Chapter 5 #2
I followed them to the back of the bakery and tested the temperature of the rack. It’d cooled down enough to touch, and I pried it out of its spot. There was an attachment at the top that locked the rack in while baking, and it’d somehow bent. That was probably why the rack wouldn’t come free.
I shined my flashlight until I saw the manufacturer label. I took a couple pictures. I could order the parts for this and have it fixed by the end of the week. Unfortunately, the oven was out of commission until then.
I had a feeling Evie was going to be devastated.
How could I fix it? I had people everywhere when it came to building and construction. I probably knew someone that could get a part faster for me.
“What was the issue?”
I jumped at Avery’s voice behind me. I turned to look at her. Her arms were crossed, her lips pressed into a thin line. “The attachment up top is bent. I’m going to order the part for her.”
Her brows raised. “You’d do that for her?”
“Of course.”
“Hmm.”
I could not, for the life of me, tell if she approved or not. Clearly, June and Avery loved my cat. Me? That was still up for debate. But she returned to June’s side. I ran my fingers through my hair and pulled my phone out to text my contractor, Alex, about the oven part.
It was a tough crowd. I’d forgotten how closed off small towns could feel. Not that Avery or June were excluding me, but I knew I’d be talked about later.
Coming back to Whynot was probably the biggest mistake I’d ever made.
I hadn’t exactly loved growing up here. In fact, once I left, I swore I’d never come back.
There were a lot of the older folks in town who would remember me and associate me with my bad upbringing.
If they only knew the half of it, they’d probably pity me.
But, it didn’t matter. I was here to stay. And I’d prove to everyone that I was worth keeping around. Evie included.
A man’s voice interrupted my thoughts. I turned, ready to kick out whoever it was, but June’s face lit up like a neon sign.
“We’re back here!” June called.
Oh shit. Of course. Dallas Whynot stepped into the backroom and went still when he spotted me.
I never had an issue with him, but he’d certainly gotten caught between Austin and I several times.
I was pretty sure I accidentally clipped his nose one time when he stepped in front of Austin to break up a fist fight when we were seniors.
But unlike then, he was bulked up with muscles now.
I worked out religiously, yeah, but he could probably take me.
Not that he would. We weren't kids anymore, and I’d certainly grown out of picking fights.
Well, mostly.
Surprise flashed in his eyes. “Nick? Nick Steele?”
“Yeah,” I said, clearing my throat. “Hey, Dallas. How’s it going?”
“I—uh—good? Great. I’m so confused right now, but I guess Austin’s texts make more sense.”
“Oh, he’s already talking about me?” I asked, the corner of my mouth tugging.
Dallas chuckled and crossed the bakery, giving me a firm handshake. We had an audience, though, and they were scrutinizing our every movement. I felt like I was flayed open under a microscope.
“You’re opening a resort?”
I nodded. “Yep.”
“Cool. That’ll be . . . interesting.” He released my hand then turned back to his sister and June.
“Madi will be over shortly. Mateo texted that he’s going to help Austin.
Levi is picking up groceries and we’re going to meal prep for Evie so she doesn’t have to think the next few days. We’re all in caretaking mode.”
Jealousy tugged in my chest. I’d never had anyone in my life that would jump into helping me like this.
“Thank you,” Avery said quietly. Her frown deepened, her eyes turning stormy. “He’s going to get himself fucking killed.”
The silence in the room was unsettling. I felt like I was intruding. Well, I was intruding. But what did they mean? Were they talking about Austin?
He had looked tired, but I was too busy worrying about Evie and arguing with him to really wonder why.
“I wonder if we could make him be Evie’s nanny,” June said. Avery and Dallas gave her a flat look, and she laughed. “What? I’m serious. She’s going to need it, otherwise she’ll be back here at four in the morning.”
“The oven won’t be ready by then,” I said. “I’m ordering a part for her. I have a friend who can get it in earlier, but it probably won’t arrive until Thursday. Maybe Friday.”
Dallas raised his brows. “Thanks for doing that. Um . . . You don’t really need to help anymore if you need to go. We’ve got like six of us who can juggle it all.”
“He’s helping,” June said pointedly. “We’re getting to know him. Since it’s been so long.”
“Yeah,” Avery chimed. “Learning all about him.”
Dallas glanced over at me warily, but it made me feel better. He had no fucking idea what those two were doing either.
“I’ve got the time,” I said. “Just need to take Lucky to the vet in a few hours. He needs his shot updates.”
My feline son was going to be pissed off at me later, but keeping him healthy was worth it.
Ever since that furball had come into my life, he’d brought me nothing but hairballs, scratched furniture, and joy.
I loved him more than anything else in the world despite the fact he was the worst roommate I’d ever had.
He was a pain in my ass, and I’d happily die for him.
“Cat dad or dog dad?” Dallas asked.
“Cat,” I chuckled.
“Obviously,” June said. “He has a mullet and tattoos. Didn’t you see the cat carrier on the counter?”
“I did, but suddenly got worried that Avery decided to get another pet.”
“Hey,” she quipped. “You make it sound like I run a zoo now.”
“I mean, you got two dogs at the same time.”
“You say that like you didn’t spend three hours playing with them once we introduced y’all.” Avery planted her hands on her hips. “I give it a year before the three of you get some sort of pet.”
“Okay, but you got pets to battle baby fever,” June said.
Avery hissed, and the three of them descended into a series of jabs and laughter. I still felt like I was on the outside, but . . .
It was nice.
“Show him the baby,” June said to me.
“June,” Dallas groaned.
“What? We all know you’re a cat man, too.”
“Okay,” I laughed. “I’ll show you Lucky, and then we can keep getting everything fixed up for Evie.”
Maybe being back in Whynot wouldn’t be so bad.