Page 92 of Hexed Up

“Internet,” I correct. “And don’t even think about it!”

“Are you okay?” Horatio asks, still trying not to laugh.

“Oh yeah, I’m fine. Absolutely fine. This is actually one ofmyfantasies – to dive head-first–”

“Bottom-first,” Tiggie points out.

“–into a pretentious chocolate cake.”

“Do you think it’s still edible?” Horatio asks.

I lift one of my hands, absolutely covered and smothered in chocolate ganache, icing, and sponge, and dip a finger into my mouth.

“Hmmm. It’s not bad, although not nearly as good as she was making out.”

“Would you like us to leave you a moment?” he asks. “Give you and the cake some privacy?”

“No.” I motion for him to come a little closer. “I’m not wearing any underwear,” I whisper. “I’m pretty sure most of the bar can see up my skirt.”

Horatio’s eyes darken for a second. Then he collects himself and holds out his hand, offering to pull me up, like he did Tasha.

I look up at his hand, then at his face, then back at his hand. He realises what I’m going to do in the next moment. It’s already too late. I’ve grabbed his hand and I’m pulling him straight down into the cake with me. He lands with a thud in a giant piece of squishy sponge right beside me.

Alex bursts out laughing, and Damien hoots even louder.

“What’s going on?” Prim has reappeared, with lipstick smudged all over her face. I can tell whatshe’sbeen doing. “Why are you down there on the floor? What happened to the cake?”

“Tiggie happened to the cake,” I say, pointing an accusing, chocolate-covered finger in my little sister’s direction.

“That woman was annoying me,” Tiggie says, “trying to upstage you and your cake.”

“That cake,” Prim says, bending down to retrieve my Victoria sponge from the carnage. To my utter disbelief, it’s survived the accident in one piece.

“Ha!” I say in triumph. “May not be as big or as beautiful or as expensive as her cake but it is indestructible.”

“It looks really good,” Alex says.

Horatio jumps back up onto his feet, nearly sliding himself on the icing, and then yanks me up too before I get another chance to pull him down again.

“Let me just go and write a big cheque to the bar for all this damage.”

“I’ll pay you back,” Tiggie offers.

But he shakes his head, dismissing the offer. “Then how about we head back to my flat,” he says, “demolish this cake Molly’s baked, and have a nightcap or two.”

“Afterparty!” Damien squeals, hooking his arm through Alex’s. “I love it. Let’s go find a taxi.”

Chapter Twenty-Seven

“This is the best cake you’ve ever made,” Prim says, moaning, her eyeballs rolling around in their sockets like she’s close to having a food-induced orgasm.

“Oh … kay,” I say, peering from my older sister to my best friend. He’s poking the cake with his fork as if he expects it to come alive at any moment. He obviously disagrees with her assessment. “You usually hate cake,” I point out.

“I’ve never hated cake,” Prim says. “I’ve always loved cake. But Norman–”

“Norman,” I say, narrowing my eyes. “Why do I have a feeling I’m not going to like this next bit?”

“He had us on a healthy-eating diet.”