Chapter 25
Callie
When I step into Lakeshore Sweets, Sloane is already behind the counter with her sleeves rolled up and her hair twisted into a messy knot, restocking the pastry case with practiced ease. She looks up when the bell above the door chimes, shooting me a smile.
It’s the voices coming from the back of the shop that have me pausing.
I glance over and spot Lilah and Rina huddled at the corner table, a half-eaten cinnamon roll sitting between them. Rina’s laughing while Lilah gestures animatedly with her teacup like she’s mid-story.
I lift a hand and wave. “Hey. I didn’t know you two were stopping by this morning.”
Rina doesn’t answer right away. Instead, she gives me a slow once-over, eyes narrowing in a way that immediately makes me self-conscious.
“Hmmm. There’s something different about you,” she says, pointing her coffee stirrer at me.
“Is there?”
Sloane leans an elbow on the counter and raises an eyebrow. “Actually, Rina’s right. You’ve got that look.”
I blink. “What look?”
“The I-just-got-laid-and-I’m-still-enjoying-the-afterglow look,” Sloane says.
Lilah chokes on her tea, coughing into her sleeve as Rina smirks. “That’s exactly what I was thinking.”
The laugh that slips free is a little too quick and a little too loud. “Oh, come on. Give me a break.”
“Hold up.” Rina rises to her feet. “That was in no way a denial. It was more of a deflection. We’re onto you, girl.”
“You’re kind of scary, you know that?” I grumble as she saunters closer.
A wide grin spreads across her face. “Thank you. I always strive for intimidating with just a hint of menace sprinkled in.”
“Someday she might actually decide to use her powers for good instead of evil,” Lilah calls out.
“I wouldn’t count on it,” Sloane says, already pouring a fresh pot of coffee. She grabs a honey lavender cruller from the case and sets it on a small plate. “But in the meantime, this definitely feels like a pastry-and-interrogation kind of morning.”
A few minutes later, we’re all gathered at the back table, our coffee cups steaming and a spread of sugary goodness set out between us. The cinnamon rolls are joined by a couple of croissants, the cruller, and something Sloane swears is the best lemon scone she’s ever made.
After a bite, I have to agree.
Delicious.
There’s a warm hum in my chest I didn’t expect. A feeling of comfort. Of being seen and understood.
Growing up, I didn’t have a lot of girlfriends. Not the kind who showed up for you without being asked, or teased you like this but would also go to war for you if needed. Somehow, without me even realizing it, these three have become exactly that for me.
They’re my people.
As I sit here, laughing with them, a little embarrassed and a lot grateful, I know I wouldn’t trade this for anything.
I wrap my hands around my mug as the warmth steadies me. “Okay, fine.” I meet their eyes one by one. “I’m staying with River.”
Three jaws drop in perfect sync. Sloane’s cruller falls back onto her plate. Lilah jerks forward so fast her elbow nearly knocks over her mug. And Rina just blinks at me, stunned, like her brain is buffering.
Sloane’s the first to recover. “Staying with him… or staying with him?”
I lift a brow. “Is there a difference?”
“Uh, yeah,” Lilah says. “The first one means you’re sleeping under the same roof. The second means you’re sleeping under him.”
Rina lets out a bark of laughter. “You did not just say that.”
Sloane leans in. “We’re gonna need you to start from the very beginning, and don’t you dare leave anything out. And if you skip the spicy parts, I’m quitting on the spot.”
A gurgle of laughter bursts out before I can rein it back in. When my chuckles fade, what’s left feels lighter.
Freer.
Like the weight I’ve been carrying isn’t quite so crushing with these three sitting beside me.
And yeah, maybe nothing about River and me is easy. Maybe it’s messy and complicated and full of things I don’t know how to say out loud. But right now, with their expectant faces and warm drinks and easy camaraderie, I realize that I don’t have to necessarily figure it out alone.
Rina blinks again. Then once more. I’m not sure I’ve ever seen her rendered speechless. “I’m sorry, did I just black out? I’m almost positive you just said you’re staying with River Thompson. As in your ex’s best friend. The same guy you refused to make eye contact with a few weeks ago.”
“Although…” Lilah lifts her tea with a knowing smile. “He did watch Nora last week.”
“That’s still a pretty big leap,” Sloane says, arching a brow. “From babysitting duty to living under the same roof.”
With a shrug, I try playing it cool as the corners of my mouth twitch. “You didn’t black out. And if you did, blame Oliver. Not me.”
Rina groans as her head falls back. “The only O word I want to talk about is orgasm. Not Oliver.”
Sloane perks up like she’s been waiting for this exact moment. “Any chance we’ll get to hear those two words used in the same sentence?”
Rina flings a napkin at her, but the flush climbing her cheeks gives her away.
Lilah grins and shifts in her seat, one hand resting lightly on her growing baby bump. “Now that’s definitely a situation we need to circle back to. But right now, I want to hear all about how this whole surprise-roommate thing happened with River.”
I let out a sigh as my brain tumbles back to the weekend. “My landlord taped a notice to my door that the rent would be going up five hundred dollars.”
Lilah’s eyes widen. “Five hundred? That’s—”
“Insanity,” I finish for her. “With everything else going on, there’s no way I can swing it.”
“And River just offered up his home?” Surprise crosses Sloane’s face “Like, here’s a spare bedroom and built-in support system, no strings attached?”
I nod slowly, omitting the part about sharing his bed. “Yeah. He said he had space. That it wasn’t an issue for Nora and me to stay with him until I figured out my next move.”
There’s a pause and then Lilah lets out a quiet laugh. “Yeah, if you remember correctly, I got the same speech.” She rubs her stomach with a smile so tender it tugs at something deep in my chest. “Now look at me.”
Rina nudges her with a grin. “You’ve never looked more content or happy. So we all know that man is doing something right.”
“I am happy,” Lilah says dreamily. “Settled in a way I didn’t think was possible. It didn’t all happen overnight, but moving in with Steele was the beginning. That’s when everything started to shift between us.”
“You deserve it, babe,” Rina says, giving her hand a squeeze. “Steele adores you. Relationship goals right there.”
I take a long sip of coffee, hoping they’ll stay focused on Lilah’s fairytale romance for just a little longer.
No such luck.
I feel the moment the attention boomerangs back to me.
Three sets of eyes. Zero escape routes. Each one of them is looking at me like they’ve got follow-up questions locked and loaded.
Sloane points her cruller at me. “Okay, explain why you walked in here glowing. Not pregnancy glowing,” she adds.
“But something definitely happened. And I, for one, need the details. I think we all know that my love life’s been DOA since…
honestly, I don’t even want to slap a date on it. So, make me happy and just spill.”
Even though we’re the only ones here, I glance around the bakery before leaning in. “He gave me an orgasm last night.”
For the second time this morning, three jaws drop in perfect unison.
Sloane nearly drops her cruller.
Again.
“Wait, what? You slept with him?” Sloane nearly shouts.
“No!” I say quickly, hands flying up. “But he”–I widen my eyes and nod my head—
“you know.”
Lilah stares at me wide-eyed. “I was not expecting that. But just to be clear, I love that for you.”
With a grin, Rina leans forward. “It’s about time someone worthy of you stepped up to the plate.”
Sloane exhales dramatically. “God, I’m totally jealous. I mean, the only thing I’ve been doing in bed lately is cuddling up with my heated blanket and binge-watching murder podcasts. If anyone needs help disposing of a body, I’m your girl.”
That gets a round of giggles, but then Lilah’s expression grows serious, and I know what’s coming next. “So, how do you feel about everything?”
The laughter fades, and the truth slips out. “I’m not sure.”
I pick at the edge of my napkin, trying to find the right words. “River is turning out to be different than I expected. And he’s amazing with Nora.” The fear that’s been simmering beneath the surface rises, and before I can stop it, I blurt, “I can’t afford to get hurt again.”
Silence stretches across the table. It’s not awkward, just real. Like they all get it. Like they’ve all stood in the same place, waiting for the other shoe to drop.
“It’s not just the sex, or I guess I should say, the non-sex,” I murmur. “It’s the way he looks at me. Almost like he sees me, along with all my baggage, and it doesn’t make him want to run for his life.”
Rina reaches across the table and lays her hand over mine. “That’s how it’s supposed to feel, babe. That’s exactly what it looks like when a real man shows up.”
Before I can respond, my phone buzzes. I slip it from my pocket and glance at the screen.
River: Just wanted to show you that we’re doing fine.
There’s a photo attached.
Nora has two slightly crooked pigtails that look way too good for a rookie attempt.
Her cheeks are sticky with strawberry yogurt, and she’s grinning, as if having an absolute ball.
River’s beside her, face pressed close, blue eyes crinkled from smiling.
He looks like he’s having just as much fun as she is.
Squeals erupt from around me.
“Oh my God,” Sloane gasps. “He did her hair. And it’s actually good. Like, shockingly good.”
“Are we sure this man is real?” Rina asks. “This feels more like a Hallmark movie, and I mean that in the best way.”
Lilah lifts a brow, her smile knowing. “Are you sure you’re not in deeper than you thought?”
That question makes my pulse skip and stumble in protest.
There’s no way to hide the smile that spreads across my face. “I think it’s a definite possibility.”
I type out a reply while they all watch on.
Me: Looks like you’ve got it all under control. Thanks again.
The second I hit send, Rina narrows her eyes and points at me. “That look right there. That dreamy, slightly turned-on look? That’s not casual. It’s endgame energy.”
Before I can respond, the door opens and Beau steps inside the bakery. He flashes a confident smile that makes Sloane straighten in her seat before he beelines for our table.
His gaze stays locked on mine. “Hello, Callie. Do you have a minute to talk?”
“Sure.” I rise to my feet, acutely aware of the whispering that explodes behind me the second I turn around.
We stop near the register, and Beau lowers his voice. “I spoke with Gabby yesterday. Everything’s set. We’ll start featuring your desserts at two of the restaurants next month. If the feedback’s strong, we’ll look at gradually expanding the menu.”
“That’s amazing.” A genuine smile forms. “Thank you again for the opportunity.”
He takes a small step closer. There’s a pause, and when he speaks again, his tone gentles. “I really enjoyed the other night. I know you said you wanted to keep things professional, but I was hoping you might reconsider.”
I hesitate.
Beau’s handsome. Polite. Charming in a way that feels harmless. But there’s no pull or spark between us. There isn’t a rush of heat in my chest like there is when River walks into a room.
“I don’t think that’s a good idea,” I say gently. “But I really did have a nice time.”
His smile falters just a bit, and I get the feeling this man isn’t told no very often. “Is there anything I can say to change your mind?”
I shake my head. “No, I’m sorry. There isn’t.”
He studies me for a moment, reading between the lines. “Is there someone else?”
I pause before admitting, not just to him but myself as well, “I think there might be.”
There’s a flash of disappointment in his eyes before he recovers quickly. “If anything changes, I hope you’ll let me know.”
“I will.”
With a nod, he offers a polite smile to the table, then turns and walks out, leaving behind a strange mix of relief and guilt swirling within me.
Once he’s gone, I make my way back to the table.
“Well,” Sloane says, breaking off a piece of her cruller, “that was a little hot and a lot awkward.”
Rina’s phone buzzes, and her face lights up the second she looks at the screen.
Lilah leans in, already grinning. “Hmmm. I wonder who’s got you smiling like that.”
“Excuse me?” Rina asks, a little too casually.
Lilah arches a brow. “What do we have here? A new Tinder match?”
Rina grabs her purse before rising to her feet and making her way to the door. “Just a guy with good banter. Trust me, it’s nothing serious.”
“Wait a minute, that’s all we get after I just bared my soul?” I call after her.
She glances over her shoulder with a devilish smile lifting her lips. “And don’t you feel better for it?” Then she winks. “If it turns into anything more, I’ll be sure to bring it to the circle of trust.”
With that, the door closes behind her.
Lilah sips her tea and lets out a content sigh. “Never a dull moment around here, is there?”
“Nope,” I murmur, watching the door a beat longer before turning back to the table, to the people who now feel more like family. “Not even close.”