Chapter 27
Chapter Twenty-Seven
EVIE
Idon’t have any trouble finding a job at a bakery.
The hardest part is forcing myself to get out of bed and go to work each day.
I never had an issue before, but things are different now.
Everett tells me it’s normal to be sad after a breakup, but this is the first time I’ve ever felt this heartbroken.
It’s because our relationship ended too soon. I wasn’t ready for this. It should have been different.
Days have passed, and it’s too late to do anything about it now. I’m back to focusing on my future, including forcing myself to get up and work. Someday, it will get easier.
This is only my second day of work, and I’m still stuck working at the front desk. That’s the natural progression of things, or so I’m told, but it would be more motivating if I could dig my fingers into some dough.
When work is slow, they take me on a tour of the bakery. The beachside shop is cute. It’s smaller than where I worked before, but the pastel pinks and blues feel like a better fit for me. I still long to open my bakery, but that dream feels further away than ever…
Especially now that I may or may not be trying to save up to go to school in San Diego. It’s impossible. Even with my brother paying my rent, there’s no way I can afford the prices—but I want to. Oh, how I want to.
Not that I ever expect to get what I want. Life doesn’t work out like that.
It’s raining, too, on top of everything else I hate about today—and yesterday, and the day before. I haven’t seen it rain in San Diego since arriving, and it’s a little surprising to hear it pattering on the bakery rooftop. The gloomy skies should have given it away.
The gray skies remind me of something else now—another time, another place. I was in Finland with him…
I still haven’t heard from Theo, and I haven’t contacted him. I won’t. He’s back in the States now. I know he is, unless he decided to elongate his stay in Finland. His schedule is still ingrained in my mind.
No one has entered the shop in hours. I’m stuck cleaning the countertop and straightening the display—cakes, pies, cupcakes, every treat you could imagine in an American bakery.
I miss the strange goodies from Finland more than I thought I would. Oh, that’s not what I’m really missing. It’s Theo. I miss him enough that the stranger who enters looks like him—the same curls, same rich brown eyes, same stubble across his face, same…
Same jacket. That’s the jacket he would wear whenever it was raining.
It’s tough and brown, a worker’s jacket, and I feel like it lives in the back of my mind.
I know how it looks when he throws it on the bedroom floor or hangs it on a coat rack, and I know exactly how it looks draped over his strong frame.
“Can I help you?” My heart races, but my tone is surprisingly calm. I’ll treat him like any other customer. That’s all he is now.
Someday, I may even be able to look at him like he didn’t hang every star for me. That day isn’t today. There’s still a pull in my chest as if my heart wants me to leap across the baby-blue countertop and into his strong arms.
I squash the part of me that hopes he’s begging for me back.
It doesn’t matter that I’m not working for him anymore—I was at one point, and being with me will still ruin his image.
He has a perfect image because he’s a good person.
He cares, and the world knows that about him. I won’t taint how they look at him.
“Yes.” Theo steps closer. “I’m here to give you your job back.”
That’s what he’s here for? My stomach drops. What else was I expecting? All Theo cares about is work.
I narrow my eyes. “Bold of you to do that at my new place of employment.”
He shakes his head. “What are they paying you? I’ll double it.”
“You already doubled it,” I hiss. “This isn’t about the money.”
“I know you’re staying in San Diego now. You don’t have to leave at the end of the summer—and you were such a great assistant.”
It’s insulting. Was that all I ever was to him? Just a great assistant?
“That’s not what I want to do with my life, Theo. You know that.”
“I do.” He smiles sheepishly. “I wasn’t expecting you to say yes, but… I had to try.”
“You really didn’t have to.” My eyes narrow. “That’s what you came here for? To try and hire me?”
“No.” His expression is somber. “There are two choices. Multiple choice, if you will. You can have the job if you want, or…”
Maybe he isn’t here about the job. For the first time since I met him, it feels like Theo is playing mind games. At least he finally has some imperfections.
I cross my arms. “Or what?”
He slips a white rectangle onto the counter. I stare down at it, my eyes widening when I realize what it is. A check—it’s made out to me, and it’s far more than I could ever hope to get for a paycheck.
“I don’t understand.” I press a hand against my chest.
“This is for school. And before you ask—it’s a gift. I don’t want you to pay me back.”
“You can’t do this.” I slide the check back in his direction, but he ignores it. “I can’t take this. Theo—”
“I love you.” He leans in, his hands pressing against the counter. “I’m investing in your future—in our future if you’ll still have me.”
Everett warned me at the beginning that Theo is far too generous, but I never thought it would reach this point. What am I supposed to do? To say?
My lips part, and only air comes out for several moments. “No. This is too much.”
“I know you said you won’t choose anyone over your work, and I don’t want you to. But I want you to stay. I want you to go to school here because I know it would be good for you, and I want you to be with me. Choose your career. I choose you.”
My body is frozen. I glance at the back—where the bakers are working hard, decorating their cakes. This little piece of paper in front of me will get me back there with them…
Or in a restaurant. Or in my bakery. My dreams. They’re in my reach. For the first time in my life, I don’t need to struggle to get them. They’re right here.
My fingers brush against the paper. I stare down at the check and then at Theo.
“It’s yours,” he says. “Even if you don’t choose me.”
“Whether I want to be with you or not was never the problem.” I lean across the counter. “I love you, Theo. I was waiting for you to come to me.”
He lets out an exasperated laugh. “You’re the one who left.”
“What was I supposed to do? Christine said—”
“Forget what Christine said.” He leans in, his gaze penetrating. “We have a future together if you want it.”
“What about Everett?”
“He’s part of the reason I’m here.” I lift a brow. “Who do you think told me about you transferring schools?”
The final piece clicks into place. Everett can’t stop us from being together. Distance can’t stop us. His work can’t stop us. Theo is choosing me. I would never make him choose me over his career, but he is.
And maybe he doesn’t have to. Maybe we can be the ones to have it all.
“Yes,” I whisper. “I want this.”
Tears spill down my cheeks.
“Don’t do that,” Theo murmurs, frowning. “I promised Everett I won’t make you cry again, and I intend to keep it—”
“These are happy tears, you foolish man.”
I lean across the counter, closing the remaining space, and fervently press my lips to his.