#5 Icing on the Cake Read Free Page A

asked for an opportunity, I gave it to her.”
    I frowned. I could not believe they were talking about me like I wasn’t there. True, I wasn’t as strong as them, but this hurt.
    â€œOh, what? You thought you were going to be the only one?” Slade said, looking at me like that was the craziest idea.
    â€œLook, you’re new at this, and I’m giving you a chance. I can’t believe you’re giving me grief when I got to get out there and win people over with this song. Support me today. It’s not about you, Yuri. I’m making you a part of this. You’d think you’d be grateful, dang,” Slade said as she started to walk away from the car window.
    â€œYou could have told her about it,” Sloan said before Slade got far away.
    â€œWhat was I supposed to do? This is my partner’s aunt’s restaurant. I’m helping my sister out, her aunt wants to help us out. It’s all family. Get over it, get your stuff out here, and set up,” Slade demanded. “And I’ve got to get ready for a show. I can’t believe y’all are giving me drama.”
    I got out of the car, and the blonde-headed guy came right over. “Hey, I’m Paris. Can I help you bring something in?”
    â€œNo!” Sloan coldly said to him. “We have arms. Come on, sis.”
    We grabbed some stuff and went inside. My space had nothing on it but two little stands. A sign to go in front of the table wasn’t going to make it an inviting space. This Ms. Pinky lady had a true booth. It looked like a store on wheels. Even though people weren’t going to have to pay for my stuff, I wouldn’t want it compared to hers. I knew Sloan couldn’t babysit me forever. Once we got all my stuff inside, it looked as cute as it possibly could, but it was still less in comparison to Ms. Pinky. Sloan was supposed to be doing a write up of the event so it could be one of the first articles in her magazine.
    â€œGo, I’ll be fine.”
    â€œYou’re okay,” she said, completely feeling pitiful for me as she looked over at the magnificent booth. Mine looked like a kid’s lemonade stand.
    â€œCan I try one of your cupcakes?” Paris said.
    I felt so out of place. Many were at Ms. Pinky’s sweet set up. He probably would be the only one who would come over the whole evening, so who was I to tell him no.
    â€œThese are yummy,” he said, after gobbling down a vanilla cupcake and a red velvet one.
    â€œThanks.”
    Then I heard a whole bunch of laughter. My dad was visiting Ms. Pinky’s booth. He walked her over to where I was.
    â€œThis is my daughter. One day she wants to have an operation like yours. She’s so talented,” he bragged to Ms. Pinky.
    â€œOh, isn’t this booth precious. Paris, I see you over here tasting. Is it yum yum like her lil’ logo? Of course you’ve got to say so. You don’t want to hurt her feelings,” Ms. Pinky gloated.
    That was such a rude comment, I thought. I wanted to snatch my cupcake from Paris’s mouth. I didn’t need him to lie. My food was good, and I knew it.
    Paris walked into her trap. “It is yummy.”
    If he expected me to thank him again, that was over. I wanted him and this rude lady to leave me be. Paris saw I was anything but happy.
    â€œI hope your sister and mine won’t be too nervous up there,” Paris said, trying to lighten the mood.
    â€œOh, so you’re Charlotte’s brother?” my dad asked.
    â€œAnd I’m her auntie. Sometimes I claim her,” Ms. Pinky joked.
    My dad suggested, “Cool. Well, it’d be great if my daughter could come work with you. You can help her learn the ropes.”
    â€œI’d love that,” Ms. Pinky said as she and my dad walked back over to her station.
    I did not ask my dad to plead my case with Ms. Pinky. She had looked at me so condescendingly. The last person I wanted to help