Free Worth the Risk by Meryl Sawyer Page B

football field won with his Cranberry Baklava.
    One vote.
    How would Amber take such a narrow defeat?
    The ceremony finally concluded and Lexi rose to join her sister, but Amber left her seat and headed for the stage where the winner, Toby McCall, was talking with the chefs. Amber went right up to Toby and high-fived him. Apparently they’d become friendly during the contest.
    Lexi smiled to herself. Maybe this contest was a learning experience on more levels than one.
    “Sorry Amber didn’t win.” Brad’s voice came from beside her. He’d walked up unexpectedly while she’d been watching her sister. “It was really close.”
    Lexi drew a deep breath and refused to reveal how thrilled she was that he’d sought her out. Maybe she hadn’t lost her chance with him after all. She told herself to say something that would smooth things between them.
    “Amber can be proud. She created two innovative desserts. Just because she didn’t get first prize doesn’t mean she isn’t a winner. Still, she’s going to be disappointed not to be working with Charmayne.”
    Amber was talking with the chefs now and they were all smiling at her and chatting as if they were old friends. Pretty amazing, Lexi decided. She would have thought Amber would have left after congratulating the winner.
    “Your sister has talent,” Brad said, his voice low. “Are you sure you don’t want me to offer her a summer job?”
    Lexi was tempted to say yes and change the dynamics of the situation. Brad could be a hero and Lexi would no longer be the spoilsport sister. She and Brad could take up where they’d left off. But she knew what was best for Amber. She boldly met his eyes. “Thanks, but Amber needs to attend summer school and help with City Seeds.”
    “Not even a part-time job? A couple of hours a day?” he asked, a trace of reproach in his voice.
    Again, she had to resist the urge to say yes. Experience with her sister told her that Amber would find any excuse to hang around Black Jack’s when she should be home in the garden or studying.
    “Thanks for the offer, Brad. Maybe next summer.”
    “Okay,” he said slowly, as if he expected her to change her mind. “Did you tell Amber that I wanted her to work for me this summer?”
    “No, I didn’t. I wanted her to concentrate on winning.”
    “But you didn’t want her to win. Did you?”
    “Of course I did!” Indignation rippled through her body. “I was prepared to give Joey Tran a full-time job with City Seeds so Amber could complete the internship.”
    Amber spotted them and dashed over, smiling. “I almost won.”
    “You did great,” Brad said with real enthusiasm.
    “I gave it my best.”
    “It was really close,” Brad told her. “Just one vote and we would have had a tie.”
    “It’s okay,” Amber said with sincerity. “I had fun just trying.”
    Brad nodded his approval, but Lexi could hardly speak. Was her sister really this calm about not winning?
    “I’ve got to run,” Brad said—more to Amber than Lexi. “Saturday night is our busiest time.” He turned and left without saying a word about seeing Lexi again.
    “What happened?” Amber asked. “I thought you two were…you know—”
    “Brad’s busy. I’m swamped between work and studying for the exam. That’s all.” Lexi told herself this was the truth, but it wasn’t the whole truth.
    “Then why did Brad come over to talk to you after the contest?”
    Clearly Amber was more perceptive than Lexi realized. Her sister’s voice, her expression said she knew Lexi wasn’t being entirely honest.
    “Brad came over to talk to me about giving you a part-time job this summer at Black Jack’s.”
    “You’re kidding! That’s awesome!” Amber was practically bouncing up and down. “I can hardly wait.”
    “Don’t get excited! You’re going to summer school and work in the garden. Next summer, if your grades are still good, you can work for Brad. I’m sure he’ll give you a job.”
    “That’s