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What Cole did really affected me, but they’re right. It’s time to move past it. I’m just grateful I have Addison and Zara to remind me to have faith when I start to doubt instead. I should probably call my parents to hear their thoughts too, now that they’re back from their trip.

I used to be the one handing advice out to everyone, like meals at the soup kitchen. Now, I’m eating up every crumb of wisdom they have to spill for me.

I just hope I can find a way to make a trail from each little crumb to return to when I inevitably get lost again.

There’s breakfast waiting for me at work the next morning. The scent of pumpkin spice lattes and warm muffins wraps around me like a hug as soon as I walk in. I eye the stack of muffins, set of thermoses, and cup of to-go coffee on the front desk with suspicion. Since our date, Bash has been extra attentive to how many meal breaks I have or haven’t been taking. “What’s all this?”

“Breakfast. Did you know you’ve barely eaten all week? I’ve had enough.” He picks up a muffin and hands it to me. “Here.”

I stifle a laugh. “You’re not responsible for feeding me, you know.”

“I am when I see you take no breaks every day to nourish your body. I get that you’re overbooking yourself to help your rating, but you still need to eat.” Before I can respond, he grabs one of the thermoses, pressing it firmly into my hands. The metal container feels warm against my palms. “Protein. You need this, too.”

I twist open the lid to the stainless steel container and find freshly scrambled eggs inside. Steam curls up, carrying a buttery aroma that makes my stomach growl. “Did Ingrid make these for me?”

“No. I did.” He grins proudly.

My mouth falls open. “You scrambled?”

“I scrambled.” He hands me a plastic fork. “Now eat. Every last bite, alright, pumpkin?”

I moan around a mouthful of the eggs, the richness melting on my tongue. The taste is a perfect balance of salt and cream. It’s like comfort itself. “Bash…these are really good. I can’t believe you made them.”

“I’m a man of many talents.” He taps my nose before he heads to the back to start working on the first and only dog waiting so far.

As I watch him walk away, the image of his broad back burns into my mind. A smile tugs at my lips as I finish eating everything he brought—the eggs, the muffins, and the pumpkin spice latte. Heat spreads through me that has nothing to do with the food. I can’t deny how nice it is to start the day with a full stomach for once. I usually don’t have time for all this.

See Romilly? It’s not such a bad thing to let others help you, sometimes.

My day gets even brighter when I get to work on Paige’s dog, Betty Lou. But my thoughts are in a daze as I trim Betty’s nails, clean her ears, and even brush her teeth because it’s hard not to dwell on the negative reviews I’ve gotten. I always try to do my best at work. And though I understand Agatha’s hesitation to come back and work with me, I wish she could see how seriously I’ve been taking my business after that failure last year.

I even dropped out of the Miss Meadow pageant to focus on it, which I’d done every year until then. And I was twenty-six, so it was my last opportunity to compete before I aged out, but I gave it up, anyway.

When Paige comes to get Betty Lou, I’m still ruminating on my business when I realize I forgot to put Betty’s complimentary bow on.

Maybe I can still catch them.

I rush out of the salon, ignoring Bash’s questioning gaze as I make for the exit. “I’ll be right back. Stay with the dogs,” I call behind me.

Paige is just loading Betty Lou into her car when I reach her.

“Wait!”

Paige spins around. She’s so graceful as she does it, like she’s demonstrating a ballet move. “What’s wrong?”

I hold out a pink bow, panting. “I forgot to put this on Betty’s collar. I’m sorry.”

She takes it, grinning. “No problem. Thanks.”

“I can’t believe I forgot,” I continue. “My mind has just been all over the place, with the rent getting raised and whatnot.”

Paige’s brows draw together in concern. She tucks a strand of her short, chocolate-brown hair behind her ear. “Your rent got raised?”

I nod. I probably shouldn’t be telling her this because it’s unprofessional, and that’s the last thing I need to be labeled. But I really like her, and I’ve felt so comfortable around Paige since meeting her at the pageant last year, when I came to pass on the crown I won the year before.

“What can you do?” Paige asks. She looks so genuinely worried for me, it makes me love her even more. “Can Agatha come back?”

I sigh. “Trust me. I’ve practically begged her. But my rating is too low to tempt her.”