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Lincoln scoffs. “I’ll try. Not sure how easy it’ll be.”
I lean over to kiss him, wishing I didn’t have to do this. My heart is starting to thump unpleasantly now that I’m here, but I’m determined to see this through. I want to be brave. I want to stand up for myself and put this asshole in his place.
“See you soon,” I tell Lincoln, smiling weakly. “I love you.”
“Love you too, beautiful. I’ll be right here if you need me.”
With one last quick kiss, I get out of the truck and head into Heavenly Cakes, my stomach churning with nerves. It’s not a good feeling. This shop is my happy place—I love it here—and I’m not going to let Jake ruin that. My heart sinks when I see him standing behind the counter with his arms crossed.
“Hey Daisy,” he says, shooting me a look that I assume he thinks is smoldering. “You look pretty today. Where’d you disappear to on Friday?”
I cringe at the compliment, remembering the bet he made over the phone. Clearly, he’s planning to try and win me over this week so he can sleep with me and win those forty dollars. This jackass has got another thing coming.
Deep breaths, Daisy.
You are beautiful. You are worthy. You are perfect. You are enough.
I hold my head up as I walk toward the counter, raising an eyebrow. “You think I look pretty today?” I ask him.
“Sure do.” He gives me that look again, the one he thinks is sexy, and I almost laugh.
“That’s funny,” I say calmly. “It’s not what you said on Friday.”
Jake’s expression drops slightly. “Uh. What did I say on Friday?”
“Something about how you don’t date fat chicks, even if you wouldn’t say no to sleeping with one to win a forty-dollar bet.”
Jake’s face turns an ugly shade of red. “Yeah…well…shit, I don’t have to justify myself to you. A guy’s allowed preferences. It’s not illegal.”
“Sure it’s not,” I say like I’m speaking to a toddler. “Most people have preferences and that’s fine. But disrespecting a woman just because you don’t find her attractive? Shaming her for her body and making bets with your friends about getting her into bed with you?” I shake my head. “Well, that’s just disgusting.”
Jake crosses his arms defiantly. “Why are chicks always so damn sensitive? It was just a joke! And that conversation was private. Get over it.”
“I’ve got a joke for you,” a voice says from the back of the shop, making Jake whirl around. Emily is standing there, hands on her hips, stony-faced. “You’re fired.”
“Are you serious?!” Jake splutters.
“Why do you care?” I ask, raising an eyebrow. “You said this job sucks ass. Apparently, all you do is get ordered around by some ‘bitch’ who thinks she knows everything. That’s what you said, right?”
Jake opens his mouth and closes it again.
“For the record, I was trying to help you settle into this job,” I say coolly. “I’ve been working here for three years. You’ve been here a couple of days. So I did my best to show you the ropes. Just thought I’d explain that since I can see that you’re very fragile about a woman knowing more than you about something.”
“I’m not fragile,” Jake says. “Jeez, it was a joke.”
“Another joke?” I raise my eyebrows. “Maybe you should stop trying to tell jokes. You’re bad at them.”
Jake turns back to Emily, looking furious. “Were you serious about firing me? I need this fucking job!”
“And I need a workplace without sexist bullies,” Emily says, coming out from behind the counter to join me. She wraps her arm protectively around my shoulder. “I heard what Daisy just said. The way you talked about her was awful and not something I will ever tolerate in my cake shop. Now get the hell out of here. You’re banned from Heavenly Cakes and from Sweet Tooth Bakery.”
Jake looks between us, his fists clenched. He rips off his apron and tosses it to the ground before storming toward the door. Before he leaves, he turns around and says, “You…you bitches! Bitches! You’ll be hearing from my mom about this!”
There’s a beat of silence before Emily catches my eye and we burst out laughing. With a final glare, Jake and his bright-red face leave the cake shop while Emily and I howl with laughter, tears streaming down our faces. A few moments later, Lincoln bursts in, looking frantic.
“Daisy? Are you okay?”
I’m laughing so hard I can’t speak. Lincoln stares at us in bewilderment which only makes us laugh harder, doubled over and clutching each other like crazy people. After what feels like an age, we finally catch our breath, hiccuping and drying our eyes as Lincoln looks at us like we’re nuts.
