Loving Skye by Kelsie Stelting

Author:Kelsie Stelting [Stelting, Kelsie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2018-10-12T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty-One

“Let Liz and I enter the contest,” I said Saturday morning.

Mom and Dad looked between each other. “Is that even allowed?”

Liz looked at me, confused.

I shrugged. “I don’t see why not. We could bring that other chili recipe. Double our chances, you know?”

Mom nodded. “It couldn’t hurt, right, Bill?”

“It’s on.” Dad grinned. “But you guys have to make it yourselves.”

“Deal.”

We spent the morning cooking. Well, Liz ducked in and out while I cooked because of her morning sickness, but finally, we had two slow cookers loaded into the car and ready to go to Woodman.

I was excited for tonight—Mom and Dad had agreed to let me stay after the cook-off with Andrew and have him drive me home with a midnight curfew. That meant we’d have at least six hours on our own.

Me: Can’t wait for later. :)

It took about fifteen minutes for Andrew to text back.

Andrew: Me either. Prepare for the best date ever.

Me: Jeez. What took you so long?

Andrew: Sorry. :/ I have tons of stuff to do. My family’s kind of the main volunteers here.

Me: I see. You’re rigging the contest. ;)

Andrew: I never!

Me: Uh huh

Andrew: You dishonor me.

Me: Dishonor on you. Dishonor on your cow. Dishonor on your family.

Andrew: Are you quoting Mulan?

Me: That’s beside the point.

Me: Don’t you have volunteering to do?

Andrew: See you soon. :)

My family arrived and got set up, and Andrew wasn’t kidding about being busy. He barely had a second to say hello before he was off helping someone with a table or setting up score cards or checking people in. But I still had fun trying all of the chilis and guessing who would win. I had my bets on a close contest between Brindon Chili Co., Hoffner Chili Group, and The Chili Beans.

Liz and I didn’t have time for fancy shirts, so she’d just marked up a couple old tees with a permanent marker, but still. We were going with it.

While we waited for awards, Liz came to stand next to me, her arm around my shoulders. “I know what you’re doing.”

My heart dropped. “What do you mean?”

“Trying to win the chili competition to make some extra money?”

I swallowed. “So?”

“I think we’re going to need more than five hundred dollars.”

“I—”

The announcer’s voice came over the speakers. “Hello, chili lovers! Let’s get these awards underway before we start dealing with the after-effects of a good pot of chili.”

Liz put her hand to her forehead. “Seriously?”

I giggled. “Gross.”

“We had some stunning recipes today! I’d never heard of Hawaiian chili before, but I’m definitely getting that recipe.”

“Slop,” Liz muttered.

“Yep.” Cutting up ham and slow cooking it with pineapple chunks and Swiss cheese shouldn’t qualify as chili.

“We had a close contest this time, with first, second, and third being separated by one vote each.”

I tapped my foot. “Get on with it already.”

Liz laughed. “Right?”

“In third place, The Chili Beans.”

Liz looked at me and shrugged, then made a war cry and ran toward the stage, pumping her fist in the air.

Blushing, I followed her to claim our hundred bucks and the trophy.

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