Chapter Sixteen
Ali was mortified to have spent even a single stupid tear on her mom’s ridiculousness.
She wasn’t getting back together with Kyle.
It didn’t matter if he blustered around and acted like a jealous ass or if her mom tried to push them together.
He could become the world’s greatest guy and she wouldn’t want him back.
She didn’t want to go back to anything. She had a new house and a new life. Sure, it was a work in progress, but it was hers. And every time her mom or Kyle or anyone else tried to throw doubt on that, she got so angry and upset. God, she hated crying. Especially in public.
JT was so sweet to give her an out. Of course she could tell the tears were threatening to fall, but she gave Ali an excuse for why her eyes might be watering that had nothing to do with her mom or her ex-husband.
It had been a while since Ali had felt so cared for by a person.
Was this what friends did for each other? Or was there something else?
Their kiss and flirting were a little confusing because she really enjoyed them, and it had been her who’d said they should compete as friends. She’d shut all that down. Or she thought she had. But clearly her emotions hadn’t caught up. Her thoughts were interrupted by a sudden announcement.
“Stop what you’re doing! The judges will now sample your cocoas. Please be patient, there’re only two of us and we’re old as hell!”
Everyone in the room laughed. The café owners and a few other judges trailed behind them going from station to station.
JT craned her neck to try to see her siblings’ offerings.
“Remember, no one gets eliminated on this one,” Ali said.
JT gave a tight smile. “Will you be satisfied with being in last place?”
Ali laughed but covered her mouth when a couple people turned their way. “Of course not. But no one wins or loses the competition tonight. The prize is a gift card to this store. Which is great, but…”
“We’re here to win it all,” JT whispered. “Let’s fucking go, Porter.”
A warmth spread through Ali’s chest. It was weird of JT to call her by her last name.
Weirder, maybe, because Ali had only recently gone back to it from her married name.
But hearing JT say it made her feel like she’d been enveloped in a bear hug.
It was friendly in a way that made her feel like they’d been best friends for ages instead of little more than acquaintances.
JT made her feel like they were teammates.
Ali internally rolled her eyes at herself.
Yes, they were literally teammates at that moment, but having JT speak about her like they were on the same sports team, like they were completely in this thing together, made her emotional.
She’d missed having a teammate, both on actual teams, like her soccer team in high school, but also that person who was always there for her. She’d lost that when she and Kyle drifted apart. Having that feeling back, even for a few hours, was incredible.
“Mrs. Canterbury, Miss Cox,” one of the judges said, stopping at their station.
“Hello, please call me JT. And this is the talent on this team, Ali Porter.”
The judge blinked as if he was surprised to be corrected. He looked at his sheet. “Oh, yes. I see. Ali Porter.” The other judges moved closer to the table to get a better look at the mugs.
“What have you made for us?”
Ali smiled, relieved to move on. “We made a classic cocoa with fudge, whipped cream and chocolate shavings. And this one is salted caramel and peanut butter.”
“Both have marshmallows, too,” JT added with a grin. “Can’t have cocoa without marshmallows, if you ask me.”
“Interesting.” Tim gave her a skeptical look. “You don’t think marshmallows are only for children?”
JT feigned shock. “Of course not! Is joy only for children? Happiness? Of course not. I know my partner in cocoa agrees with me, right, Ali?” JT waited for the judges to look at Ali before giving her a wink.
Ali schooled her features to keep from laughing. “Marshmallows are essential. Now, some folks like the tiny ones that melt into the drink, and other folks prefer the big ones that float on top. I like them both.”
JT grabbed a few out of the jar. “And these, I don’t know who made them, but they are heaven. Best marshmallows I’ve ever had, and I’ve tried them all.”
One of the judges, a middle-aged woman with long dark hair, smiled up at JT. “Really? Those are from my shop.”
JT turned her full attention to the judge. “Well, not to risk getting in trouble with the Swiss, but I drank a lot of cocoa when I was in St. Moritz, and your marshmallows would win the gold medal for sure.”
“I’m Hannah,” the judge said, her voice bubbling with a giggle.
“Pleasure to meet you, Hannah. I hope you all enjoy the cocoa we’ve made. Ali gets credit for all the artistic ability. I’m just here for the food.” JT gave them all a smile, landing last on Hannah.
They sampled the mugs and then left for the next table. When they were out of earshot, Ali smacked JT on the arm. “You are incorrigible! I can’t believe you were flirting with the judges!”
JT shrugged, looking quite pleased with herself. It wasn’t flirting to tell the truth about the marshmallows, which were very good. She’d eaten at least a quarter of the jar. If she played up her excitement a little to get the judges’ attention, that wasn’t a crime.
“Jealous?” JT asked, not even trying to keep from flirting with Ali.
Ali scowled, or tried to. “No. Hannah Elmsworth is married and one of my co-workers.”
“So?”
“So, I’m not jealous of her, I just can’t believe you are such a brazen flirt!
I guess I shouldn’t be since you flirted with Darcy LaCroix on national TV when her girlfriend was right there!
” Ali could say she wasn’t jealous, but under her laughter she could feel the tug of it.
Friends or not, she liked it best when JT flirted with her.
“There’s nothing wrong with flirting. I don’t flirt with people who don’t want me to.
Hannah didn’t seem to mind. And I told you, I’m in it to win it.
” She looked around the room. “I don’t think this is going to be our best event, but maybe if I compliment the ingredients, the judges decide they like us a bit more than Kyle or my brother and sister.
” She shrugged. “It’s not a big deal. Unless you’re jealous. Come on, you can tell me.”
JT’s grin suggested she knew she was pushing it, but Ali liked it. Sure, it went against her request that they be nothing more than friends, but dammit, she liked the flirting. She liked it a lot.