4
Alexis sighed and leaned against the counter. It had felt like the day would never end. She wanted to go home and sleep before getting up and prepping orders for the following week. Valentine’s Day was next week, and she would be even busier then.
“So… are you?”
Alexis looked over at Melissa. “Am I what?”
Melissa put her hands on her hips. “Girl, have you not heard a word I said?”
Alexis flinched. “Guilty.”
Melissa raised an eyebrow. “Then I’ll answer for you. That’s a ‘yes.’”
“What is?”
“You’ll see.”
An uneasy feeling washed over Alexis, and she shook her head vehemently. “No. No.” Then she pointed a finger at Melissa. “No.”
Melissa giggled. “You don’t even know what you’re saying ‘no’ to.”
“It doesn’t matter. If you say ‘yes’, then that means ‘no’ for me.”
“You’re no fun.”
“I’m tons of fun,” Alexis said.
“Then prove it. Come to the club tonight.”
Understanding dawned on Alexis. That was what it was about. Going to the club.
“IfI go, and that’s a big if, can you promise me you’ll stop trying to drag me out?”
Melissa frowned. “I don’t understand why you’re so opposed to it.”
Alexis sighed. “Look, Melissa. I have a thing about privacy.”
Melissa snorted. “No kidding. I had no idea.”
At Alexis’s stare, Melissa sobered up.
“So what does going to a club have to do with privacy?” Melissa asked.
“I just don’t want to end up on social media.”
“Okay, so we won’t post pictures online. Does that mean you’ll come out with me?”
Alexis bit her lip. She remembered being told she needed to live her life. She couldn’t let fear dictate everything she did. And it had been a year and a half. Would it really be so bad if she let herself have fun?
“Okay. Yes. I will.”
Melissa screamed and jumped up and down. “We’re going to have so much fun!”
A throat clearing had both of them turning toward the front of the store. Lonnie stood in front of the display case with a small smile on his face. Ever since she had run into him on the street, he had been coming in daily to try different cupcakes.
“Hi!” Melissa said excitedly, walking over with a bounce in her step. “What can I get you?”
Lonnie flashed a charming smile her way, and Alexis swore she saw Melissa swoon. “I think I want to try a white cupcake today.”
