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Kate sat down at a table while Baylee finished the cupcakes and placed them in the case. She heated up two pieces of coffee cake and brewed a pot of fresh coffee. With everything on the table, she settled in across from Kate and the two women dove into their treats.
“So, are you gonna come out and tell me or am I going to have to hound it out of you?” She took a sip of coffee, eyeing Baylee over the mug.
Baylee finished chewing a bite of coffee cake before answering. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
Kate set down her coffee mug and leaned back in her chair. “Okay. Hounding it out of you it is. You and Drew. Go.”
Baylee laughed. “You don’t beat around the bush or anything, do you?”
“You know I don’t.”
Baylee moved a piece of cake around her plate with her fork. “We’ve decided to give it a chance.”
“That’s a really loooong distance relationship, Bay.”
She shrugged. “I know. We know. We talked about it. But I don’t want to go through life wondering…”
“I’m sorry. I can be nosy, I know. And pushy, yes. I’ve already raked Drew over the coals to the point of him being mad at me, which he doesn’t do. Under the word ‘controlled’ in the dictionary it says, ‘See Drew.’ He doesn’t lose his cool. And I don’t mean to push you either. But I know what his world is like, Baylee. Nothing is sacred. Nothing is private. With the internet and social media, you can get leveled if you’re not careful.”
“I think Drew is careful.”
“Yes, he is. But he’s worked at having a thick skin over stuff too. He’s had a few years to get used to it and learn how to maneuver through.” Kate leaned forward in her chair and leaned her elbows on the table. “I’m worried about you and Casey. You’ve said yourself you like the quiet here. How neighbors know each other’s business but because they care, not to be hurtful. Women throw themselves at Drew after games. They send him pictures of themselves via twitter. Yes, his assistant handles most of that, but it’s still there. I just don’t want to see you hurt.”
Baylee looked into her friend’s eyes. Eyes similar in shape to Drew’s but more hazel than blue.
“Drew would never hurt me.” She believed that with all her heart.
“No. He wouldn’t. But the world he lives and moves in can be full of lots of negatives. I just want you to be fully aware of that before you commit to this.”
“We’ve talked. And I hear you. I do. I understand what you’re saying.”
The two friends finished their cake and coffee, their discussion moving to Kate’s honeymoon trip and how the wedding went off without a hitch. But Baylee’s mind was elsewhere. Yes, she and Drew had talked about them. About the distance and what that would mean. But he’d never mentioned the press or attention that came with his fame. Baylee wasn’t on social media. She’d gone off Facebook when she moved, not wanting to deal with all the people who knew about her and Erik. It got old being “unfriended” by people who chose his side over hers. She had no hard feelings. It was the way of things. People broke up. Friends picked a side. It happened.
And she had an Instagram account for the bakery, mainly because her young workers said it would be good for business, but that was all work. Nothing personal. And Eva ran the account. Posted pictures. People liked it. But she had nothing to do with it herself.
Was she really ready for all that came with being in Drew’s life? The high she was on from spending the past two days with Drew began to fade. She was falling in love with him, yes, but was that enough? Could he love her enough to ignore what the world said or did? She believed in Drew. Believed in them. Only time would tell if her faith could keep things together.
