The Luna Choosing Game

One of the girls came close to me, peering at my selection. “Huh. I feel like you could have done better,

Piper

She was mocking me, which I would not dignify. “I’m quite proud of this actually.”

“My friendly advice?” she said, smirking at me. I was fully prepared to ignore her, until I saw the large

container in her hand. “Needs more salt.”

I reached, but I was too slow. She had already upturned the container of salt all over my stuffed mushrooms, totally ruining them. She poured the entire container until it was empty, and then dropped it carelessly on the floor..

“Oh, dear. That might have been too much. Sorry!” She giggled as she walked away.

I stared down at my ruined food. There was no saving it. Even if I removed the massive pile of salt from

on top of the mushrooms, the taste surely had already been soaked in.

I would have to discard this batch and try again. However, since I had already used my turn at the ovens,

I now would have to wait until everyone else had finished.

Sighing, I regathered my supplies and started anew. I did as much as I could until I needed to cook. Then

I had to wait.

And I waited. And waited.

Some of the girls, I was starting to wonder, seemed like they had chosen appetizers that took extra–long

to cook, just to mock me. Or maybe the waiting was just getting to me.

I was in the kitchens until late. By the time the others had finished and left, it was well after dark. Finally, the oven beeped at my set temperature and I placed my second batch of stuffed mushrooms within it.

At the very least, this batch didn’t look quite as ugly as the last. I refrained from thinking the sabotage

was a good thing, however.

With the timer set, I sank onto a stool to wait again.

“There you are.

walked into the

saw him, my face flushed, remembering my earlier daydreams about him as my husband. I cleared my

Chapter 0123

+15 BONUS

came close to me, peering at my selection “Huh.

Piper.”

mocking me, which I would not dignify. I’m quite proud of

She

fully prepared to ignore her, until I saw the large container in her hand. “Needs

I was too slow. She had already upturned the container of salt all over my stuffed mushrooms, totally ruining them. She poured the entire container until it was empty,

been too much. Sorry!” She giggled

ruined food. There was no saving it. Even if I removed the massive pile of salt from on top of the mushrooms, the taste surely had already been soaked

would have to discard this batch and try again. However, since I had already used my turn at the ovens, I now would

as

to

I waited.

girls, I was starting to wonder, seemed like they had chosen appetizers that took extra–long to cook, just to mock me. Or maybe the waiting

it was well after dark. Finally, the

batch didn’t look quite as ugly as the last. I refrained from thinking the

good thing, however.

timer set, I sank onto

“There you are.

glanced up. Nicholas walked

I saw him, my face flushed, remembering my earlier daydreams about him as my husband. I cleared my throat and

weakly, as an

He came closer. “All the other girls finished

first batch

Oh?

Too salty.

sabotage. He might feel the need to do something about it. If he got involved to protect me, it would only end up

to be proving to people that we