Chapter 3
Sophia pushed her hair out of her eyes and drew her bottom lip between her teeth. Using the pastry bag, she carefully squeezed the frosting out of the tip in order to decorate the rest of the cupcake, making a perfect little gray swirl. When she was done, she moved on to the other cupcake, a thin sheen of sweat breaking out across her forehead.
A few cupcakes later, she straightened and used the back of her hand to swat an errant lock of hair away. Then she tasted the rest of the batter and added a sprinkle of cinnamon, smiling to herself as she did. Out of the corner of her eye, she spotted a flicker of movement and saw some of the wait staff return, wearing identical harried expressions. She turned toward them with a frown and, through the slit in the double doors, saw a bedazzled designer bag on top of the display counter. More of the servers poured in through the double doors of the kitchen, and Sophia shifted closer.
Once the blond-haired woman in a pink designer jumpsuit tapped her long, manicured nails against the counter, Sophia realized why everyone was running away. Madison Blake was one of the toughest customers they’d ever had to deal with. Everyone avoided her like the plague.
Unfortunately, she was also the bride of one of the biggest weddings they’d ever catered, and Sophia knew how much Nora had riding on this. As an influencer, Madison had the ability to make or break the shop’s reputation, and they were all in agreement that Madison needed to be kept happy, even if it meant having to walk on eggshells around her.
Just seeing her filled Sophia with anxiety, and she was determined to avoid her until Madison’s shrill voice rose through the air, and a few meaningful glances were tossed in Sophia’s direction. With a sigh, she wiped her hands on her apron and pushed her through the double doors and into the main part of the shop, which had cream-colored walls on either side and windows that overlooked the main street, letting in a lot of sunlight.
Some of their regulars were in their booths, enjoying the muffins Sophia had helped make that morning. She waved at them before turning to face Madison, who kept one hand on her waist while the other scrolled through her phone at an alarming speed. As soon as she glanced up at Sophia and leveled her with a withering look, Sophia was overcome with the urge to run back into the kitchen and hide.
You’re a grown-up, Soph. Get a grip. What’s the worst Madison can do?
“Where’s Nora?”
Sophia cleared her throat. “She’s not in today, but I’m sure I can help, Ms. Blake. What seems to be the problem?”
“I need more samples to be able to decide on the kind of cupcakes I want,” Madison told her with a roll of her eyes. “I don’t know how you expect me to decide when you’ve only sent me a dozen cupcakes to try.”
Sophia’s smile didn’t waver. “I’m sure we can figure something out—”
Madison slammed a hand against the counter. “I don’t want excuses. I want results. Do you have any idea how many followers I have? I could’ve gone for a well-known bakery, you know. But I wanted to support a local business. And this is the thanks I get.”
Sophia pressed her lips together and said nothing.
Do not respond. Madison is just a brat. A rich and entitled brat, but a brat all the same.
“Ms. Blake, why don’t you sit down, and I can see about those samples? We have a selection of muffins that are freshly baked, too. Would you like to try one?”
Madison scoffed and picked up her designer bag. “Do I look like I want one? Don’t you know how to do anything right?”
Sophia led Madison to one of the booths, counting backward in her head the entire time. “I’ll be right back.”
Madison tossed her long blonde hair over her shoulders and picked up the menu. “Hurry up. I’ve already wasted a lot of time dragging myself down here.”
As opposed to what? Doing a live stream about makeup again?
Sophia ran back into the kitchen, and after a quick phone call to Nora, she came back out with the tray of cupcakes she’d been slaving over. Madison picked at her food and complained the whole time. She didn’t stop until Darren stepped into the shop, the bell over the door making a low ringing sound.
He looked incredibly handsome in his dark button-down shirt tucked into a pair of pants, steel-toed boots, and the red hat on top of his head. When he earned a few curious looks, he tucked the hat underneath his arm, showing off his shaggy dark hair.
Darren made a beeline for her and reached into his pocket. “Hey, Soph. I got that check you wanted.”
Madison set down her phone and rose to her feet. “Well, hello there, handsome. I’m Madison Blake, but I’m sure you’ve already heard of me.”
Darren gave her a blank look. “No, I haven’t. Are you a friend of Sophia’s?”
Madison made a low noise in the back of her throat. “No, why would I be? You and I could be friends, though.”
She batted her lashes at him, but he completely ignored her. Eventually, when she placed a hand on his chest, and he moved it away, she pouted. Then her phone blared, slicing through the air and drawing her attention away. Madison straightened her back and blew Darren a kiss on her way out.
The entire thing made Sophia sick to her stomach.
Madison was meant to be here to sample pasties for her wedding. Instead, she’d been throwing herself all over Darren, and the bile in the back of Sophia’s throat had nothing to do with the fact that she still carried a torch for her ex. Or the fact that she was still hit with pangs of regret anytime she came near him. It did, however, have everything to do with the fact that Madison was proving to be more trouble than she was worth, at least in Sophia’s opinion.
“New client?”
“She’s the influencer bride everyone is talking about,” Sophia replied, pausing to run a hand over her face. “Anyway, you’re probably going to be featured in her stories or something.”
Darren raised an eyebrow. “Her what?”
“You know those videos Zoe likes to make with the challenges?”
Darren gave her another blank look. “I honestly have no idea what you’re talking about. Anyway, I stopped by to give you that check for Zoe’s tuition.”
“Thanks.” Sophia took the check from his outstretched hand and tried not to dwell on how it felt when her skin brushed against his. “Everything good?”
“Cat stuck in a tree,” Darren replied before putting his hat back on. “It’s a quiet day, thankfully. Has Zoe talked to you yet? She’s been telling me about how she wants to fill out the application for the habitat program.”
“Please tell me you were able to get through to her.”
Darren’s brows furrowed together. “It’s a good experience.”
“In another continent,” Sophia pointed out with a frown. “And it’s not even related to her degree. She’s getting a degree in business administration, remember? That’s meant to be a useful degree.”
“You keep mentioning that, but not everything she has to do has to be related to her career. Zoe’s been in Provincetown her whole life. It’ll be good for her to get out and see the world, see what it has to offer.”
“Like Zac did? He hasn’t even been home in two years, Darren.”
Silence stretched between them.
Sophia blew out a breath. “Okay, look: Let’s just agree to disagree on this. It’s not like Zoe has decided yet, and I know we’re both trying to be supportive and look out for her.”
Darren tilted his head to the side and nodded. “Exactly. By the way, my parents wanted me to tell you that they missed you.”
Sophia smiled. “I miss them, too. Are they coming to visit soon?”
“Tomorrow, actually, and they wanted me to see if you were free for dinner. What do you think? I can make an excuse if you don’t want to come.”
Sophia paused and searched his face.
A part of her wanted to say yes, if only to give herself the chance to pretend like nothing had changed between them. She adored Darren’s parents and got along with both of them so well that they often felt like extended members of her own family. However, another part of her knew that continuing to find excuses to spend time with Darren wasn’t going to end well. Not when she still hadn’t found a way to get over him.
And what good was dinner going to do anyway?
Already, she could see herself sitting next to Darren and sneaking glances at him when he wasn’t looking. She pictured his parents teasing her and laughing all night, and it made some of the knots in her stomach tighten. Considering how long it had taken both of them to get to a good place, Sophia knew she had to make the right decision—for both of their sakes.
Darren stepped closer to her and flashed her his signature million-dollar smile. “Come on, don’t overthink it. It’s just dinner, and it’s to apologize for the other night.”
Sophia’s lips lifted into a half smile. “I wasn’t aware there was anything you had to apologize for.”
Darren snorted. “You and I both know that’s not true. Knowing my luck, I probably did screw something up, so maybe it should just be like a blanket apology.”
Sophia choked back a laugh. “I’m pretty sure that’s not how apologies work. You can’t apologize once and have it apply to everything.”
“You’ll never know if you don’t come to dinner,” Darren told her, the easy smile still on his face. “Also, I’m firing up the old girl and making steak just the way you like it.”
Sophia’s mouth watered. “With mashed potatoes and corn?”
“And sangria,” Darren added with a quick look over his shoulders. “Anyway, think about it, and let me know. I’ll set an extra plate regardless.”
“Okay.”
In the doorway, Darren paused to give her another smile, and her heart gave an odd little dip.
What are you doing, Sophia? Snap out of it. The two of you split up for a reason, remember?
And the reason still existed in spite of her lingering feelings for Darren.