Chapter 1
February
2 months before Karaoke night
“ Y ou’ve got another one.” Kate gestured to the gift-wrapped box on the counter by the cash register. I hadn’t even noticed it until she’d pointed it out, even with its precisely tied hunter-green bow.
I picked it up, flipping the small label over.
A little something I found in Sardinia. Made me think of you.
Gabe
“Oooh, I wonder what it is this time,” Kate cooed.
I grinned, eyeing her as she nosily watched me unwrap the gift.
“They’re always so beautifully wrapped. Do you think he does it himself or gets one of his many assistants to do it for him?”
I took in the expertly placed double-sided tape. “Not to stereotype, but I’m gonna go out on a limb here and say someone else. I doubt Gabriel has the time to sit and gift-wrap in such a careful manner.”
“Swoony though, right? I mean he’s just walking through the streets of”—she peeked at the label—“Sardinia, you on his mind, and he stumbles across a . . .” Her brow furrowed.
“What is that?”
Turning the brass roller in my hands, I brought it closer, and my breath hitched.
“It’s a brass pastry embellishing wheel.”
“Huh, didn’t even know they were a thing.”
“Oh, yeah, they’re very unique, and usually made by hand. This is absolutely stunning.”
We both stared at it a little longer, me in awe, her in curiosity, my mind racing with all the pretty edging I could try, until Kate snapped me back to reality.
“How fancy. Now as much as I want to hear more about these brass roller thingies, it’s really time to get yourself outta here.”
Suddenly, the weight of what was about to happen settled in, and my mind raced for a completely different reason. Even the beautiful pastry wheel couldn’t save me as panic struck.
“Honestly, Kate, I really don’t think I should leave you like this.” A sudden pain began to form, the start of a stress-induced headache hitting the bullseye right between my eyes.
Kate rolled her eyes at me and pursed her lips. “Don’t you trust me for one afternoon?”
“It’s not just one afternoon though, is it. It’s four days.”
“Four days where I literally have to just follow your very hefty, very detailed binder, while a rotation of FDNY personnel sits out front to keep an eye on me.”
I blew out a steadying breath. “I know that seems like overkill, but it really makes me, and Scott, feel better knowing Blake and some of the other guys are going to be here. Anything could happen and Scott trusts them with his life.”
Scott, my best friend, was a firefighter, and his firehouse just happened to be three blocks west of here. He’d charged his crew with making sure Kate and Cupcake were safe while we were away in Miami for a family vacation.
Conveniently booked during the NHL All-Star weekend, which Scott’s little brother, Knox, would be a part of. Most of the family were already out there, Scott included, with me trailing in toward the end.
I’d known them for so long I was practically a Madden myself, and even though I liked being a McCall, there was something so special about being part of their clan.
Something special about being his person—that was, of course, until he found someone he wanted to settle down with.
Ugh, that thought made me sick to my stomach. There was no way the girl he eventually fell for would want me hanging around. No doubt she’d be really nice and understanding, maybe we’d get on and be friends, too, but no one would be okay with the amount of time we spent together.
Things between us would fizzle out. And that would break my heart even more than knowing he’d never see me as anything else. We always had been and always would be platonic.
Rock solid platonic.
But still, best friends forever—something he’d made clear without actually having said “you’re my girl, but not my girl.”
I hadn’t ever asked or tried for more because who could withstand that kind of rejection?
Having a crush on your best friend was a minefield, and I wasn’t willing to be the one who blew it all to pieces.
“Jenna, I swear I’ll call if I need anything. We’ve run this simulation what, four times now?”
She was making fun of me, but it only added to my guilt. I may or may not have asked her to pretend like I wasn’t there and run through the step-by-step guide in real time. The poor girl had been meeting me at five-thirty every morning this past week. She would be glad to see the back of me, there was no doubt about that.
“Thank you. It’s just such a lot to ask of you,” I worried.
She threw down the dishcloth she was folding and leaned against the counter.
“Ah, now this isn’t you thinking I’m underqualified for the task due to my age, is it?”
She was a real ballbuster, this one.
“No, of course not.” I shook my head vehemently. “This is a ‘there are favors and then there are favors .’ This would be the latter.”
“Please, after everything you’ve all done for me, it’s the least I can do. And let’s not forget you’re paying me. Double.”
“Triple!” I practically yelled and then squeezed the bridge of my nose, my outburst doing nothing to help quell my anxiety or my throbbing head.
“Jenna,” she chided, “I will not be taking triple pay. Are you insane? Even double is ridiculous. But textbooks aren’t cheap, so I’ll graciously accept your offer on that.”
“And so you should. This just feels irresponsible. A business owner shouldn’t just up and leave. What if a big order comes in? A life-changing, career-catapulting job comes in and I’m what? Following a bunch of hockey players and firefighters around a swanky hotel?”
“First off, you’re not following anyone around. They all love you like a sister, you’re one of them. And second, I’ll make you a deal. If some fabulous A-lister stops by and commissions you to do their wedding cake, I’ll book you on the next flight outta there so you can read the notes section on the ‘your dream cake’ form in person.”
The sigh that whooshed out of me was enormous, and I narrowed my eyes at yet another dig, but she made a good point. If I was going to go to Miami, I needed to leave now. Like right this very second, or I’d miss my flight. Even with no bags to check, it would take forever.
“Okay, okay. If you’re sure, then I’m going to go.”
My eyes flitted around the creamy-pink walls and bistro-style seating. The white shelving and the chilled case looked a little empty now the breakfast rush was over.
I hadn’t forgotten anything, had I? I mean, this was my baby. Literal blood, sweat, and tears had gone into this venture, and I couldn’t let a few days of perfect, beachy, sunniness with my best friend in the whole world be the downfall of my empire . . .
“Jenna!”
My gaze whipped to Kate again.
“You’ve got to get going.”
I nodded because she was right. I pulled her in for a tight hug and then wrestled with my downy coat, hat, and gloves. But then I had to take them off to check my driver’s license was in the front pocket of my carry-on, which it was.
I ignored the exasperated stare Kate gave me and took one more deep breath before turning on my heel and coaching myself to the doorway.
The bell above the door jingled, and Blake walked in just as I reached the front, which almost settled my churning stomach.
“Heya girlies,” Blake said in greeting.
“Hey Rams,” Kate echoed, using a shortened version of his moniker.
“Blake. Thank you so much for doing this.”
He cocked his eyebrow at me. “I’d have done it of my own free will, ya know,” he joked, meaning Scott’s request for help was probably more the command I’d been worried about.
“I—”
“Rams, don’t stress her out even more. Let the poor woman go before she misses her flight and Scott comes back to get her himself.”
My head fell into my hands. “He’s crazy.”
“Then you’re in good company.” She smirked. “Now scram. Say hi to the gang for me. Take a bazillion photos. Lord knows what those crazy cats will be getting up to.”
I shook my head and smiled. “Right. All of them in the same hotel.” That was just asking for trouble.
“Okay you guys, I’m really going. Thank you both again. Love you. Eat and drink whatever you want. Close up on Friday as soon as the lunch rush dies down.”
“There’s a cab waiting for you outside,” Blake said gently.
“Is Callie with her nanny?” I asked of his daughter, and he nodded.
“Yep. They’ve gone to the library and then were going to head to the park, so I’ll be here until Kate closes.”
“Thank you so much for doing this. Call me if you need anything,” I told them, but I still didn’t move.
“Byyyyye,” they both sang when Kate gently but firmly ushered me out of the door and then pulled the deadbolt across. I rolled my eyes as they stood in the window, arms crossed.
They were never going to let me back in now.
Knowing it was pointless and planes waited for no woman, I opened the cab door and slid in.
“Newark?”
“Yeah, thanks,” I murmured. I turned to wave out the window only to find Kate and Blake shimmying and waving like two kids who’d been left home alone for the first time.
And they said I was insane.
Weirdly though, as soon as we turned the corner and passed the firehouse, a sense of calm took over me. Scott’s friends were good people, and Kate was a fantastic employee and friend. I really had left the place as prepped as possible, and Seb, my part-time pastry chef I’d hired for weekends, was working extra.
There was only so much I could freeze, and I prided myself on the fact that I got up early every day to bake and stock the cabinet and baskets.
We were weaving in and out of the late morning traffic when my phone bleeped. I reached for it in case it was Kate, but of course, it wasn’t.
Gabe: Hope my gift got there in one piece.
Gabriel, or Gabe, was my very dashing, very good-looking coffee supplier. Heir to an Italian coffee dynasty, I had no idea how our strange little friendship stuck. He came in one stormy day, and we struck up a conversation about . . . actually . . . I couldn’t even remember what it was about, and before I knew it, I had some highly discounted, high-end coffee beans for my grinder, and he’d been stopping by whenever he was in the city ever since.
Recently, he’d been sending me gifts, though, and I wasn’t really sure what to make of it. Like, why would I pop into his head when he was thousands of miles away?
Me: Yes, thank you. It’s absolutely stunning. Think I’m going to try it on this lattice pie I’m concocting.
They were square in size. Larger than a bite, but smaller than an apple Danish, and filled with a blackberry and raspberry jam.
Gabe: I knew you’d like it. So, I’m just heading into a meeting, but I wanted to remind you that you are always welcome to join me at the retreat. I think you’d love what we’ve got going on down there. You tell me when you’re free and I’ll make it happen. I’d love to show you the jewel in our crown.
A retreat? He’d mentioned the boutique hotel the company built at one of the plantations a few times, but he’d never explicitly invited me. Well, I suppose that was definitely an invite now. I’d googled the place, and the restaurant was supposedly out of this world. I could never swing something like that though.
No. This was the trip I wanted to be on. The one I’d coaxed myself into.
Me: Thank you, that’s so generous. I’m actually away this weekend and it’s been hard leaving Cupcake. I don’t know if I’ll be able to do it again for a while.
Gabe: You’re a conscientious businesswoman. I like that about you and would never ask you to put Cupcake in jeopardy for me. Just think about it, okay? It’s only February Jenny, the year is long.
He always called me Jenny. At first, I was worried he’d misheard me when I introduced myself, but he definitely knew my name, most of my regular customers used it, and he’d been there when they had.
My phone beeped again.
Scott: Come on Cupcake, planes wait for no woman!
Me: Ha! That’s what I said.
Me: I’ve still got plenty of time left, okay? I mean, I was manhandled out of the door, but I left.
Scott: And now you’re on your way to the airport? Your flight leaves in an hour.
“We’re here, miss,” the driver announced over his shoulder.
“Oh, thanks,” I replied to the guy and quickly finished my text.
Me: Literally just got here. Let me check in and everything, and then I’ll call you.
Scott: Don’t forget your bag.
Jeez, a girl leaves her purse in a cab one time five years ago, and it becomes a bona fide character trait.
I didn’t bother replying. I’d call him as soon as I was through security.
I slid my phone into my coat pocket and tipped the driver in cash. Then I gathered up my bag, left the car, and headed to the departure terminal.
It was busy, and I squinted to see the departure boards.
Miami, FL- 11:30 A37- On Time
Oh, crap.
I’d attempted to check in online but received a notification telling me to verify my ID, so I made my way over to one of those airline kiosks.
The instructions on the screen told me to hold my license photo side down on the little infrared thingy, and when I did, my details appeared on the screen.
Miss J A McCall
Outbound: AA Flight 728 MIA 11:30
“Yep, that’s me,” I said to no one and then pressed continue. The next set of instructions were easy, and with my boarding pass in hand, I headed for the security line, which actually looked okay.
What wasn’t okay was the distance to the gate.
Ah, hell.
I hefted my bag onto my shoulder and set off at a steady jogger’s pace, arriving fifteen minutes later, no doubt red-faced, but just in the nick of time. Scott would have killed me for cutting it so close, but there was no need for Mr. “failing to prepare is preparing to fail” to know.
The queasiness at leaving Cupcake had thoroughly subsided, and now I was just excited. I couldn’t wait to see Scott; I’d missed him so much these last few days.