21. Serena
21
SERENA
I stare at the stack of boxes piled high in the corner of my shop. Each one is filled with colorful confections that were supposed to be the sweet lifeline of my business. Instead, they feel like anchors, pulling me deeper into the churning sea of stress that’s been my reality for weeks now. My shop smells like caramel and frustration. It’s almost enough to make me swear off sugar forever…almost.
I grab another handful of fudge squares, wrapping them in parchment paper with quick, precise movements. It’s mindless work, but it’s the only thing keeping my hands busy and my mind from spiraling out of control. I’m drowning in orders, and with the eviction notice looming over me, every sale feels like a desperate grasp at survival.
I’m trying to keep my thoughts focused on the task at hand, but the truth is, my mind keeps drifting back to Logan. I told myself I wouldn’t think about him, wouldn’t think about the way he defended me or the look in his eyes when he stood up to his family for me. It was sweet and brave and probably really stupid, but it was him.
But why did he do that if he was using me to get me out of the way to buy the shop?
None of this makes sense.
Was that all for show?
Was all of it fake?
The way he kisses me, the way he makes love to me, the way he’s taken care of me and helped me with my business, was it all just a means to an end?
What’s so important about the sale of this building that he needs to trick me?
Is there a million dollars buried in the walls or something?
Did he feel guilty that I would be out on my ass soon, and that’s why he’s been helping me with my business?
Shit. I have to stop running through all of this over and over again.
I blow out a long breath, closing my eyes and focusing on the present.
Inhale. Exhale. Inhale. Exhale.
All of this hurts so bad because I really wanted to trust him. I wanted to love him and let him love me.
Yeah, we’re complete opposites, but damn if it wasn’t so exhilarating to be with him.
The bell over the door jingles, breaking through my thoughts. Lila and Emily walk in, arms loaded with takeout bags and determined expressions. “Oh, thank God. Please tell me you’re here to save me and not just bring me more things to stress about.”
“Would we do that to you?” Lila grins, setting down her bags on the counter and revealing a spread of sandwiches and fries. “Okay, maybe we would. But not today.”
Emily nudges Lila aside, hands already reaching for the nearest order form. “You looked like you were on the edge of a meltdown when you called, so we’re here to rescue you. And by rescue, I mean feed you and help you fill orders because we all know you’re a workaholic who hasn’t eaten since yesterday.”
“I ate this morning,” I protest, though I’m pretty sure coffee doesn’t count.
She gives me a look that says she’s not buying it. “Uh-huh. And I’m the Queen of England.”
Lila nudges me with her hip as she unwraps a sandwich and shoves it into my hands. “Eat first, then we’ll tackle the fudge apocalypse.”
I roll my eyes but take a bite of the sandwich. The food is good, but it’s their company that’s making me feel like I can actually breathe again. I didn’t realize how much I needed them until they showed up. I guess I’ve been so caught up in trying to fix everything myself that I forgot I don’t have to do it alone.
“Alright, boss,” Lila says, clapping her hands together once I’ve finished half the sandwich. “Where do you want us?”
“Anywhere that isn’t here,” I joke, but then I hand them both stacks of order forms. “Emily, you’re on fudge duty. Lila, can you handle the taffy? I’ll take care of the rest.”
“Consider it done,” Emily says, already tying on an apron. “Also, I brought wine for later. You know, when we’re done pretending we’re responsible adults.”
“Love that for us,” Lila chimes in as she snaps on gloves. “Nothing says ‘we’ve got our lives together’ like eating our feelings after a day of wrapping candy.”
I smile for the first time in what feels like forever because this is what I needed. Just my girls, some food, and a little laughter to cut through the chaos. For a moment, I can almost forget about Logan, the eviction, and everything else that's falling apart.
Almost .
We work in a steady rhythm, the sounds of crinkling wrappers and the faint buzz of the label printer filling the space between us. It’s comforting in a way. We’re piecing together something bigger than just fudge and candy. Maybe, just maybe, we’re stitching my life back together one sweet at a time.
“So,” Lila starts, glancing at me with that mischievous glint in her eyes. “You gonna tell us what’s really going on with you and Mr. Tall, Dark, and Handsome?”
“Did you talk to him about everything?” Emily adds.
“It’s complicated.”
“It’s always complicated,” Lila waves her hand dismissively. “Life’s complicated. But you’ve got that look, girl. The one that says you’re about to either cry or break something.”
Emily snorts. “Or both. So, what happened? Did he admit to it all, or did he lie about it? Because I’m ready to egg his house if needed.”
I laugh at the image of Emily, tiny and fierce, launching eggs at Logan’s pristine windows. “It’s not like that. I mean, yeah, his family is a nightmare. And they basically threatened to disown him if he doesn’t break up with me.”
Both Lila and Emily freeze, their hands mid-wrap. Lila’s eyes go wide. “Oh, hell no. Are you serious? What is this, a soap opera?”
Emily frowns, setting down the fudge she’s been wrapping. “That’s… wow. That’s a lot. No wonder you’re a mess.”
” None of it makes sense, though. Was that all just for show? He’s buying my building and is the cause of my eviction, but he’s trying to help save me? Was he trying to, or was I just someone they knew would be a problem, so he was distracting me? I just don’t understand any of it.”
” Or does he have some fucked-up Robin Hood complex?” Lila muses.
” What do you mean?”
” I don’t know if that’s the correct way to phrase it,” she laughs. “It’s…it’s weird that he’s been trying to help you build your business—like these orders are because he helped set up your website and such, right?”
” Yeah, he did all of that. I didn’t know how to do anything with e-commerce.”
” Maybe he felt bad for what he’s doing, so he was making sure you didn’t lose everything.”
” But why fake interest in me?”
” I don’t think he’s faking that,” Emily sighs. “I don’t think he’s being honest with you, and I don’t think he deserves your time because of that, but…I don’t think he’s faking his feelings for you.”
” That’s…confusing,” I groan.
“Do you think standing up to his parents was all for show?”
” No,” I sigh. “I don’t think a group of people could be that good at faking. Their reactions were too real. And is the slander on social media and the eviction really because they’re pissed that we’re dating.”
” I guarantee the slander is from them,” Emily replies. “It definitely fits what I’ve seen them do before.”
“I know he stood up for me, but it's just… it’s all so messy. And now my shop is on the line, and I’m stressed, and I miss him, but I don’t know if I can handle all this.”
Lila nudges my shoulder. “Serena, we’ve seen you juggle worse. You’re like Superwoman, but without the cape and with way more candy. You’ll figure this out.”
“Yeah,” Emily agrees. “And if Logan’s serious about you, he’ll figure out a way, too. His family can be all high and mighty, but they don’t know you like he does. You’re not some gold digger. You’re, like, the anti-gold digger.”
I snort. “That’s probably not a real thing.”
Emily shrugs. “Maybe not. But you know what I mean.”
Lila starts packing boxes with the freshly wrapped fudge. “Here’s the thing,” she says. “You don’t need Logan to fix this. And if he really cares about you, he won’t want you to sacrifice your dreams for him either. So, let’s get strategic. What’s our game plan to save this shop?”
“Right.” Emily nods, back in action mode. “Let’s think. Can we crowdsource some funding? Or maybe do a flash sale to raise cash fast?”
I think about it, nibbling on my lip as I consider their suggestions. “A flash sale could work, but it’s a band-aid. I need something bigger, something that’s going to keep me afloat long-term. I’m just so bad with money.
“We could organize an event,” Lila suggests. “Like a candy-making workshop or a tasting night. You’ve got a good following—people love that stuff.”
Emily snaps her fingers. “Yes! And we can use social media to really push it. Get some influencers in here to post about it. Make it a whole thing.
Lila slaps the counter triumphantly. “That’s the spirit! And who knows, maybe Logan can pull some strings. Even if he doesn’t, you’ve got us, and we’ll figure this out.”
Emily nudges me with her shoulder. “And for what it’s worth, I know you well enough to know that you probably didn’t let Logan speak when you asked him about everything. Maybe try that. He might not have all the answers right now, but it’s obvious he wants to be with you. Maybe you need to give him a chance to prove that.”
“I just… I don’t want to be someone’s charity case. I don’t want him to feel like he has to save me.”
Emily shakes her head. “Serena, you’re not a charity case. You’re a badass entrepreneur who’s hit a rough patch. It happens to everyone. Logan probably just wants to support you, not save you.”
Lila jumps in. “Exactly! And look, if he’s really in this with you, then he’ll respect whatever decision you make. Just like we do.” She picks up a stray fudge square and waves it dramatically. “But if he tries to make it all about him, we’ll have to go full Mean Girls on him.”
I laugh despite myself, feeling some tension release from my shoulders. “I think I’d pay to see that. You two are relentless.”
“You know it,” Emily says, giving me a wink. “But seriously, you’ve got this. And if you need to cry, scream, or, I don’t know, smash some taffy with a hammer, we’re here for that, too.”
Lila points to the fudge. “We’ve got all the weapons you need right here.”
I chuckle. It’s easy to feel like the weight of the world is on my shoulders when I shut everyone out, but Lila and Emily have a way of bulldozing through my walls and forcing me to face things head-on.
As we continue working, our conversation drifts to lighter topics—Emily’s new obsession with a reality TV show, Lila’s latest dating fiasco, and the bizarre customer requests I’ve had to deal with recently. It’s a welcome distraction, a way to keep my mind off the gnawing anxiety that’s been my constant companion.
Lila throws a piece of taffy into a box with exaggerated flair. “And then, the guy says, ‘I didn’t realize this was a date!’ Like, dude, we’ve been at a fancy restaurant for two hours. What did you think this was, a business meeting?”
Emily snorts. “Men are clueless. Meanwhile, my neighbor is convinced I’m running an underground dog grooming ring out of my apartment just because I babysit my friend’s poodle once a week.”
I laugh, the sound bubbling up naturally. “You guys are ridiculous. Seriously, where would I be without you?”
“Probably curled up in a ball under a pile of taffy,” Emily teases, but then her expression softens. “Or, you know, hiding out in your shop and missing out on life.”
And just like that, my smile fades a little because she’s not wrong. I’ve been so consumed with saving this place and fighting every battle alone that I’ve forgotten what it feels like to live. To laugh, to lean on people, to be vulnerable without feeling like it’s a weakness.
As we finish packing the last of the orders, Lila leans against the counter and looks at me seriously. “Okay, real talk, what’s your next move? Besides making this shop pop off.”
I take a deep breath, the weight of her question settling on me. “I think… I think I need to talk to Logan. Really talk, not just about the shop or his family.”
“That’s a start.”
I blow out another breath. “I also have to face the reality that I may not be able to hold onto this building.”
“Sometimes, change sucks and seems like the worst thing that can happen, but in reality, it’s forcing us out of our comfort zone and causing us to grow.”
“Uggghhh, I know. I just…I love this place so much.”
“Look around, sis. This may look like chaos, but you’ve tripled your output with online orders, which means that this fish tank is too small for you.”
“You might be right.”
My phone vibrates, and I look over to see a text from Logan. I close my eyes. I’m not ready to talk to him yet. I want to, I can’t.
Focus on this right now and figure things out with him later. If he really cares about you, he’ll make it right.