Muffin to die for, p.1
Muffin to Die For, page 1
Muffin to Die For
Fallon Brown
Copyright © 2025 by Fallon Brown
All rights reserved.
No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except as permitted by U.S. copyright law. For permission requests, contact: fallon@fallonbrown.com.
The story, all names, characters, and incidents portrayed in this production are fictitious. No identification with actual persons (living or deceased), places, buildings, and products is intended or should be inferred.
Book Cover by Marianne Nowicki
1st edition 2025
Contents
Dedication
. Chapter
1. Chapter 1 Avery
2. Chapter 2 Jude
3. Chapter 3 Avery
4. Chapter 4 Jude
5. Chapter 5 Avery
6. Chapter 6 Jude
7. Chapter 7 Avery
8. Chapter 8 Jude
9. Chapter 9 Avery
10. Chapter 10 Jude
11. Chapter 11 Avery
12. Chapter 12 Jude
13. Chapter 13 Avery
14. Chapter 14 Jude
15. Chapter 15 Avery
16. Chapter 16 Jude
17. Chapter 17 Avery
18. Chapter 18 Jude
19. Chapter 19 Avery
20. Chapter 20 Jude
21. Chapter 21 Avery
22. Chapter 22 Jude
23. Chapter 23 Avery
24. Chapter 24 Jude
25. Chapter 25 Avery
26. Chapter 26 Jude
27. Chapter 27 Avery
28. Chapter 28 Jude
29. Chapter 29 Avery
30. Chapter 30 Jude
31. Chapter 31 Avery
32. Chapter 32 Jude
33. Chapter 33 Avery
34. Chapter 34 Jude
35. Chapter 35 Avery
36. Chapter 36 Jude
37. Chapter 37 Avery
38. Chapter 38 Jude
39. Chapter 39 Avery
40. Chapter 40 Jude
41. Chapter 41 Avery
42. Chapter 42 Jude
43. Chapter 43 Avery
44. Chapter 44 Jude
45. Chapter 45 Avery
46. Chapter 46 Jude
47. Chapter 47 Avery
48. Chapter 48 Jude
49. Chapter 49 Avery
50. Epilogue Jude
51. Recipes
Newsletter
Acknowledgements
About the author
Also by
For Lara, sorry the cats don't take over the world in this one
Note to readers: This book contains murder(off page, not main characters), mentions of queerphobia(backstory), parental abandonment(side character, backstory), parent death(main character, backstory), infidelity(side characters)
Chapter 1
Avery
"Last batch of Agender Crispies for today coming through."
I was almost surprised my words didn't cause a rush on the bakery case. My Crispies always sold like hotcakes. Not bad for a recipe I created back in high school. And with experimenting, had improved since.
Well before my best friend, Jude, had convinced me that we should open a bakery together shortly after we’d graduated from college. I hadn’t been so sure at the time, or in the several years it had taken us to actually open, but five years later, Status Dough was going strong. These cookies had been one of our bestsellers right from the beginning.
At least one chair was knocked aside as a few people did push forward, reaching for their wallets. I shot a look at Jude and grinned. "Five minutes?" I asked. "Or ten?"
Jude glanced at the line forming in front of them then flipped their long black braid back behind their shoulder. "I give it three. I wouldn't bother putting them in the case, just set the plate on the counter."
Jude had known me for nearly two dozen years. They couldn’t actually believe I would do that. Food went in the case until it was ordered. That was just the way things were supposed to go.
“And cause a feeding frenzy? Yeah, I don't think so. We do that, and your brother won't only be stopping for his daily coffee and doughnut." I let out a small laugh. Like our little bakery could ever be the scene of a crime.
It’s not like Salisdale was a hotbed of criminal activity anyway. Although slightly bigger than the neighboring Coalville, it was still a small town. Everyone always knew everyone else’s business, and it wasn’t like you could get away with anything.
Not for long anyway.
Jude snorted. "Stepbrother, as he would be sure to remind you, and Alex wouldn’t order a doughnut even if we served them. He knows you would tease him incessantly if he did. And he's all about not bowing to stereotypes."
I set the plate of Crispies in the case. Each cookie was rounded, browned to perfection, with the edges of apple chunks and crushed pecans sticking out.
I took out the empty plate I'd replaced and double-checked the rest of our inventory. There should be enough to get us through the rest of the afternoon until we closed at five. Which meant my baking was done for the day. "I'm going to take my break, then start cleaning the kitchen," I told Jude.
They nodded as they rung up the first customer in line. Better them than me. I covered for them when they took their break unless our part-time employee, Jamie Simmons, was working. Otherwise, I stuck to my place in the kitchen. It was better that way. Jude was the face customers saw when they came in for a reason. I could count on one hand the number of times they weren't smiling. If I had to spend too much time around people, I'd be snarling and biting hands off.
That couldn't be good for business.
I grabbed one of the Crispies before they disappeared, as well as a piece of Nonbinary Delight. I couldn't wait to eat the chocolate-filled ginger tart. I reminded myself I should have more than dessert, so I picked up a puff pastry parcel I'd made for our lunch crowd and sat at the table closest to the kitchen. A few others were free, but this gave me a view up the stairs toward the apartment I shared with Jude. And the kitten currently making her way down. Apparently, the gate at the top wasn't doing its job. I set my plate on the table and headed to the stairs, leaning over the gate at the bottom. That one didn't do the job either. "Zip," I told the kitten as I lifted her from the floor, "I believe you were told you're not on the schedule on Thursdays."
Zip licked my thumb and purred. I tucked her into my elbow and turned back to the table. Only to see a large presence next to it. "Maybe I didn't want company for my break."
Alex Wenham smirked at me. "Looks like I'm too late to claim that position."
As if he would want it. I had never been exactly sure what Jude's stepbrother thought of me. It was hard to tell with him, but I doubted he wanted to spend time in my company.
I took my seat. "What can I do for you, Officer?"
He rolled his eyes. Then, he seemed to catch himself and shook his head. "I'm on my break. I came by to fuel up before I go back on duty."
"Ah, coffee and doughnut break, is it?" The fact that we didn't make them wouldn't stop me from teasing him.
He sighed. "A doughnut is packed so full of sugar, it wouldn't give me much of a boost. At least not for long. I treat my body better than that."
And what a body it was. Not that I'd ever tell him that. It wasn't even a thought I had too often. From hearing how everyone at school — high school and my culinary arts college — talked about sex, I always figured something was missing from me. I'd never really felt that way.
Then, I did. My college roommate. That had certainly been awkward. We'd become friends, then I'd developed feelings, but it hadn’t been mutual. I'd had a couple of relationships since, but they tended to be few and far between.
Not like I'd ever have one with Alex. He'd known me since I was seven and wouldn't ever see me as anything but Jude's friend. That was fine. I could enjoy looking at him. I didn't have a single problem with that.
He was still continuing his diatribe against all things sugary goodness. I held up a hand as I took a bite of the Agender Crispie, filled with that sugary splendor. I swallowed it with a moan, and Alex narrowed his eyes and asked, "Is that necessary?"
"Absolutely," I said with relish. "Why don't you go have Jude make your tea and bran muffin and leave me to it?"
"I don't..." He shook his head and turned his back on me.
I grinned at Zip as I continued to eat my snack. "I think we stupefied him. Sometimes I'm convinced it's not all that difficult."
I took a bite of the puff pastry pocket, just getting a bit of chicken and vegetables with the crust. I licked a crumb from my lip and caught Alex glancing back at me. I waved my fingers at him then turned all my focus to my lunch.
Chapter 2
Jude
"Did you really think insulting one of Avery's most sought-after treats would get you anywhere?" I swore my brother was smarter than this. Except for when it came to Avery. He'd always managed to put his foot in his mouth around zer.
Alex leaned against the counter. "I didn't insult anything, and I'm not trying to get anywhere. I only pointed out —"
"Uh-huh." He was always 'only pointing out'. It didn't fool me. Or anyone else. Except maybe Avery.
Ze seemed to be clueless to all the signals Alex had been throwing out for at least the last year. Maybe longer, but tha
Avery had just ended a relationship, and I knew how ze could be. Avery didn't start a relationship just because some mutual attraction might be going on. Avery had never admitted to having that to Alex, but my eyes worked just fine.
The two of them had the emotional connection ze required to be attracted to a person. So did we, and there'd never been anything like that between us. We might live together, but our relationship was completely platonic.
We were both fine with that.
Two queer people in proximity to each other did not necessarily mean a romantic relationship would happen. No matter what anyone else seemed to think. We had the bakery, and our kittens Avery's brother, Hayden, had given us for Christmas. That was all we needed.
I just wanted both of them to be happy. Whether that meant being together or not. I could give them a nudge since neither of them were apparently going to get out of their heads in order to make that happen.
"If I could give you some advice..."
Alex groaned. "No. Just, please, no. I am not taking relationship advice from my little sibling."
"Right. Do you remember what you called Avery when I became your sibling?"
He winced. "You don't have to remind me that I was an angry little jerk back then. Avery isn't weird."
I patted his hand. "Ze is, but only in good ways. My advice —"
"I'll just take the cranberry muffin and my black tea, thank you very much."
"Fine. Be your boring self. And lonely self. And..."
He snatched the bag I held out to him. "Yeah, yeah, I get it.” Then, he pressed a kiss to my cheek before grabbing his insulated cup. "I'll see you at Miguel's this weekend."
I sighed as he headed for the door. Even nearly twenty years after our parents married — and they'd been together a few years longer than that — he couldn't call him Dad. My dad had let himself be hurt by that, but he'd gotten past it. He considered Alex his son, no matter how Alex felt in return. He didn’t hate my father. He just had… issues. It wasn't my place to get involved in them.
Or so I'd been told a time or two. Or three.
Avery came back behind the counter with zer empty plate and cup. I brushed a gray cat hair off zer shirt. "You put Zip back up the stairs?"
"Not that she'll stay. You don't have to worry about me breaking the 'no cats in the kitchen' rule."
"I wasn't worried."
"Uh-huh."
I laughed since ze sounded so much like I had with Alex. Okay, so maybe I worried a little — about everything. If I didn't, who would?
Avery grinned and returned to the kitchen. Zer day started hours before mine, so once ze got the kitchen set to rights, it would be at least a couple hour nap for zer. Then we'd do it all over again tomorrow.
I didn't think either of us would have it any other way.
Chapter 3
Avery
“You cannot help in the kitchen. We’ve discussed this before.”
Sanders meowed even as he wound around my legs. I shook my head and bent to pick him up. He was usually the best behaved of the kittens. I wasn’t sure what had gotten into him this morning. “You’re going to wake Jude, and that certainly won’t get you any treats today.” I kept my voice low so that I wasn’t the one to wake them.
This time Sander’s meow came out softer. I rubbed his head then set him back on the floor. “Go back to your siblings,” I told him. “Jude will feed you when they get up. Remind them about the treats.”
He flicked his tail into the air and stalked away from me, and I had to smother a laugh. So much attitude from such a small creature. I stepped out of the apartment and pulled the door most of the way shut, also closing both gates at the stairs.
Not that it would keep the kittens up here, but it gave them a few obstacles and still allowed them space to explore. It didn’t seem fair to keep them locked in the apartment all day.
When I got to the kitchen, I flipped on the lights, adjusting to the brightness before walking to the closet and grabbing one of the chef coats I kept in there. Better coverage than a simple apron.
After I washed my hands, I started taking ingredients out. I had a couple crusts prepared, but most of the items I started fresh with each day. “What’s on the menu for today?” I muttered as I pulled my list up on the tablet. Agender Crispies, of course. Customers would riot if we didn’t have those. What else, though? Bigender cake, as long as we had enough kiwi and strawberries. Ace of Diamonds cookies. I knew I had some of the cranberry filling mixed up.
I couldn’t forget the cranberry muffins. I’d get started on those first. Once I had the batter mixed, with a healthy dose of cranberries mixed in — Alex did like his cranberries — I set out three muffin tins and reached for the special wrappers we’d had ordered in.
I paused with my hand above them. I was sure we’d had more of these the other day. Had I really gone through nearly a whole stack already? Well, burnt fudge. I definitely would have to remember to have Jude order more of them for us.
I thought we’d have enough to get us through the day’s orders at least, so I wouldn’t worry for now. I put the first batch of muffins in the oven then went and wrote an actual note for myself. So I wouldn’t forget. Probably.
I hummed and did a little dance as I headed back to the counter to start on the next item. I didn’t care how awkward my dance moves were. Not like anyone could see me.
Time to get this day started. I was sure it would be a good one.
Chapter 4
Jude
"Good morning, Jake," I greeted one of my favorite customers. Not that I'd ever tell him, or my other customers, that fact. No good came from showing that favoritism. No one else was here at the moment though.
I grinned at the little girl on his hip. His visits were even better when he brought Avalon along.
He smiled back, but it looked strained. Maybe he was just tired. Avalon wasn't quite one yet, so he and his wife might not be getting a lot of sleep still. "You're looking especially colorful today, Jude."
Some people who came in might say that as an insult. They enjoyed our food, but didn't always seem to like us. From Jake, I didn't take it that way. "Why, thank you," I said. I had been in a mood this morning and the pink and purple ombre weave of the skirt, had felt like just what I needed. And it matched the shoes I’d found a deal on over the weekend perfectly.
Even more importantly, together with the blouse that matched the purple in both the skirt and shoes, I felt good.
"What can I get for you today?"
