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“They fly to Iceland in two days. I couldn’t be more thrilled for my daughter, or for Madigan, but I think we’re all looking forward to a little break from the constant public displays of affection. I’ll take two of those, please,” she said, pointing to the strawberry cheese danishes while her mom came down the stairs.
“Did Ian leave already?” her mom asked, turning the corner, wearing the same outfit she’d worn yesterday.
Mira bit down so hard something squeaked. She’d meant to, but after talking to Cole, she’d completely forgotten to go up and make sure her mom had changed. Hopefully Maude Alice wouldn’t notice the small raspberry jam stain on her khaki pants or how wrinkled and slept-in her green shirt looked.
“He went to Brendan’s. What are you two doing today?” Mira asked, ignoring the outfit, trying to forgive herself for not remembering to check, forgive her mom for refusing to allow signs in her bedroom, forgive a society that expected clean clothes every day.
“I believe,” she started, turning to Maude Alice, her brow furrowed like she wasn’t entirely sure, “we’re going to a movie, right?”
Taking the pastries Mira handed her and placing them in her bag, Maude Alice nodded. “And then cribbage in the park.”
It was a perfect day for it—warm, only slightly cloudy. After a huge storm had rolled through a few days ago, all the blossoms were off the trees, littering the ground like pink and white confetti. But the leaves had grown big enough to provide plenty of shade. “That sounds like fun.”
“I’ll be back for that brioche.” Maude Alice winked.
“Me too,” her mom said, following Maude Alice out through the door.
Mira watched them leave, waiting until they were clear of the bakery windows, then flipped her phone over to open Instagram.
The reel was short, Cole narrating while he filmed a shot of the studio, of her boxes on his table. And then he flipped the camera, his smiling face lighting up her screen. “And if you’re ever in Red Falls, Montana, make sure to check out Glazed and Confused. Because these”—he held up one of her tarts—“are phenomenal.”
When he bit into her flaky pastry, she couldn’t hit the call button fast enough.
“Hey, sugar,” he said, picking up on the first ring, his voice the starting shot sending goose bumps racing over her arms. “Have I ever told you that you’re amazing?”
Her goose bumps grew goose bumps. “Not yet.”
“You’re amazing. How did you know it was my birthday?”
She flipped the OPEN sign to CLOSED, then leaned on the door, relieved Saturday was their short day. “I called Madigan.”
“You did?”
“I knew it had to be soon, Mr. Gemini.”
“Like I said, amazing.”
“Happy birthday, Cole.”
“What are you doing right now?”
She pushed herself away from the door as INXS’s “Never Tear Us Apart” started playing through the speakers. “Just closing up.”
“Are you alone?”
“I am. Ian’s at a friend’s, and Mom’s out with Maude Alice.”
“Do you want to mess around?”
Her eyes ratcheted so wide they stung. “Do I… Wait, what do you mean?” Because it sounded like he’d just asked her if she wanted to mess around, but maybe she’d misheard him. Maybe he’d only asked if she wanted to press a gown. Or dress a clown. Anything was possible! Her pulse pounded so hard between her ears she couldn’t be sure.
“You know how we talked about trying to FaceTime?” His voice was so low and dark it seemed indecent that the sun was still shining. “I think we should. I want to. If you want to.”
They’d been skirting around this step all week, their late-night conversations getting naughtier, the pictures they sent each other getting racier—especially that one she’d sent him only after he’d sworn up and down that he’d delete it after five seconds. But those were only words, only pictures. This would be different. This would be as close to having him here with her as she could get. This would be real…and really fucking hot.
“I want to,” she said, not letting herself overthink it as she took off for the stairs.
“Where are you?”
