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“You’re not afraid you’ll run into her now?”
“I’ve been here for almost two months, and I haven’t yet. So, either she moved, or I’ve been lucky.”
“I’m surprised she didn’t show up at the bakery to show her respects to Della, at least.”
I stifle a laugh. “They weren’t exactly each other’s favorite people.”
“Huh. For what it’s worth, I’m sorry you had to go through all that.” Her fingertips brush over my stubble covered cheek until she’s cupping my jaw.
I lean into the warmth of her hand. “If I didn’t go through all that, I would have never met you. Or stripped for you. Or your friends.”
She giggles. God, I love making her laugh. I pull away, but she grips the front of my shirt with her other hand and tugs me back to her. She rises to her tippy toes and presses her lips to mine. What starts off innocent, heats up as I deepen the kiss. With my arms wrapped around her waist, I twist us around and push her against the fridge.
* * *
Twenty minutes later, we’re both catching our breath. I’m tucking myself back into my jeans, and Hollyn is straightening her dress.
“Do we get to do that every time we fight? If so, I think we should fight more often.” I secure the button on my jeans.
“Only if you’re sweet with your apology.” She flashes me a sultry smile.
“Done. Also, give me a list of all the ingredients we need. I’ll go shopping while you finish the fridge and get everything set up for the frosting.”
She jots everything down on a piece of scrap paper and hands it to me. I place a kiss to her forehead and once again I’m out the door, but this time to do some shopping.
TWENTY
EXES AND OHS
Van
We were at the bakery well into the night making frosting and piping all one hundred cupcakes, so we’d be prepared to deliver them by early afternoon. Luckily, we were able to fit all the boxes in the fridge. Unfortunately, we had to sacrifice other refrigerated items to make room. After we load the van, Hollyn hops into the driver’s seat, since she said she knows where we’re going.
We head north, winding through neighborhoods of familiar houses. Not much has changed since the last time I was in this area. I glance at every passing green street sign. Birch Street. Fern Street. Oak Street. Then the van turns onto Maple Street. My heart rate spikes when I remember who lives down this road. I turn to Hollyn.
“Where did you say we are going?”
“This girl I know, Krystin.”
I glance into the back of the van to read the name on the boxes. “Jenkins.” I rack my brain to think if I know any Jenkins.
“That’s her new, shiny, married name,” Hollyn says, not hiding the sarcasm in her voice. “She was Murray.”
My heart drops to the floor. Ding. Ding. Ding. We have a winner. That’s a name I know. Fuck me.
Hollyn spares a glance my way. “Is something wrong?”
“You know the ex I told you about? That’s her sister.”
“Oh. Oh! Shit. The party is actually for Josie.” My stomach curdles at hearing her name out loud. “Do you want to wait in the van, and I’ll drop off all the cupcakes?”
As much as I want to say yes, I can’t make Hollyn do that. We only had boxes that would fit twelve cupcakes. She’d have to make five trips, at least. If I help, we’ll get it done twice as fast, and then we can get the hell out of there.
“No, the faster we get this done, the sooner we can leave.”
Between the seats rests a baseball cap with an embroidered The Sweet Spot logo on the front. I pick it up and dust it off before shoving it on my head.
“I’ll just wear this, keep my head down, and hopefully no one recognizes me.”
