AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I’m just here to grab the cupcake order for Larkin’s birthday,” Claire says, her voice betraying how awkward she feels right now.
“That’s right!” I say with a maniacal edge even I can hear. “I know you only ordered four, but I used eight so I could create the number three.”
Her face falls.
“My gift to her for her birthday. In fact, the whole thing is her gift. Do you have balloons for her party? Because I have extras and a tank in the back. If you give me just a few minutes, I can get them ready for you.”
“Adalynn,” she says with a sigh, her chin quivering a little. I swear if she cries, I’ll cry. “You don’t have to do this.”
“Do what?” I ask, darting away another tear, my smile locked in place. “Her third birthday is very important.”
“You said that last year for her second.”
“They’re all so very important,” I remind her.
I lift my hand to the locket hanging around my neck. I have valued this thing more than any other gift anyone has gotten me. Even with the fight Cash and I just had, I know I’d never be able to take it off. Even if our friendship doesn’t survive the recent mistakes we’ve made, the locket is a reminder that there was a time that he loved me, even if it wasn’t in the way I needed him to.
“The balloons?” I repeat.
She shakes her head. “She’s allergic to latex.”
“That’s sad. Balloons are so much fun. Have you been to The Devil’s Lettuce this week?”
“I got a postcard in the mail letting me know I won a hundred-dollar gift card for any in-store purchase. The stickers on it were a nice touch.”
“Stanley Jones is a lovely man,” I say, wondering how long we’re going to play this game.
“I don’t like charity.”
And the game is over.
“You just get lucky.”
She scoffs.
“Listen,” I say, coming around the counter so I can step closer to her.
“I’m doing my best,” she says, emotion clogging her throat.
I press my palm to her forearm.
“None of that,” I urge. “You’re a part of Lindell, and we take care of our family. You’re just going to have to get used to that.”
She shakes her head but I don’t read it as her rejecting the help, just that maybe she doesn’t feel like she deserves it.
“Hux loved you. I know that if he were here today, he’d love that precious little girl just as much.”
She takes a step back, breaking our connection. She turns to face me after grabbing her box of cupcakes.
“Thank you for this.”
“Anytime,” I tell her, but she’s already heading toward the door.
I take a deep breath, thinking that I’ll have a few minutes to sob and feel sorry for myself, but the doorbell chimes once again. I smile at the next customer before going right back behind the counter.
I can do this. I can live in a world that doesn’t include Cash Tucker.
I rolled the dice, gambled with our friendship, and I lost. I have to come to terms with the consequences of my actions.
