Chapter 9. Secrets and Cupcakes

“Dorothy!” my mom called out. “The timer!”

My mind was elsewhere.

After abandoning me in the hallway earlier to talk to the extremely gorgeous, practically perfect new girl, Ace never came back to class. The only explanation I got from him was a simple text.

Ace:

Something came up so I won’t be in class for the rest of the day.

Stay at school and don’t leave without letting me know. Madoc is going to give you a ride home.

“Oh, shoot! Sorry.” I had been so lost in thought that I didn’t even hear the incessant beeping of the oven timer going off.

No more distractions, I thought. If Ace can be without me, I can be without Ace. I put my phone on silent and rushed to grab the oven mitts.

My mom walked into the kitchen carrying a brown paper bag full of ingredients for the frosting we were planning to make.

As it was going to be a rare night without Ace or Marta, we decided to spend the night baking c