Chapter 12
LUCAS
Iwake up at five and can’t fall back asleep.
Every time I close my eyes, I replay the look on her face when Dominic appeared on that screen. I’ll never forget how the color drained from her cheeks or how she ran outside and dry heaved against the building while most of the town was inside finishing the kickoff meeting.
I followed her without thinking. Heads turned and watched me leave. I can only imagine the rumors that have started. Watching her fall apart broke something in me. For the first time since she came back, I stopped wanting to push her away. I won’t let her quit. Not anymore.
I won’t let that bastard win. I can’t.
Seeing her so vulnerable reminded me of who we both used to be.
I suck in a deep breath, knowing her ex is coming to Merryville in one week, the same day as Jake and Claire’s wedding.
Instead of staying awake behind my eyes for the next hour, I get up and head to the farm early.
By six, I’ve reorganized the entire equipment shed, sharpened every chain saw blade, and checked oil levels on machines that don’t need to be serviced. Keeping my hands busy usually makes my brain shut up, but this time it doesn’t work.
Actually, it hasn’t happened since Holiday arrived.
At six thirty, Dean arrives and takes a look around the barn.
“You’ve been here a while,” he says with a low whistle.
“Couldn’t sleep. Thought I’d get started early on our list.”
“Good job.” He nods, moving closer to me. “Saw the Facebook posts about last night. About the contest and the judges.”
Of course he did. The entire town saw. But that was expected, considering Holiday’s ex is a celebrity chef. She dated the French equivalent of Gordon Ramsay.
Dean’s quiet for another minute, then he clears his throat. “For what it’s worth, I’ve seen the way she looks at you.”
I don’t know what to say to that. “This has nothing to do with me.”
“So, this isn’t about you trying to get with Holiday and her famous ex coming to steal her back?” He scoffs. “Could’ve fooled me.”
Dean grabs his gear and heads out, chuckling, because there is nothing I can say to that. I’m just thankful he leaves me the fuck alone with my thoughts.
Five minutes later, I walk to the edge of the barn, seeing Holiday’s car at the bakery. I must’ve been too focused to notice when she arrived this morning.
Just as I exhale, my phone vibrates in my pocket.
Holiday
You at the farm yet?
Lucas
Yep.
It’s like she knew I was thinking about her.
Holiday
Can you come to the bakery? Need to talk about our next baking session.
The first time we worked together, we burned cookies, and she told me I reminded her of her ex.
The second time, she kissed me, and I didn’t kiss her back, but then held her all night, leaving before she woke up.
Tomorrow, we have to figure out how to bake together without wasting any more time. The stakes have been raised.
Lucas
When?
Holiday
Now? I prepped for this morning yesterday, so I just need to bake. I can chat while I do that.
I look at the chain saws I’m supposed to deliver to the back lot. My heart races as I type out my message.
Lucas
On my way.
I head toward the bakery like a man on a mission.
When I push the door open, the bell jingles cheerfully, like it has all season.
In the kitchen, Holiday’s placing cookies on a sheet. She’s wearing jeans and a Grinch sweatshirt, and her hair is pulled into a high ponytail. And she’s wearing her red lipstick.
I’m staring, not able to help it. Holiday looks up and waves me to the back. We haven’t been face-to-face since last night when I told her she wasn’t a quitter.
“Hey,” she says.
“Hey. Mornin’.”
The energy buzzes between us, but it’s different than it’s been, more charged, and I want to figure out what that means.
She twists her hands together. “So. I was thinking we could get together and bake tomorrow night.”
“Sure.”
“We need to create a showstopping cookie.” She smiles but it doesn’t reach her eyes. “Since we’re running out of time before—”
“He gets here.”
She nods. “Yeah.”
“You upset about this?” I shove my hands in my pockets.
Our gazes lock, like she’s not used to people asking her how she feels about things anymore.
“Very much so. You?”
“Oh, I’m fucking pissed,” I admit.
Agreeing on anything is new for us.
She takes a breath. “Lucas, about last night…”
“We don’t need to discuss it.”
Her brows crease. “Do you really want to do this with me?”
“I’m not quitting.” I know it’s not what she’s asking, but it’s the best answer I can give right now.
Every damn day, she prepares a new menu that has sold out without any problems. “There is no other person I’d rather have as my partner,” I add, not wanting to be a complete asshole to her today.
“We always said we’d participate in this contest.”
She chuckles. “I’d forgotten about that. Wait, do you think that’s why Mawmaw signed us up?”
“I can’t even begin to try to read that woman’s mind,” I admit. “Mawmaw does things for her own reasons.”
Holiday smiles, removes the cookies from the ovens, and places the next batches inside. “True. Okay then, we’ll meet tomorrow night at six.”
“At my place,” I say.
She tilts her head and makes a face. “Absolutely not.”
“Why? Afraid you might end up in my bed again?”
The ghost of a smile plays on her lips. “Don’t make me kick you out of here.”
I notice how her eyes trail down to my mouth. “Try me.”
She groans. “Fine. Your place. But only because I don’t have the time or energy to argue about it. But you’re going to behave yourself.”
A scoff releases from me. “Me? Behave myself? Puh-lease. You need to behave yourself. You kissed me. Per usual.”
“And you’ve been the perfect gentleman,” she says, rolling her eyes. “Doesn’t matter. We have to create the best damn cookie Dominic’s ever tasted so he cries himself to sleep wishing he knew the exact recipe.”
“Yeah, I hope he fucking chokes on it,” I mutter.
She’s almost smiling now. “No, because then I’d have to save him.”
The tension breaks just enough for me to breathe again.
“I should get back,” I say.
“Yeah. You are distracting.”
But neither of us moves.
The early morning sun slices through the windows of the bakery. It’s like we’re trying to memorize this moment before everything changes. For better or worse.
I turn to leave, and she says my name. When I glance back at her, she’s biting the inside of her cheek. “I’m thankful you came last night. To the meeting. That you followed me outside.”
My chest tightens. “I wasn’t going to let you be there alone.”
“Everyone saw what you did. There will be rumo—”
“I don’t give a flying fuck, Peaches. There will always be rumors about us.”
The silence streams between us. Her blue eyes get shiny but she blinks it away. I notice the way her hands shake, and she tucks them in her apron pockets. “See you tomorrow night.”
“Tomorrow.”
I walk out before I do something stupid like pull her into my arms and devour her lips. Wish I knew why this feels like the beginning of goodbye, like something or someone is going to pull her away from me.
I don’t know if I can let that happen again.
After I leave the cookie shop, I stand in front of it, feeling electricity flowing in my veins. That always happens when we’re close.
For the rest of the day, I cut trees on autopilot. I smile and make small talk about decorating trees. I catch glimpses of Holiday in the window, and this time her smile doesn’t fade when she sees me.
Midafternoon, my phone buzzes, and I pull it out to see a text.
Mawmaw
Family dinner Sunday. You’re coming. Not optional.
Great. Nothing like mandatory family time when my life is imploding.
Lucas
Can’t. Busy.
Mawmaw
With what?
Lucas
Farm things.
Mawmaw
Lucas James Jolly. 5 o’clock on Sunday. Bring Holiday.
I stare at that text.
Lucas
Why would I do that?
Mawmaw
Because I want to feed you both and talk about strategy to win this contest, considering her ex is a judge.
Lucas
I’m not asking her to join us. She’s dealing with enough stress.
Mawmaw
Then I will.
Lucas
Mawmaw! Don’t. This is ridiculous.
But she’s already stopped responding.
Fuck.
Five minutes later, Holiday texts me.
Holiday
Your grandmother just invited me to dinner on Sunday. Did you know about this?
Lucas
Just found out.
Holiday
Do I have to go?
Lucas
No, but she’ll be disappointed and you’ll have to hear it until the end of time.
Lucas
Your choice though.
Holiday
UGH!
Lucas
Sorry. I don’t make the rules.
Holiday
Mawmaw does, apparently.
Three dots appear and disappear about six times.
Holiday
You owe me.
Lucas
How do I owe YOU? I don’t want to go either.
Holiday
Okay, but it’s your family.
She has a point.
Lucas
Fine. You’ve been granted one IOU.
Holiday
Thank you very much. I will cash in.
Lucas
Make it good.
I can’t begin to imagine what she’ll ask of me. We used to exchange IOUs like they were currency. In a way, they are.
As soon as the sun sets, I go home.
My house is cold and empty, per usual. I turn up the heat and stand in the kitchen, staring at the container of cookies we made last Saturday. I haven’t been able to toss them out because it seems like a waste.
I grab one and bite into it, and it’s unsurprisingly still good, even almost a week later. But she’s determined to do better, and I get it.
I almost feel sorry for Dominic because when Holiday gets a chip on her shoulder, she’s dangerous. Unstoppable. She’ll run circles around him with a smile on her face.
I finish eating the cookie and wipe down the counter, knowing Holiday will be here again, baking in the kitchen that was built for her. It was odd seeing her as I’d always imagined.
I pull my phone from my pocket.
Lucas
Tomorrow night. Don’t be late.
Her response comes immediately.
Holiday
I’m going to be annoyingly late.
I chuckle, knowing she won’t. Holiday is the kind of girl who arrives early and waits. Maybe she’s changed, though.