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Between the two of us, we were able to carry in all the rest of the supplies in one go and start truly setting up our half of the table while Allison and Ben worked on their half.

I had to admit, between the two, it was an impressive display. And ours was done first since the hot chocolate bar had what looked like a complicated refill system. “Looks like you might have to stay here,” I joked.

Allison smiled and snuck a glance at Ben, who had ducked beneath the table. “Maybe. But there are worse ways to spend a night.”

“Going to relive days beneath the bleachers?”

“Maybe.” She winked, and we both pretended nothing was said as Ben reappeared.

Evie arranged the last of the bowls of sprinkles. We had everything from rainbow to chocolate to the little crystal sparkles, which fit with the theme perfectly. “I think that’s it.”

Allison stepped up and looked too. “I think it’s great. The kids are going to love it.”

“Thanks.” Between the sparkles, blue and silver colors, and the mountains of cupcakes that looked like Christmas trees, I hoped it would be everything they wanted. “Good luck with the refill system.”

She sighed. “Yeah. I might have gotten in over my head with this one. But it should be all right.”

There was an awkward moment where neither of us really knew what to say. Thankfully, Evie saved me. “Come on, girl. Lucas is begging me to come home.”

“Sounds good.” I waved to Allison and Ben, though he couldn’t see me since his head was back under the table. “Have a good night, guys.”

“You too.”

“Hold on a second,” Ben called, ducking out from under the table. “I think this got dropped. Rolled under the table. Where should it go?” He held out a container of silver decorating powder we’d brought to let the kids dust the cupcakes if they wanted. Sure enough, the little pyramid of decoration containers looked like it had been bumped.

“Sorry,” he said. “It was probably me moving around back there.”

“No worries.” I laughed. “No harm done.”

Allison touched me on the arm. “Do you think there’s enough stuff for the two of us to make a cupcake before the kids get here?”

“There’s plenty. Come to think of it, I should make one and bring it to Jude. You want one, Evie? For Lucas?”

“Sure.”

I made short work of two cupcakes, keeping Jude’s simple. He liked chocolate, and a lot of it—he didn’t need the frills and decorations. Me, on the other hand, I loved every bit of the decorating. I put sprinkles and sparkles and even dusted some of the silver and shimmering blue on top.

“Let me have that.” Evie took the silver dust from me, shaking it over her cupcake. Lucas’s looked more like Jude’s.

Allison and Ben chose sprinkles, and the frosting was a mess, but she was grinning. “It makes me glad I only sell things which come prepackaged. Honestly, Lena, I don’t think I could make anything as pretty as that.”

“That’s nice of you to say.”

She looked behind me. “I think things might be starting up. I’m going to stash these for when we’re dealing with teenagers and can’t take it anymore.”

I waved and grabbed my two cupcakes before joining Evie. We pushed out into the chilly early evening. “Is Lucas actually begging you to get home?”

“No.” She snorted. “But I wasn’t about to get stuck in an awkward circle for half an hour while we all paddled around one another. Cupcakes aside.”

“I appreciate it. And,” I added, “Jude isn’t begging for me to get home, but he did pick up Chinese takeout, and I’m dying to eat so much of it I’m no longer able to move.”

“Sounds like an evening I can get behind.”

I dropped Evie off at her car and headed straight back to my house. Even with Allison’s appearance, I was feeling great. She was nice, and there wasn’t any reason for me to feel threatened or even that my toes were being stepped on. The combination of cupcakes and hot chocolate was sure to be a big hit.

“Hello?” I was careful with the cupcakes as I opened the door, making sure not to smush any of the frosting. “I’m here.”

God, I could already smell the Chinese, and my mouth was watering.