Page 6 of Icing on Top

She shrugged and I scoffed in offense. Levi took matters into his own hands, apparently starting a tickle attack based on Jada’s squeal and the video footage going shaky as she inevitably tried to escape. They were both laughing, though. When the camera finally settled on the two of them once more, the expression on their faces made me feel like I was witnessing something private, their gazes heated.

I had always thought I’d be like Jada or Uncle Cal and marry my college sweetheart, but that went to shit—along with everything else—the summer after I graduated. While Blake and I had only been together for a little over a year, I had been sure at the time that he was the one. He and Levi were two peas in a pod and double dates were a regular thing for the four of us. He joined me for dinner at Uncle Cal and Aunt Peg’s every week, came home to Miami with me to meet my parents, and we’d spent Christmas with his in Utah.

Then my world got turned on its head, and Blake hadn’t stuck around.

I cleared my throat before shoving a pickle in my mouth. “Well, I’m gonna sign off and give you two some alone time since the munchkin is asleep. I’ll see you tomorrow, Jada.”

That brought her attention back to me.

“Oh. Goodnight! I’m glad you had a great first practice, and I know it will only get better. You’ll win them over in no time.”

I smiled gratefully and gave them both a wave before ending the call.

I hadn’t even had a chance to put down my phone when an alarm started to go off. My reminder to make a payment on my medical debt.

Swiping open my bank app, the sight of my measly savings account had my stomach turning sour. Let alone when I did the mental math of what I’d have left for the month after the payment went through. I’d ask Jada tomorrow if there were any extra orders I could take over for her. While the commissions weren’t typically very big, it was money I didn’t have.

My fork and the pickle jar lay forgotten on the counter next to me. Not in the mood for them anymore, I sealed the lid back on and returned them to the fridge for next time.

Chapter 3

Zoe

I had accepted the fact that I would smell like pumpkin for the foreseeable future. We were barely into September, and the bakery had gone full fall flavors; Cinnamon, apple, and, of course, the infamous pumpkin spice. While I enjoyed it as much as the next person—especially a pumpkin spice muffin with cream cheese filling—I was always over the hype before the first leaf even fell.

“You know Levi and I have the means to help you,” Jada called out over the thrum of the mixer. It had already spit pumpkin batter at me twice, and I was ready to give it a nice thwack if it tried it again.

My stomach roiled uncomfortably, and I was glad I had my back turned to Jada. This wasn’t the first time she’d offered to help me outright with my debt, and I knew it wouldn’t be the last. Just like how she knew I wouldn’t ever take her up on it.

“As always, I appreciate the offer, but no. It wouldn’t fix the problem, because then I’d be owing you money. And while you would be much nicer to me than my debt collector, it’s not something I want between us.”

Jada was the closest friend—read: only friend—I had. Even if the money didn’t cause a rift between us, it would create a power imbalance. Whether it felt that way to Jada or not, it definitely would to me.

Jada heaved out a sigh, accepting defeat. For now, at least.

“I just received a large wedding order for December that you can take over. It’s the weekend before we go to Georgia to visit my family, so it’d honestly be a big relief to have it off my plate.”

I grinned at her. “I’m your girl.”

The front door chimed to signal the arrival of a customer, and Jada glanced toward the door before looking at me with pleading eyes, but I was already on the move.

“I got it.”

“This is why I love you!” she called after me.

While Jada owned the bakery, she would much rather stay behind the scenes baking in the kitchen or doing paperwork in the office. Any customer-facing tasks usually fell to me, which I know was another reason why she was so eager to hand over the wedding order. Did that make me the personality hire?

I pushed the swinging door open.

“Hi! Welcome to—” I froze. “Charlie?”

A pair of dark brown eyes just barely peeked over the display case at me, sparkling with recognition.

“Coach Zo!”

My smile widened as I approached the counter, leaning against the top of the case so she didn’t have to keep standing on her tippy toes.

“You work here?”