3. Chapter Three #2
Sadie eyes off my barely touched breakfast before nodding. “It might help. I can clean up for you.”
Turning to get some more peace to drown in my overwhelming thoughts, my phone dings again, breaking the silence. Toes scrunching tightly, I snatch it off the table to see another text from him.
BLONDIE: Can I bring you something to help? I can drop by on my way through town.
BLONDIE: I know you can’t resist some of Honey Haven’s fresh berries. I have a basket for you.
Sighing, I close my phone again, ignoring his messages and drag my grumpy ass to the shower where I can cry without getting pitiful looks from anyone.
I finish baking today’s desserts before sighing and brushing the excess flour from my apron. It’s almost eleven, and after the shocking night of sleep I had, and the interrogation by Sadie over breakfast, all I want is to get out of here and crawl into bed.
Macie sticks her head around the corner of the kitchen, her long auburn hair braided tightly behind her with a white ribbon.
I can’t quite tell from her face if she’s concerned and checking up on me, or if she’s dealing with an impatient customer, but either way, it makes the hairs on the back of my neck tingle seeing the crease sitting between her brows.
“Hey,” she drawls warily. I swallow uncomfortably, feeling a droplet of sweat fall down my temple. Why is it so hot back here? “Do you have any more caramel slices coming? Mrs Spencer is asking for another dozen for the community meeting this evening.”
I sniff a laugh. Mrs Spencer is always so picky with her desserts and orders at the last second.
Walking over to the batch I just finished, I pick up the metal tray. “She’s lucky. There’s forty here, but that’s it for today. I can’t make any more.”
Macie gives me a small smile as I hand them over.
I see the pity lines forming around her eyes.
Sucking in another deep breath, I fight to keep my impending tears at bay.
I’m not normally a crier, especially when I’m baking.
It’s always been my emotional outlet, usually with my mum and grandma, when she was alive.
There’s something about the mixing, sifting, baking, and decorating that takes all of my attention, allows my body to finally relax, and resets my mind.
But today, my tears don’t seem to want to dry up, no matter what I bake.
Must be the ridiculous hormones bouncing through me.
Macie holds them on her hip, eyes on me, slanted to show the empathy that spills out of her like a broken faucet. She asks for the fourth time this morning, “Are you doing okay, L?”
“I’m fine,” I mutter, a bit more aggressively than I wanted. I cringe and scratch my forehead. “Sorry. I didn’t mean that to sound so harsh. I’m just tired, and hot.” I fan my face with my hand. “It’s too hot in here.”
“Well…” Macie forces out another smile, because that’s how she is. Always smiling, even when she’s drowning inside. “I can see if Reid can fix the air-conditioning back here. He was meant to look at it last week, but it must have slipped his mind.”
“It’s all right. I’ll be okay.”
The corner of her mouth lifts, but it feels as flat as my deflated hopes. “Have you had a chance to look through the resumes yet?”
My eyes press shut. With everything going on, I haven’t even taken a peek at them. “Umm, I can today.”
“No rush.” Her smile reappears, calming my anxiety a fraction. “But we should hire someone for when…” Macie doesn’t need to finish off that sentence, because I agree with her. We’ll need someone for when I’m at home with my baby. How else will we keep the cafe open?
“I’ll take a look this afternoon and make some calls.”
“Okay, perfect.”
Her hand squeezes mine for a moment, grounding me. I hear my name being called from the front counter. It’s sharp and familiar. My heart stutters as it jumps into my throat, making me choke out a rattled breath.
Macie swivels around. “Grayson?” she squeaks, and I hear the hesitation in her tone.
Rubbing my already clammy hands on my apron, I untie it shakily and throw it on the metal bench when his tall, broad body fills the doorway of the kitchen.
Dirty blond hair that’s soft and fluffy enough to run my fingers through, light greyish blue eyes, the colour of a pale winter sky, shaped with depth that holds more compassion than he’ll ever admit out loud.
Sharp cheekbones that might have been carved out with a chisel, and a grin with equal amounts of mischief, charm, and friendliness.
He’s such an adonis, and it still fathoms me that Grayson wasn’t drooled over by more girls at school—not that I would have wanted that.
The tallest of the Lawson brothers, Grayson looks down at me, his thicker golden brows pulled together.
He steps closer, reducing the air between us.
His frame creates a shadow that I can’t see anything past him.
I scrunch my hands into the fabric of my top, hoping that the wringing sensation will ground me as sweat continues to drop down my face.
This is what I’ve been avoiding. This look.
The questions that I know he’s going to ask me, and he has every right to.
I don’t think I have ever ignored him for as long as I have, which is why he must have come into the cafe.
His hair, while stressed and clearly unkempt, makes him look even more attractive, and I silently curse myself for thinking that about my best friend.
“A little birdy told me that you’re not feeling well.” His tone is gravelly.
I shift uncomfortably from one foot to the other.
If only he knew how much my stomach is churning right now, and not just because of my morning sickness.
“Don’t call me little!” I hear Macie shout from the front counter.
I can’t help but snort, releasing a small amount of tension that’s crammed in my muscles. Running my tongue along my bottom lip, I nod slowly. “I wasn’t last night but I feel fine today.”
“Then why didn’t you message me back?” His voice sounds wounded, and I can’t help but blink up at him. Grayson’s gaze is entirely focused on me, consuming my eyes like I have my inner thoughts racing across them and he’s trying to read them.
“Sorry, I just got caught up in things.”
He hums, not at all convinced. But then again, I don’t think I’ve convinced myself. “Caught up in secrets?”
My eyes widen a fraction.
He must notice because his toying grin falls slightly. “Is something bothering you, L? You’ve been acting strange for weeks now.”