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“So, what are we baking this morning?” Chloe asks with feigned excitement.
Chuckling, I say, “I was thinking white chocolate raspberry cookies. I’ve been craving them.”
“Oh, so we’re baking for you, not the store?” she teases.
“For both—a happy medium.” I smile and grab all of my ingredients and tools. “Holly, do you want to take your break?”
She usually has to wait for the next shift to come in to step away.
“That’d be great. I have a couple of errands I need to run.” She beams. “Thank you.”
“Of course. See you in a bit,” I say as she walks to the back to grab her things.
“And then there were two,” Chloe says hauntingly in my ear.
Stirring my dry ingredients together, I zone out as I move through the motions. It isn’t until I’m done scooping the batter out onto the baking sheet that I realize Chloe is staring at me.
“What?” I ask her, confused as to why she looks confused.
With the shop now empty, she hops up onto the counter. “I want you to be happy.”
Scoffing, I throw the pan in the preheated oven. “I am happy.”
She frowns. “But truly happy, as you. I know how hard this has been for you and how hard it’s been for you to let yourself be happy with Cam.” She hops off of the counter and leans against it. “You know we won’t let Trey hurt you. I say, go for it. Call your parents, tell them the truth. Tell Cam and live your life without thinking of Trey.”
Glaring at her benign optimism, I say, “Chloe, I can’t risk anything happening to my parents, or Cam, or you by being naive in thinking that Trey wouldn’t act on the anger he would feel for me lying to him. I know who he is and what he does. He would either kill me so that no one else could have me or he would kill all of you so that I wouldn’t have anyone else. You don’t know him and what he’s done, what he’s said.” My eyes well with tears of anger, pain, and frustration. “Every scar on my body is from him. Every time I flinch, it’s because of what I went through with him. He will never let me be happy and not be with him. Those two things will never ever coexist.”
“I’m sorry,” Chloe whispers. “I just want to help.”
“I know you do. But I’m the only one who can fix all of this. I don’t know how yet, but I will. Because I love you and I love…Cam. I won’t lose you both because of him. I won’t.”
She throws her arms around me and pulls me into the tightest hug. “I love you too. And Cam does too. He’d be an idiot not to.” She pulls away. “Come on. Let’s get your mess cleaned up.”
By let’s, she means me. I quickly rinse out the bowls and utensils I used and stow away the ingredients while Chloe sits on the counter on her phone.
The bell rings as the door is opened, and Holly walks through. “It’s getting chilly out there.”
“Holy FUCK!” Chloe screams, and I nearly jump out of my skin.
“Please don’t do that. My God,” I scold her.
She glances up at me, and my heart sinks from the look in her eyes. You know that when someone gives you this look—one of absolute fear and sadness—they are about to tell you something that they know will hurt you.
“What?” I whisper as my heart starts to race in my chest.
She turns to Holly. “Did you have a good break? Nikki and I are going to have a meeting in the back if you don’t mind watching the front.”
“No problem,” she says and runs her stuff to the back quickly.
I stare at Chloe and beg her to say something.
“Thanks, babes,” Chloe tells Holly before grabbing my hand, all but running to my office in the back.
“What in the hell is going on?” I demand as Chloe shuts the door behind us.
“Sit down,” she orders, holding her phone close to her chest.
Knowing she is the most stubborn person and won’t tell me anything until I do, I sit down on my couch and try to calm my now-shaking hands.
