Chapter 4 #2
She’d made a solid plan. A really good plan that should have given her plenty of sleep before delivering all the cupcakes to the elementary school. Truth was, she was excellent at making plans. Actually following them? Not so much.
There were always important things that popped up. Things she couldn’t bring herself to say no to. Like that last-minute wedding cake.
Oh, for heaven’s sake, Junie. Stop feeling sorry for yourself and get it done.
She shook off the pity party, straightened her back, and picked up the piping bag again. She still had three full trays to finish for the kids, plus the special ones for the teachers. And they weren’t going to frost themselves.
Was she going to be dead on her feet tomorrow… wait, once again, make that later today? Of course, Junie-girl, but those were the breaks. The only question was whether she could stay awake long enough to finish the job.
She set the piping bag down and rubbed her temples. Tired didn’t begin to describe how she felt. Not just sleepy-tired. Soul-tired. The kind of tired that came from always being the one who took care of everyone else while quietly wondering if anyone would ever want to take care of her.
She wanted a Daddy. But not just any Daddy. She wanted her Daddy.
Someone strong and steady who would see how hard she worked, how much she carried, and say, “That’s enough now, little girl.
Let me take it from here.” Someone who would make rules and enforce them, who would hold her when she felt small, who would tell her she was good even when she felt like she was failing.
Someone like Tanner.
The back door creaked, and Junie barely held back a scream.
“Who’s there?” Junie’s voice cracked as she whipped around, thrusting the piping bag out in front of her like a weapon. “Don’t come any closer. I’ve got a gun.” She prayed the intruder couldn’t tell it was just a bag of buttercream in the dim kitchen light.
The back door opened wider, and Kenzie stepped inside carrying two large coffees from The Wild Bean and a grease-stained bag that smelled like pure breakfast heaven.
Kenzie took one look at her and burst out laughing.
“Seriously? What were you going to do, frost me to death?”
Junie blinked, her heart still hammering against her ribs. Relief flooded through her so fast her knees felt weak. “What are you doing here? It’s the middle of the night.”
Kenzie snorted, setting the coffees and bag down on the big worktable. “Making a midnight run, bestie.” She gave Junie a long once-over and winced. “Damn, girl. You look like you’ve been trampled by one of Tanner’s horses.”
Junie tried to scowl, but her tired face only managed a wobbly smile. “I’m fine. Go home and go back to bed, Kez. I’m pretty sure your brothers wouldn’t want you out this late… um, early.”
“What they don’t know won’t hurt them, will it? Now, sit.” Kenzie pushed a warm breakfast sandwich and a large coffee across the counter toward her. “Eat. Then I’ll help you finish these cupcakes so you can get at least a couple hours of sleep before you open.”
Junie wanted to argue. She really did. The words were right there on her tongue, but the smell of sausage, egg, and cheese hit her and her stomach betrayed her with a loud growl. All her resistance melted away.
She sank onto the stool with a grateful sigh and took a huge bite. Pure heaven.
“You’re too good to me,” she mumbled around the food.
“I know,” Kenzie said cheerfully, already tying an apron around her waist. “You take a break. I’ll work on these cupcakes.”
Junie didn’t take long to finish her food, even though Kenzie had told her to slow down. She was too hungry and too exhausted to pretend otherwise.
They worked side by side for the next hour, moving in that easy, familiar rhythm only best friends who’d been through a lot together could share.
Kenzie was the only person who knew the full truth of how Junie really felt about Tanner.
Even Poppy didn’t know about that deep aching, never-going-away love Junie kept hidden in her heart.
Kenzie understood. And Kenzie had never really teased her about it.
That was why Junie trusted her best friend with that secret more than anyone.
“So,” Kenzie said casually as she closed the lid on the last tray of cupcakes, “did you get another bouquet yesterday?”
Junie’s shoulders tensed instantly. “Yeah. Same as always. Beautiful white roses with that little note that says ‘Soon’.”
Kenzie made a face like she’d just tasted something sour. “Preston Lassiter is getting creepier by the week. You really need to talk to him, Junie. Tell him to back off. If I were you, I’d get a restraining order.”
“That’s not necessary,” Junie said softly. “I don’t want to hurt his feelings. I’ve known him for so long, okay? He might be a little obsessed, but he’s not dangerous.”
“You’re being too nice,” Kenzie corrected. “You’ve been trying to hint to him you’re not interested for months now. And, Junie…”
“What?” When her bestie didn’t answer immediately, Junie looked up and met her gaze across the work table. If she didn’t give much weight to the look in Kenzie’s eyes, she couldn’t say the same for the words spoken without a single trace of humor or uncertainty.
“He doesn’t get it.”
Junie sighed. Kenzie was right, but the mere thought of confronting Preston made her stomach twist into tight, anxious knots. She hated hurting people. Even when they made her deeply uncomfortable. “Let’s just get back to work and get these cupcakes done.”
Between the two of them, they finished the last few cupcakes just as the clock hit five a.m.
“Can you believe it’s five already?” Kenzie asked.
Junie’s head drooped, exhaustion pressing down on her like a heavy blanket. “Yes, Kenzie,” she muttered. “I can definitely believe it. Poppy should be here any minute.”
As if on cue, the back door swung open. Poppy froze in the doorway, eyes going wide as she took in the battlefield. Towers of finished cupcakes, boxed and ready to go. Pans stacked high in the sink. Every surface dusted with flour and powdered sugar.
“Oh. My. God! Have you guys been here all night?”
Poppy looked bright-eyed and annoyingly ready to work. She’d been a godsend since she started helping part-time.
Kenzie immediately pointed at Junie. “Office. Cot. Nap. Now. Poppy and I have the front.”
Junie opened her mouth to argue, but the matching stern looks on both of her best friends’ faces dared her to protest. Her shoulders slumped in defeat.
A tired laugh escaped her. “Fine. But only for an hour. And only after I take this out.” Junie held up the filled-to-bursting trash bag.