We collapse at one of the tables, neither of us bothering to wipe the sticky trail of crumbs the last person sitting here left behind.
I hoist myself up again a second later, needing a second boost of caffeine more than I need a break for my feet. “I can’t believe I’ve been standing next to you all day and I still don’t know how the fundraiser turned out. Please tell me you can forgive me for bailing on you early.”
Emma stays put at the table near the door, but even from across the room, I can see the sadness in her eyes. “I hate to say this, Cam, and I really hope you don’t blame yourself, but unfortunately…”
My stomach drops, and despite her preface, I don’t know if I’ll be able to forgive myself if the fundraiser was a failure. I never should have left, but typical selfish Cam had only one person on her mind—me.
“Unfortunately, you’re going to have to keep working atthe bakery for the foreseeable future because we made more than enough money to buy the shop!” She jumps out of her chair, joining me behind the counter.
I don’t even resist when she grabs my hands, jumping up and down with excitement. The motion forces me to jump up and down too, or maybe it’s just the sheer joy of the moment seeping through and working its way into my formerly cold and dead heart.
“Emma! I’m so fucking excited for you, I can’t even stand it!” I throw my arms around her, squeezing tightly.
“I’m so excited for me too!” She spins us around in a circle, breaking my hold on her when the espresso machine beeps for attention. “A bakery and a date with Ethan, all in one night.” She pours each of us a shot of espresso, though I’ve never seen her drink anything less sweet than a flavored latte piled high with whipped cream and a chocolate drizzle on top. I must be rubbing off on her, and that thought makes me a little bit proud. “I never could have done this without you, Cam. Seriously, with all the work you put into the fundraiser, all the money we made, you’ve completely changed my life.”
I clink my tiny espresso cup against hers, and we both swallow the rich, bitter brew. I hide my teary eyes behind the mug. Between Emma and Ben, I’m hearing things about myself that I still don’t know if I can fully accept.
A tap on the front door draws my attention away from my thoughts. A grin splits my face when I see Ben waiting for me in front of the bakery.
Emma nudges me. “Don’t think you’ve escaped this conversation; you will be telling me what happened withDr. Loving. I want all the details.” She winks at me, the move more adorable and endearing than salacious.
“I’ll tell you everything tomorrow, promise.” Though it strikes me that I maybe shouldn’t make that kind of promise anymore, one that I don’t know that I will be able to fulfill.
Emma wraps me in another hug before I can turn to leave. “Thank you again, Cam. For everything. Bringing you into the bakery was the best decision I ever made!”
I don’t want to remind her that it wasn’t her decision at all—I was forced on her by Mimi just like I’ve been forced on everyone else—but she doesn’t really know that. Instead, I return her hug, letting her gratitude warm my core.
Which is useful, because it’s fucking freezing outside. The moment I step through the front door of the bakery, I have to tuck my hands inside my coat pockets and burrow down into my collar. I guess the scarf and mittens hanging on my coatrack at home this morning weren’t just there for ambiance.
Luckily, Ben seems to be my own personal furnace. He tugs me into his embrace, placing a soft kiss on my cheek before tucking me into his side for the short walk to Mimi’s.
“So…don’t keep me in suspense, how did everything work out for Emma last night?”
Another wide grin splits my face—I can’t seem to stop them today; they just keep on coming. “Amazing! She made enough money to buy the shop! She’s going to be able to keep the bakery open. And we were packed today. It feels like everyone in town came in at some point.”
“That’s amazing, sweetheart. I’m so happy for both of you.”
“Thanks.” I don’t voice the worrisome postscript in the back of my mind—that I’m actually a little bit sad I won’t get to see the true fruits of our labor. At some point I’m going to go back to New York and I won’t get to work with Emma any longer.
But at least I can leave knowing I helped her secure her dream. And a date with her man, which we didn’t even get to talk about today. I’m going to miss catching up with her and seeing all of her happiness come to fruition.
“Hey.” Ben nudges my ribs with his elbow. “We’re going to get some answers, okay? Not knowing is the hardest part.”
I hope he’s right about that, because right now it feels like leaving might be the hardest part. Then again, there’s no guarantee that we will be leaving. I might have totally destroyed that possibility by hooking up with Ben last night. Though I don’t think either of us would consider what happened to be merely a hookup. And if I’ve irreparably screwed up my chances at accomplishing my tasks, what does that mean for Ben?
The bell over the café door tinkles as Ben pushes it open, holding it for me before shutting out the cold behind us. As usual, the homey space is bare of people. Mimi waits for us at our regular table, two mugs already sitting and waiting for me and Ben. I can practically hear the ominous tones underscoring our entrance.
We slide into our seats like kids waiting for a punishment from the principal. Which is ridiculous, really. We haven’t done anything wrong.
I wrap my hands around my mug and take a careful sip. The brew inside is pepperminty and chocolatey and I really wish I didn’t find it so damn delicious.
Ben sits stiffly next to me, his hands shoved in the pockets of his jacket, his face tight with some unreadable emotion. “Look, Mimi—”
Mimi stops him with a pointed glare. “Well. You two have managed to get yourselves into quite the little pickle.”
I peek to my left, but Ben’s eyes are now firmly locked somewhere in the distance over Mimi’s shoulder. So I guess it’s up to me to present our defense. “Believe it or not, Meem, I didn’t exactly set out to break all the rules here.”
One of her eyebrows arches like a Disney villain’s. “Why do I find that hard to believe?”
