.

I cleared my throat. “Yeah, I’m fine.”

“You suddenly got this faraway look in your eyes.”

“Hmm,” I said, “sorry, I was distracted. We should probably run the dance a couple more times, since we didn’t finish.”

Rhys nodded. “Whatever you say.”

Just as we were about to start again, the front door opened. A middle-aged couple walked in, carrying bags in their arms, followed by a boy who had to be Rhys’s younger brother. They were like mirror images of each other—though his brother was shorter and looked all of twelve years old.

“So, Rhys gets the house to himself,” the boy said, “and I’m forced to go to the mall with you two instead of staying home and playing Xbox? How is this fair?”

Rhys shook his head. “I’m older than you.”

“Yeah, and more hormonal.”

“Zachary David Castle!” the woman said. “You apologize to your brother and his guest right now.”

“Why? It’s true.”

The woman didn’t back down, and he rolled his eyes.

“Sorry,” Zach said, then looked at me. “I guess you’re the girl who has to dance with him?”

“I am,” I said.

The kid shook his head. “Again, I’m sorry. He’s been practicing for hours on end, but he still sucks.”

“Hey,” Rhys argued, “you said I got better.”

“No, I said your level of suckage got better,” Zach corrected, giving a shrug. “But could you really have gotten any worse?”

My dance partner’s eyes lit on his brother, pinning him to the spot and promising retribution.

“I’m going to get you for that,” Rhys said.

“Yeah, okay.”

Before I could blink, Rhys had vaulted over the couch and pulled his brother into a headlock. The kid was wily, though. He slipped out of the hold, but Rhys quickly caught him again. It was obvious they’d done this a thousand times before.

“You’ll have to disregard this little display of brotherly love,” Rhys’s dad said, coming over to me. “I’m Glenn Castle, Rhys and Zach’s dad. And you are?”

“Ariel,” I said. “Pleasure to meet you, Mr. Castle.”

A groan sounded out, and I saw that Zach and Rhys were now wrestling on the floor.

“Does this happen often?” I asked.

“Only every day and twice on weekends.” Mrs. Castle walked over to me, holding out a dainty hand. “I’m Jennifer, the mom—though I maintain they get this unruliness from their father.”

A loud crash came from behind. But she ignored it, and so did I.

“It’s nice to meet you,” I said.

“In all seriousness, I hope this isn’t bothering you, Ariel.”

“Oh no.”

Mr. Castle leaned over and whisper-shouted, “She has to say that. Unlike our two hooligans, the girl obviously has manners.”

I laughed at that. “It’s fine, seriously,” I said. “My mom and I hate it when the house is too quiet. Plus, as an only child, I always wanted a brother or sister. So this is nice.”

Mr. Castle smiled then took his and his wife’s bags into another room. The boys’ fight seemed to be winding down. Mrs. Castle, though, I noticed was looking at me.

“Rhys was right about you,” she said.

“What do you mean?” I asked.

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