Alexis's Cupcake Cupid by Coco Simon Page B

and . . . How do you know how to do that, Mrs. Becker?”
    Duh! I hadn’t thought to ask that myself. “Yeah, Mom. How do you know how to do that?”
    My mom’s cheeks turned a little pink, and she laughed. “Oh, well. I learned it a long time ago.”
    â€œDid you study Chinese?” asked Emma.
    My mom glanced nervously at me, then she sighed. “The truth is, I had a huge crush in college on a boy who was Chinese. I wanted to make him a card, like a love note, so I learned how to write the character for love in Chinese calligraphy from a friend of mine.”
    â€œThat’s so romantic!” Mia sighed.
    â€œDid it work?” asked Katie.
    My mom shook her head. “Sadly, no. My crush was one-sided.”
    â€œI’m sorry, Mom. That’s sad,” I said.
    â€œWell, everything turned out for the best, and I met your dad after all, and he was just right for me! I just wish I hadn’t wasted so much time and energy on that boy.” She dipped her brush in the sauce and painted a perfect Chinese symbol on a cupcake. It looked great.
    â€œWell, I, for one, am glad you did, or we wouldn’t be able to salvage the rest of these cupcakes!” Mia laughed.
    â€œYeah!” we all agreed.
    But I was watching my mom closely, and she turned and gave me a small smile and a wink. I nodded. I now knew why she was so concerned about me and the time I was spending thinking about Matt. She wanted to protect me, maybe from heartbreak. Besides wanting me to be independent and everything, of course.
    I went over and hugged her before she dipped her brush again. “Thanks, Mom,” I whispered. “I ai you.”
    â€œWo ai ni,” she said. “That’s how you say it in Chinese.”
    â€œ Wo ai ni , then.”

    We made it to the skating party only ten minutes late, and who was the first person I ran into but Sasha! After we settled the cupcakes on the buffet and the PTA president paid me, I introduced Sasha to all the Cupcakers, and we chatted for a while before she left for the night.
    â€œWait until you see Alexis skate tonight!” Sasha said proudly. “She is my star student! Such a fast learner!”
    â€œOh, well . . . I’m not so sure I will skate tonight,” I said, shrugging. “You know. I’m not ready for prime-time viewing!”
    â€œDon’t be silly! You must practice to be good! Now is opportunity, and you can show your friends too!”
    I felt bad. Sasha had worked hard with me and was pleased with what she’d accomplished, and I was kind of blowing it off.
    â€œWell, maybe I’ll just rent the skates, and then we’ll see . . . ,” I said.
    â€œGet skates, come back, and I tie them properly for you. Go now. I wait,” she ordered.
    â€œOkay, okay,” I agreed. I went to stand on the rental line, which was unfortunately very short. I got my skates too fast and was back in a jiffy.
    â€œSit, sit,” said Sasha. My friends sat too, to put their skates on, and then we were all ready. “Come!” commanded Sasha. She led the way down the ramp. She was even tinier without her skates on.
    â€œIs Matt here already?” I whispered to Emma, frantically scanning the crowd on the ice for any sign of him.
    â€œI’m not sure. I think he had practice, so he was coming late.”
    â€œPhew.” I gave a huge sigh of relief. “So maybe I can get this over with before he gets here.”
    â€œYou mean you can warm up, so you’re readywhen he arrives!” said Sasha, who’d been eavesdropping.
    â€œBusted!” cried Mia, and we all laughed. We’d reached the door to the ice. Ugh.
    â€œNow go, my little prodigy. Skate and have fun!” Sasha said with a smile.
    â€œHi, Sasha!” cried someone. Ugh. Olivia Allen, of course—right as I’m about to get on the ice.
    I froze. I didn’t want to do