Free A. Gardner - Poppy Peters 01 - Southern Peach Pie and A Dead Guy by A. Gardner

advice even though inside I'm cursing at him.
    "Sounds like my last boyfriend," Bree jokes.
    "So red velvet, huh?" I turn to her and close my notebook. "Isn't that a southern thing? It will have to be really good to win."
    "I have an old school recipe with beet juice and everything," she comments. "I only break it out for special occasions, because it's amazing ."
    "Wow."
    "What about you?" she asks. "What are you going to submit?"
    I've been wondering the same thing myself. My mind is moving at a million miles a minute trying to decide. I want to perfect something that takes a lot of skill. If I do that, the judges will know that I mean business. I am not just an average woman about to turn thirty who thinks that Betty Crocker counts as being made from scratch because you have to mix it.
    "What do you think of a napoleon?"
    "Whoa." Her eyes go wide. "Aren't those kind of tricky to make?"
    "But they're good."
    "There's a ton of ways to mess it up," she goes on. "First there's the consistency of the cream, and then there's the puff pastry that can go soggy on you. Not to mention you have to make the design on top look artistic and professional, and—"
    "Okay," I interrupt. "I get it. It's risky, and I've never made one before."
    "You better get practicing."
    I was afraid she might say that.
    "I'm going to have my serving platter handmade and flown in from New York City," I hear Georgina say. She is talking to one of her friends as she cuts kiwis. She's purposely talking loud enough for the entire classroom to hear. Georgina lifts her chin and continues to talk about how she has this secret family recipe that has won all kinds of awards in the past. She thinks she's the winner already.
    "I don't care who wins," Bree mutters under her breath. "As long as someone beats her ."
    I laugh and get to work on my tart. I start by mixing my crust, but I stop when the strong scent of cologne fills my nose. I sniff my strawberries again to make sure I'm not going crazy. A hand touches my shoulder, and makes my chest start pounding.
    "Hey, Poppy," Jeff says.
    "Oh, hey." I carry on with my tart like nothing is wrong.
    "About last night," he begins. "I really am sorry about how things played out."
    "Don't worry about it," I respond.
    He grins. He must have thought I would put up a fuss. Scold him, maybe? Instead I do what I usually do when guys act lame. I try to make them jealous.
    "I am a man of my word. I'll make it up to you."
    "Actually," I respond. "I am not sure I'll have time now with this contest coming up. Cole and I are going to be in here practicing every night and weekend I suspect."
    "Oh." Jeff looks surprised. He folds his arms. I look up at him and his ice blue eyes glimmer in the light.
    "He's a good tutor." I sigh.
    "Cole?" he repeats.
    I look back at Cole and wait for him to make eye contact. When he does I wink at him for Jeff to see. Cole stares at me looking confused before shaking his head.
    "Maybe after midterms?"
    "Sure," he replies. "Midterms."
    I nod.
    As he grins and walks away, I hear Bree giggle. She glares at me like I'm insane for letting Jeff get off that easy.
    "If he's not your type just tell him," she whispers. "Otherwise, make him buy you a nice steak dinner."
    "I don't know if I like him like that or not," I admit. "It's complicated."
    "Are you sure?" Bree glances back at him with a twinkle in her eye. She tosses her strawberry blonde locks over her shoulder. "He stinks at first impressions, but I hear he drinks as much coffee as you do."
    "Hang on." I raise my eyebrows. "Weren't you the one who called him a jerk earlier?"
    "I can't help it. I'm unusually bitter when it comes to flaky men. He's a jerk for running off like he did, but that doesn't mean you have to turn him away." She glances over her shoulder at Georgina who is forming her tart in her specialized tart pan.
    "Oh." I place a hand on my chest and sport a wide grin. "I see what you're doing. You want me to lead Jeff on just long enough to