He can feel them in the slow tremors that make their way down to his fingertips, leaving them twitchy and unreliable. Jody looked pleased, or maybe just drunk, and she did a weird little shoulder dance of joy at Dean’s change of heart. On the most difficult days, when Dad hadn’t come home and Sam was hungry and upset, it had been Missouri’s calm voice and friendly face that comforted and encouraged him to carry on. In some ways the first contestant to get the boot would be the luckiest (apart from the winner), since they wouldn’t have to spend long jumping about for the cameras.

Pies and Prejudice by Heather Vogel Frederick - review

Sam was still missing-in-action when Dean and his friends relocated to the hotel bar, taking a table tucked into one corner while they indulged in a nightcap.While Dean was in it for the prize money; they all got paid an appearance fee no matter how long they stayed in the competition. He hasn’t so far, instead spending his breaks away from the others, on the phone, or just sitting quiet and alone. The pair previously presented an evening show on BBC Radio 2 and the weekday afternoon show for BBC Radio 6 Music. The quirk of Sam’s eyebrow, creeping up his giant forehead, was an unspoken agreement that they were not going to talk about the sparkly ‘girl-drinks’ they were holding, on pain of death – no matter how amazing they tasted (and what was that? The way some of the paying guests side-eyed the contestants, clutching their designer bags and briefcases close whenever the show folk happened to go by, as if old Mrs Lucas was about to pull a grab-and-run at the first opportunity.

Pies and Prejudice - Chapter 1 - Archive of Our Own Pies and Prejudice - Chapter 1 - Archive of Our Own

Okay,” Charlie nods but doesn’t sound convinced, “Still not sure about going south in the summer though. I just want to know if you’ve got any butter going spare,” Dean nods towards what’s left of the mess on the floor, the ghostly grey remains of the accident. Thanks, Castiel,” he goes with instead, and hopes Novak didn’t notice the awkward stumble and redirect. He casts about for an idea, looks down at the petite assistant and takes in the faint pink stains darkening her cheeks and the base of her throat – gotcha.When the revelation finally came it was the biggest damp squib in the history of all the squibs that ever dampened stuff (and Dean should probably find out what a squib is before he uses that phrase ever again). Something-beginning-with-E taps the end of her pen against the clipboard in triumph, tap-tap-tap, and she quotes, “Each contestant is supplied with all ingredients, in the exact amount they request, before each challenge. Dean was handed binders filled with endless rules, page upon page of filming schedules, travel plans, and anything and everything he could possibly need to know about the shit-storm (aka show) that was rapidly approaching. no, when he realises what a catch you are and comes looking for a hook-up, just give him a look like ‘whatever dude’,” she said, holding up a hand like a stop sign.