He picked up the second mug and drank. “Mmm. Ginger too, yes?”

“The tiniest pinch,” Keya said.

“And brown sugar, right?” Chef JJ sniffed again at the steam rising from the cup. “Salt too. I love the sweet and the spice. It’s the perfect blend.”

Keya lit up like someone had flipped a switch. “Really? You don’t understand. I did so much experimenting before I came up with the right mix of everything. My family is so sick of tasting it for me.”

I wanted to taste spiced butter tea. It sounded so different from anything I’d ever had. And it was Keya’s own creation. If I didn’t get to taste it now, I never would.

Chef JJ took another big swig. “I’m having this every morning for breakfast.”

Keya giggled.

“I’m serious. You’re writing down the recipe. This is my new go-to breakfast.” Chef JJ took another gulp. “Congratulations! You’re the winner of One Ingredient Masterpiece!”

“Really!” Keya jumped up and down, and before Dieter could stop her, she threw both arms around Chef JJ, who froze like she was playing Red Light, Green Light.

“CUT!”

“Remember? No touching!” Randy shouted as she raced out from behind the lights.

“Oh, sorry!” Keya quickly let go. “I just—”

Chef JJ put up the stop hand, then hurried off the set, muttering to herself.

“I’m really sorry,” Keya said to Randy. “I just forgot. Is she going to be okay?”

“Sure, she just needs a nice, long decontamination.”

“She has a special machine,” Marco explained. “Kind of like a—”

“TMI, Marco,” Randy snapped.

“Sorry.” Marco pretended to zip his lips.

“We were done for today anyway,” Randy said. “Keya, Tris, go get some rest. The finals aren’t until Friday so you have tomorrow off. Harper, you need to stick around for your interview.”

“The finals? You mean, I’m in,” I said.

“Wasn’t that obvious?” Randy said. “Bravo for blandness, remember?”

“It was obvious to me,” Harper said. “I knew I was out the moment she compared eating my green beans to swallowing flaming swords.”

Harper was out, and I was in the finals?

What was I thinking? My cheating wasn’t over. I was still there on the show. I was there, and Izzy, Phoenix, and Harper were gone. Who knows who’d be in the finals if I hadn’t cheated?

“Good luck.” Keya was holding her hand out for me to shake. “May the best chef win.”

My hand felt like it was weighted down with bricks, but I forced myself to lift it and give her hand one quick shake. “Oh, yeah, good luck to you too.”

Chapter 22

Mom would not stop talking.

She started the second I saw her in the greenroom and was still at it when we sat down for dinner at Barney Greengrass. Dad had taken Jeanine, Josh, and Zoe to a movie so it was just the two of us.

Did you see JJ’s face when she ate that string bean?

Wouldn’t you love to taste that tea? I’m dying to try it.