Chapter 35 #2
Her calm, dark brown eyes meet mine, waiting patiently. The sunlight filters in through the window and makes them look like melted chocolate. Despite how beautiful I think her eyes are, she holds me in her gaze with steadfast intensity. She blinks, adding to my nerves.
“I’m sorry, I don’t know what I’m doing here.
I just moved here, and I don’t know anyone, but for some reason I wanted to come see you.
I know that that’s crazy, but I felt like I knew you just a little bit, and driving twenty minutes out of the way to be around someone that I even remotely knew sounded more appealing than sitting alone in my new shitty apartment. ” I ramble.
“You want a cupcake?” Juliet asks, her voice soft and sweet, just like powdered sugar. There’s nothing but kindness shining in her chocolate brown eyes. No judgment, no disapproval. Nothing but kindness.
“Yes,” I answer.
If I can’t see him, I just want to be near someone who might remind me of him. This is the closest I’ll get to Asher Stirling.
Juliet rounds the counter, standing behind the display case. “What’s your poison?” she questions as she slides the glass door open.
I look over the dozen different assortments of cupcake flavors, chewing on my lower lip as I debate which one sounds good. Knowing Juliet’s baking, I bet any of these flavors would heal my soul.
“Here,” Juliet offers, deciding for me. “Try this one, it’s something new I’ve been trying.”
Juliet hands me a cupcake with caramelized sugar on top instead of regular frosting. I carefully unwrap the treat. Juliet nervously straightens her apron while she waits for me to take the first bite.
And when I do…
Mother of God. This cupcake is the best thing I’ve ever tasted.
The sugar topping breaks apart, and my teeth sink into sweet custard before finally reaching the moist, vanilla cake.
And when I chew, I realize that there is some kind of raspberry filling in the middle that makes me want to eat a hundred more cupcakes.
As all the flavors rush into a beautiful symphony along my taste buds, I realize she made crème br?lée cupcakes.
“Juliet,” I say, completely serious, mouth still half-full as I hide my chewing behind my hand. “These might be better than sex.”
“Considering the last sex you had was with my brother, I’d prefer we compare it to something else,” she laughs.
I shake my head, already stuffing another bite into my mouth. “No. There’s nothing else my brain can compare it to right now.”
She giggles again and closes the display case after swiping a cupcake for herself. She walks me to the corner of the shop, where cute navy armchairs sit around small tables that look like driftwood that washed up on the beach. We both plop down, enjoying the sweets in comfortable silence.
“Why are you here, Summer?” Juliet finally inquires after both of our wrappers are empty on the table in front of us.
My mouth suddenly feels dry, and I want to blame it on the cupcake, but I know it’s not that. “I, um, I transferred,” I stutter out. “I’m going to finish up my graduate program at Monterey Bay Institute of Psychology.”
Juliet purses her lips, but I can tell by the way her eyes cloud over that the news isn’t surprising, but it is disappointing. “Asher told me about the pictures,” she says by way of explanation.
“Ah,” I sigh with an awkward nod. “Not my finest moment.” I laugh, but it comes off sounding incredibly self-deprecating. “I really didn’t mean to get him in trouble, Juliet, I swear.”
She leans forward and places her hand on mine. “I didn’t think you did,” she replies kindly. “I know how much both of you care for each other. It sounds like maybe someone else just wasn’t one of your biggest fans.”
An image of Matt’s face flashes in my mind, bringing my anger back to the surface. If it weren’t for him, Asher and I would still be together in Seattle, and I wouldn’t be deeper in debt and having to retake courses I’ve already completed.
It’s your own fault, a betraying voice whispers in the recesses of my brain.
“I couldn’t think of any better options,” I say lamely.
“Were you able to transfer all of your credits?” Juliet asks with a hopeful raise of both dark eyebrows.
I let out a breath before shaking my head. “Most of them, but not all of them.” A sad sound escapes her lips, but I shrug it off. “It’s a little bit of a setback, but nothing that I can’t handle.”
She squints at me, as if she can tell that I don’t feel as confident as I sound. “You’re living in Monterey?”
“Yep. Very nice place.”
“But you said your apartment is a piece of shit?”
I cringe. Probably shouldn’t have blurted that bit out. “It’s… not the worst place I could’ve rented.”
“How are you paying for all of this?”
I let loose another sigh. “I’m still trying to figure that out. My mother has been kind enough to offer to help me while I’m getting settled, but I don’t want to rely on her long-term. This was my mistake, and I should be the one paying for it. Literally and figuratively.”
Juliet bites her bottom lip before straightening her shoulders and beaming at me.
“The bakery has really been picking up lately. I know it may not align with your master’s degree, but I can pay you.
And I never get yelled at by rude customers here.
And we can listen to music or gossip while we frost cupcakes in the mornings. ”
A grateful smile tugs at my lips. “I don’t really know how to bake,” I say sheepishly.
“Were you good at chemistry in high school?”
“Uhh, ten years ago? Yeah.”
She waves her hand as if it’s nothing. “Perfect. That’s all baking is. Well, that and being able to follow directions, can you do that?”
I nod. “I think I can manage.”
“See?” She grins. “Perfect, like I said.”
“I could probably get the hang of frosting designs?” I offer.
“Awesome!” She jumps up and down while clapping her hands. “I get exhausted doing them all by myself.” Her joy makes me want to start jumping with her. “Do you want to start Monday?”
“That sounds great,” I say with a smile, though I don’t think it quite reaches my eyes.
Working with Juliet won’t be anything like seeing Asher every day, but maybe being around her will make it feel like I still have a piece of him.
Three Months Later
Having to retake a full semester of grad school was never part of my plan, and, frankly, it sucks.
Having to wait until summer to retake any of those classes also sucks.
By the time I filled out the transfer application, got accepted, completed the remaining paperwork, and broke my lease, I couldn’t sign up for spring classes.