Page 96 of Craving Paradise

“Yeah, sorry about her. She’s not normally like that,” Vicky says, trying to apologize for her friend. “You still up for heading home?” she asks.

Am I?

27

LAUREN

Happening more often than not lately I find the kitchen filled with Elle’s delicious goodies.

“Hey, what’s got into you?”

“Nothing, just feeling inspired to bake.”

I stare out across the dozens of sweets she’s made.

“This isn’t stress baking?”

“No, this is happiness baking.” She grins.

She was at work last night. “Did you have a good guest last night?” I ask, biting into a chocolate mud cupcake.

“Yes. The sex was amazing. It was a great night.”

“Oh, who was it with?” I ask curiously.

Elle stills. “Mr. King,” she confesses.

Oh no. I can see that look in her eyes, she likes him. Jasper was right about the two of them last night. How did I miss this? Because you, too, are having a secret relationship.

“Do I need to give you the same warning you gave me for Mr. Fox?”

“No. All I will say is I get it. I get why you developed a crush on him.”

“You and I both know nothing will ever come of these crushes because of the club.”

“I know. Plus, we are moving halfway across the world too. But I can enjoy his company until then, can’t I?”

“Yes, of course, but we also don’t have to go.”

Elle stills, and her eyes narrow on me. “Nothing is going to stop me from going to the resort and saving all that money. My goal is so close I can taste it. I’ve finally been asked to the local markets.”

“Babe, that’s amazing. Congrats.”

“Things are looking up, Lauren.”

“Hey, I just have to pop out. Do you mind if I take some of these?” I ask Elle, who shakes her head and helps me place some cupcakes into a box for me. Then she waves to me as I walk out the door.

I get in my car and head over to Jasper’s place. I think we need to talk about what’s happening between us and discussing it over cupcakes is the right idea. I know Autumn and Freya aren’t home as they are in America.

I find a parking space out front, head up his stairs, and press his doorbell. The neighborhood is quiet at this time of the morning. It’s peaceful. There's no answer as I wait. I try again, this time longer. If he’s asleep, he may not have heard me. There are footsteps coming down the stairs. Jasper’s front door opens, and I’m taken aback by the person standing in front of me. Some blonde girl dressed in one of Jasper’s shirts. Her hair looks like a bird’s nest, and she has mascara rubbed under her eyes. My stomach sinks as I realize she is naked underneath the shirt. She’s obviously spent the night, judging by the image in front of me.

“What the hell do you want? It’s fucking early,” she hisses at me as her brown eyes look me up and down, and her overinflated lips curl with displeasure.

I’m dressed up in a T-shirt, some leggings, my trainers. I have no makeup on, and I pulled my hair up in a tight ponytail. I wasn’t dressing up to see a friend.

“Is Jasper home?” I ask her reluctantly.I will not let this image in front of me hurt me. Keep it together.

“He’s in bed exhausted from me fucking him,” she spits at me.