Chapter 16
Kiera Emmerson
The register beeps as I scan another loaf of sourdough, and I’m only half paying attention because my mind is approximately three miles away on a beach lit by moonlight.
River’s hand in mine. The way the ocean looked bathed in moonlight. How we walked for an hour after Kiki picked up Skyler, just talking about everything and nothing. The way he looked at me when we stood still, like he was memorizing my face.
And of course our kiss.
My lips curve up without permission, and I catch my reflection in the bakery window. I’m grinning like an idiot. An actual grin, not my usual smirk or sarcastic half-smile. A full, genuine, dopey grin that makes me look like I’ve lost my mind.
I should probably be more concerned about that.
“That’ll be eight fifty,” I tell the customer, trying to compose my face into something more professional.
The woman hands me a ten, and I make change on autopilot. My thoughts drift right back to last night. To me telling River about my past… the things I don’t talk about. To the way he listened like every word mattered.
To how safe I felt. How seen.
The bell above the door chimes as the customer leaves, and I’m alone in the front of the bakery for exactly twelve seconds before Levi pushes through the swinging door from the kitchen. He’s carrying a tray of gluten-free cream puffs, their tops dusted with powdered sugar.
He takes one look at me and stops dead in his tracks.
His eyebrows climb toward his hairline. “Why are you grinning like that?”
“I’m not grinning.” But even as I say it, I can feel my traitorous face doing exactly that.
“You’re grinning.” He sets the tray on the counter beside the register, studying me with the kind of intense focus usually reserved for perfecting pastry recipes.
“You never grin. You smirk. You give people that look that says you’re judging their life choices.
But you don’t grin.” He crosses his arms. “What happened?”
Heat floods my cheeks, but I don’t try to deny it. I can’t. I’m too happy this morning, too full of this strange lightness that’s been buzzing through me since I woke up. “Nothing happened.”
“Uh-huh.” His mouth curves into a knowing smirk. “Does this nothing that happened have anything to do with a certain former child actor who lives in an unnecessarily large house and pays you an ridiculous amount of money to cook for him?”
My face goes even hotter. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Sure you don’t.” Levi picks up the tray and heads toward the display case. “I’m sure it’s completely unrelated that you’re now spending every spare moment with said child actor.”
I open my mouth to respond, but the swinging door opens again and Claire appears. Her eyes immediately zero in on Levi. “Are you teasing Kiera?”
“I’m not teasing.” Levi starts arranging the cream puffs in the display case with careful precision. “I’m making astute observations about her emotional state.”
“That’s called teasing.” Claire moves to stand beside me, bumping her shoulder against mine. “Leave her alone.”
“Fine, fine.” Levi waves a hand dismissively. “I’ll go back to the kitchen where I’m appreciated and my observational skills are valued.” He heads toward the door, then pauses and looks back at me. “But for the record, I’m happy for you. River’s a good guy.”
He disappears into the kitchen before I can respond, leaving me standing there with my mouth open.
Claire waits exactly two seconds before turning to me, her eyes sparkling with excitement. “Okay, spill. What happened with River?”
I glance toward the front windows, checking for customers. The bakery is empty, the morning rush long over. “I kissed him.”
Claire’s squeal is so high-pitched I’m surprised the display case doesn’t shatter. “You kissed him? When? How? Tell me everything!”
“Last night.” I can’t help but smile again.
“I was watching Skyler for Kiki, and she fell asleep at River’s house, and we were cleaning up the Barbies, and I just..
.” The memory makes my chest warm. “I told him about what happened back home. About my ex and my parents and all of it. And he was so kind about it, Claire. He didn’t judge me or tell me I should have known better.
He just listened and held me when I cried and said I didn’t deserve any of what happened to me. ”
Claire’s hand finds mine, squeezing gently. “Oh, Kiera.”
“And then I kissed him.” The words come out softer now. “Because I wanted to. Because he made me feel safe. Because for the first time in forever, I actually wanted to be close to someone instead of running away.”
“That’s great.” Claire’s eyes are suspiciously bright. “So, does this mean you two are together now? Like officially?”
I lean back against the counter. “No. We’re taking it really slowly. I don’t want to mess things up by rushing into something I’m not ready for.”
“But you like him.”
It’s not a question, but I nod anyway. “Yeah. I really do. But I also can’t lose focus on my goals, you know?
The competition is in a month. And I need to win that scholarship.
I need to prove I can be independent, that I can make it on my own without relying on anyone else.
” I bite my lower lip. Plus, I’m afraid he will lose interest in me if I finally agree to a relationship, but I don’t tell that part to Claire.
I don’t want to admit I think River is out of my league.
“Those things aren’t mutually exclusive,” Claire points out gently. “You can care about River and still work toward your goals.”
“I know. It’s just...” I search for the right words. “I’ve never had both before. Every time I’ve cared about someone, it’s ended badly. And I’m scared that if I let myself fall too hard, too fast, I’ll lose sight of what really matters.”
Claire’s expression softens with understanding. “So you’re being cautious.”
“Exactly.” I straighten up, feeling more confident in my decision. “We’re friends who are maybe becoming something more. But we’re not putting labels on it or making it complicated. We’re just... seeing what happens.”
“That sounds really healthy actually.” Claire leans against the counter beside me. “So how’s the cooking practice going?”
My whole face lights up. I can feel it happening, can’t stop the excitement from bubbling out.
“Oh my gosh, it’s been so cool. River decided to help me prepare for the competition he would give me mystery ingredients.
Yesterday he gave me lavender, which was challenging because you have to be so careful with it or everything tastes like soap.
But I made this lavender-honey roasted chicken that turned out decent, and I made lavender salt for the potatoes, and River said it was delicious. ”
I’m talking with my hands now, unable to contain my enthusiasm. “And today I have no idea what he’s going to give me, but I’ve been preparing, reading recipes and getting ideas from my favorite YouTube channels.”
Claire is smiling, watching me with this knowing look that I can’t quite decipher.
“And the best part is that I’m actually learning,” I continue, barely pausing for breath.
“Like, I’m getting more confident with improvisation.
I’m trusting my instincts more instead of just following recipes exactly.
And River is so supportive. He asks really thoughtful questions about my techniques and why I chose certain ingredients, and he makes me feel like what I’m doing actually matters. ”
I stop abruptly, realizing I’ve been rambling. “Sorry. I’m talking too much.”
“No, you’re not.” Claire’s smile has grown wider. “You’re talking about something you’re passionate about. And someone you care about.”
“I just... he’s really great, you know?” The words keep coming, like I’ve opened a floodgate I can’t close.
“He’s patient and kind, and he actually listens when I talk.
He helped me move into my apartment without being asked.
He plays Barbies with Skyler like it’s the most natural thing in the world.
He’s working on this documentary about coastal communities that’s actually beautiful and meaningful. ”
I pause, my throat getting tight. “And he makes me feel like I’m more than just the girl who got kicked out by her parents. Like I’m someone worth knowing. Someone worth...” I trail off, not quite ready to finish that sentence.
“Someone worth caring about,” Claire finishes softly.
I nod, not trusting my voice.
Claire pulls me into a hug, and I let her. “I’m so happy for you, Kiera. You deserve this. You deserve someone who sees how special you are.”
When she pulls back, she’s grinning. “And for the record, you should hear yourself when you talk about River. Your whole face changes. You look... happy.”
“I am happy.” The admission feels terrifying. “I’m also scared out of my mind, but I’m happy.”
“That’s okay. You’re allowed to be both.” Claire glances at the clock on the wall. “Your shift ends in twenty minutes. Are you going over to River’s after this?”
“Yeah.” My stomach flips over at the thought. “He said he has another mystery ingredient for me today.”
“Of course he does.” Claire shakes her head, still smiling. “That man is so gone for you.”
“He’s not—”
“Kiera.” She gives me a look. “He’s designing elaborate cooking challenges just to spend more time with you. He’s gone.”
I don’t know what to say to that, so I don’t say anything at all. But the thought makes warmth spread through my chest, settling somewhere near my heart.
The remaining twenty minutes of my shift pass in a blur of wiping down counters and restocking napkins. A few customers trickle in, but it’s the lull between morning rush and afternoon snack time, so the bakery stays relatively quiet.
When the clock finally hits three, I practically sprint to the back room to grab my bag. I catch my reflection in the small mirror by the employee lockers and pause.