Chapter 29
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
Cam
“What the hell is this?” I ask as I look at Drew’s phone. He just asked me to grab it for him and I see a text message notification from Vito, his ex.
“What’s what?” he asks, wiping his hands on his apron as he makes us BLTs on fresh bread.
Drew’s grandfather loved to cook, and where I’m the baker, Drew is an all-around chef.
We make a good pair. Maybe I’m destined to be single forever and I get Drew instead of a boyfriend.
I suppose there are far worse fates than getting to live with your best friend, even if that means no sex.
I hold up the phone and his eyes widen. He sets down a pair of tongs on the counter and turns to me.
“Don’t be mad, but I started messaging with Vito a few weeks ago,” he starts.
“You what? And you didn’t think to tell me this?” I ask. Not only am I shocked, I’m also hurt that he didn’t mention it.
“I’m sorry. I had a moment of weakness when you were with He Who Shall Not Be Named and I was lonely and I had one too many martinis at happy hour and I sort of messaged him.
I was a little surprised when he messaged back and then we just started talking again.
I wanted to tell you but then you broke it off with Fletcher and I felt bad being like, oh, hey, me and my ex might get back together, when you are freshly single again.
I was going to tell you in a few more weeks,” he explains.
“So, are you two back together?” I ask.
He shrugs. “I might fly over there for a visit and just see how things go. We’re going to take it slow this time. He’s working for a big corporation that has an office in Rome.”
I step forward and wrap my arms around him, pulling him in for a hug. “I’m happy for you. Vito is a really good guy. I hope you guys can work it out.”
And even though I’m jealous as fuck, I truly am happy for Drew. He deserves the world.
“You know, you could try talking to Fletcher,” he says against my hair. I pull away and scoff at him.
“No way. What’s the point? He stopped texting me a few days ago. I think he’s given up trying and I’m tired of worrying about whether he actually is trustworthy or if he is still an asshole. How can we build a relationship when I can’t trust him?” I ask, but really I’m asking myself.
“What if you can trust him?” Drew questions.
I shrug.
“I think you at least owe him a conversation,” he says. “If you’re going to end things, then woman up and end them face to face.”
I hate that he’s right. I probably do at least owe him a conversation.
I’ve managed to ghost him for almost two weeks.
Albeit I’ve been busy. The building next door is going through renovations.
I’m training our new staff and I’m trying to stay more in the back and let Adriana and Julie handle the front.
That at least keeps me from prying eyes.
Sighing, I lean against our counter. “You’re right. I guess I’ll text him or something. I just…what if he’s all sweet and then sucks me back in,” I say.
Drew laughs. “You mean, what if you were wrong and he’s actually a good guy?”
I glare at my best friend, and he laughs some more. “I swear, you are so stubborn to spite yourself at times. You know, couples do fight sometimes and then they make up and life goes on.”
I shrug again. “But seriously, let’s look at it objectively. We are so different. He’s a rich playboy. I’m from a normal family and I know I haven’t been with as many men as he’s been with women,” I state.
“OK, so you come from different backgrounds. You both like baking. You both like running businesses. You both like family and friends. Those are all big things,” he points out and I sort of hate that he’s not wrong.
“I guess,” I reply. The more Drew talks, the more I start to wonder if I overreacted.
“Drew?”
“Yes, toots,” he says, going back to flipping bacon.
“What if…what if I fucked it up and it’s too late?” I whisper.
He glances over at me. “Then, you’ll move on and find someone even better. But don’t underestimate Fletcher. You never know, he could be the one.”
I laugh. “OK, oh wise one.”
He winks. “I know. I can’t help it.”
I throw a towel at him, and we finish making dinner, him cooking and me setting the table. But Drew’s statement about Fletcher being the one keeps playing in my mind. What if Drew is right? I guess I’ll call Fletcher tomorrow. I need to build up some bravery first.
* * *
I stare at my phone. I’ve put it across my desk so I’m not tempted to look at it. I texted Fletcher earlier and am waiting to see if he replies.
Did I overreact? Possibly. OK, fine, I probably overreacted. I should have at least let him explain himself.
I sigh. My worst trait is a tie between being stubborn and overreacting.
Did I really get that close to having it all and then throw it in the trash all because of a possible miscommunication?
I check my messages from Max. He’s been my lifeline these past two weeks. I wish we weren’t such good friends, I’d tell him we should try dating. I see a missed message from him, and I smile for the first time today.
Max: Hey, E. I’m sorry he hasn’t responded to you. Maybe he’s still hurt and needs some time?
Me: Maybe. But it’s been almost two weeks.
The building next door has had around-the-clock construction which is super annoying.
I can’t find the owner to complain. I’m supposed to be doing last-minute media for the show and I don’t know if I’ll see him or not.
I just don’t know what to think. I feel awful that I didn’t at least give him a chance to tell me his side of the story. But I’m also still hurt.
Max: I know. I’m sure he’ll respond to you. Give him a little more time.
Me: What if I show up at his office?
Max: I mean, that’s one way to get his attention.
Me: Ugh! I hate this! I miss his stupid, annoying, sexy self. God, I’m an idiot.
Max: (laughing emoji) An adorable idiot.
Me: (middle-finger emoji)
I see a missed text from my family group chat.
Winston: Good luck today! Can’t wait to see the show.
Mom: Same.
Dad: Break a leg, kid!
I laugh.
Me: Thanks. I’m excited to watch the show too.
Fletch had told me about how proud my family is of me, and I didn’t see it before the past few days, but I am starting to believe him.
It’ll take time for me to accept that as truth.
I’m so used to being the baby of the family that everyone dotes on and takes care of.
Doing this on my own was to prove I can.
I didn’t think proving it to myself would help but I think it has.
I can see my strengths now. I’m so much stronger than I thought I was.
I don’t need anyone, but damn, do I wish Fletcher was by my side for this wild ride.
He’d be the perfect partner. I wish I knew what he was concocting before I left that morning.
He kept saying he had a plan, but I don’t know what that plan was.
“Felicity is here to set up for the media shoot later,” Adriana calls out from the front.
“Coming,” I say as I shut down my laptop and straighten my desk for the tenth time today.
The network wanted to do some last-minute media blitzing and that includes an interview with me at the café.
She had mentioned asking Fletcher to be here too, but she later told me he was busy and we’d do interviews with him later.
Part of me feels a pang in my chest at the thought of going another day without talking to him.
I keep wanting to share things with him, a new recipe I made a few days ago, a funny horror movie I watched with Drew, and even a new special shelf in my office for the saltshaker so that I never lose it again.
Carly may have apologized a dozen times about that, although it’s completely not anyone’s fault. I’m just glad we found it.
I decide to send him one more text before I go out front.
Me: I don’t know if you’re reading my texts, but I hope you are. I know I can do this on my own, but it’d be so much better if you were here beside me. I miss you and I’m sorry. I hope someday you’ll forgive me.
I push my phone into my signature apron pocket with my new Cam’s Café logo on it and walk out front.
I wish the giant hole in the side of the café was repaired.
Apparently, our building manager found an internal wiring issue when the building next door had to tear down part of the wall.
We were closed for two days, but fortunately there was a local indoor, holiday farmer’s market nearby and we were able to set up a table there and sell some items.
I haven’t seen the damage yet as Gregor, the building owner, had the contractor curtain off the section of wall that’s being replaced.
It’s huge and takes up nearly forty percent of the wall.
But it’ll get fixed and at least I don’t have to pay for it.
As Drew pointed out, I can use this as an opportunity to rebrand with new paint and new artwork.
We came up with our plan a few days ago and have all the paint ready to go once I get the green light.
I was a little bummed that the building next door sold.
I had thought about trying to lease that space to expand the café.
I hate filming in here without it being updated, but Felicity was insistent that we get it done today.
I enter the main part of the café. My staff are lined up behind the counter. The film crew is set up and there’s a small bistro table in the light, which I assume is where I’ll be sitting.
“Oh, wonderful, you’re ready,” Felicity says as she claps her hands together. Outside the door, I see my neighbors clustered around the front window, watching us.
I laugh and wave to them. They all wave back.
I look around again, a small part of me hoping to see Fletcher, but he’s nowhere to be seen. I glance at the offending curtain. It’s still there.