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“It is.”
The looks on their faces give me hope that I can offer something different. “Can I bake you guys some other pastries?”
“You can make whatever your heart desires,” Amy says. “As long as I get a piece.”
I throw my hair up in a messy bun, already planning the menu. I spend the rest of the day making one dessert after another. As fast as the oven will allow me to bake. I’d do anything to forget about my life right now.
With Amy’s blessing, I search her kitchen for platters and put all the pastries on the island. By the time daylight disappears, I have the kitchen cleaned and a buffet of colorful sugar treats. I squeal with delight at how it looks. A variety of cookies, Firi Firi (a Tahitian fried donut), coconut cake, and a new recipe I’m trying out—Whiskey cupcakes inspired by Ryker. I couldn’t help it.
When I walk into the living room a few agents are relaxing on the couch with Amy and her husband, watching TV. Halli’s on her computer, sitting at a small desk in the corner of the room. I clear my throat and everyone turns their attention to me.
Twisting my shirt in my hand, I’m suddenly worried that they’ll hate everything. “Um, do we want to eat dinner first?” I say, not even sure what that would be since I’ve been hoarding the kitchen all day.
“No,” Halli and another agent say simultaneously. I need to learn their names. They introduced themselves at one point, but I was still in a state of shock.
“You’ve been killing us with the wonderful smells,” Halli says, jumping up and making a beeline toward the kitchen. The other agents pop up from their seats and race her to the kitchen.
“We better hurry before Hughes eats it all,” one of them says.
I chuckle. “Oh, that will be happening.”
They stop in their tracks at the sugar explosion. Halli gasps, bouncing on her toes. “Where do I even start? Everything looks amazing.”
I shift my body as gentle hands rest on my shoulders. “Wow. That is a piece of art,” Amy softly says, gazing at the island and then to me. Her warm smile is one I always imagined a mom would give her daughter. “I’m sure they taste as good as they look.”
“I hope you like them.”
“Well, it looks like if I don’t get in there to get a plate, there won’t be any left.”
“You snooze, you lose, babe,” Ted says with a pile on his plate.
“Geez, here I thought you were getting enough for me too.” We both laugh as he shakes his head like that’s a crazy notion.
I anxiously stand back while they test everything. “Oh, my gosh. I’m going into a sugar coma,” Halli says. “I’m not sure I can be your detail if I’ll be around this stuff all the time. I have no willpower.”
I jerk my head back and furrow my brows. What did she just say? “Detail? Like a guard? You’re only temporary, right?” The five agents stop mid-bite and stare at me.
“Aspen, why don’t we all go sit in the living room,” Ted says, placing his plate on the kitchen table. The seriousness in his voice concerns me. I agree and follow him, with the others behind us. I wait for someone to talk.
Halli clears her throat, putting her plate on her lap. “All Presidents have the option of continuing the use of Secret Service after their term. The same goes for their spouse and children under sixteen.”
“Well, I’m not sixteen,” I add quickly.
“Right. But this is an extenuating circumstance. It’s been strongly advised that you accept our services. Our country mourned you. When they find out you’re alive, it will be hard for you to go anywhere without getting bombarded. You’ll need help. At the least, in the beginning, until we make sure you aren’t in danger anymore.”
My baking high just crashed. I drop to the arm of the cushioned chair, my head into my hands. “I left one prison and now I’m in another.”
“Try not to think of it that way. You can do whatever you want, we just want you to be safe. And I was totally kidding, I would love to be your detail. I may just have to work out twice a day.”
I flash a smile at her, but I’m not happy. When I was with Ryker, the number of people who felt they had a right to take his picture and stop us while we were out was insane. I tried to not let it bother me because I was with him, but now it sounds like that will always happen to me.
“There are crazy people in this world,” Amy says. “Just ask Addison. None of us want to see you harmed. Especially after all you’ve been through.”
I nod. “I’m just going to go to my room. I need some time to think.”
“I’m here if you need to talk.” Amy stands and wraps her arms around me.
“Thank you,” I murmur and walk down the hallway to my room in silence.
