I make the twenty-minute drive to the studio far faster than I should, turning up the music on the radio every time Knight tries to speak. His body is so tense by the time I park the car on the street outside the studio that if I weren’t so upset and hurt, I’d beconcerned about him breaking a tooth from how hard he’s been clenching his jaw.
But I am hurt, so instead of doing anything to make him feel better, I kill the car’s engine, unfasten my seat belt, and jump out before he can offer to help me. Instead of going to the studio, I start walking in the opposite direction, toward Tori’s bakery, which is a few blocks away.
“Octavia,” Knight growls, catching up to me quickly and reaching for my hand.
“No,” I growl, ripping my hand out of his before he has a chance to close his fingers around mine.
“You’re upset,” he says, stating the obvious.
“I don’t want to talk about it,” I hiss, lengthening my stride in an attempt to get away from him, but he matches my pace, his longer legs easily keeping up with me.
“Octa—”
Cutting him off before he can even finish saying my name, I shush him, flashing him a withering look before turning back in the direction I’m stomping. Tears fill my eyes the moment I spot the bakery, but I blink them away, pushing the glass door open with both hands and stepping inside.
Tori is standing behind the counter, stocking the glass display case with some kind of pastry filled with cream. Her lips pull into a smile when she spots us, then dip into a frown when her gaze lands on my face.
“Good morn—” Stopping mid-word, she glances over my shoulder to Knight, then back to me again. “Oh,” she says.
“I’m hungry,” I announce, emotion lacing my words.
“Okay,” she says, nodding. “Chocolate, cream, or full-blown comfort food?” she asks, focusing all her attention on me.
I don’t know what she sees on my face, but before I can answer, she nods, steps around the counter, and pulls me forward. “Knight, I need you to watch the counter for a minute.I have something I want Octy to try, but my day staff just called in sick, and the relief can’t make it in for another thirty minutes.”
Not waiting for Knight to agree, she tows me behind the counter, through the kitchen, and into a dry storage area with a walk-in refrigerator behind it.
“What the hell is going on? I love him like a brother, but I have brothers, so I know how to kick a dude’s ass,” she hisses.
A sob slips from my lips before I can speak, and my eyesight blurs with tears.
“Oh my god,” she gasps, pulling me into her arms and hugging me tightly.
I allow myself a full minute to fall apart before I suck in a shaky breath and push out of her hug. “I’m fine,” I say, trying to convince myself as much as her.
“Clearly, you’re not. Do you want to talk about it, or do you just want me to find you something sugary to eat?”
“Sugary,” I admit, feeling bad for coming here and involving her in our drama, then crying all over her.
“Okay, I can do that. I was actually experimenting this morning, so it’s kind of good timing.” Taking my hand, she tugs me back into the kitchen and toward a small tray full of something made of chocolate. “These are mini chocolate mousse cakes. I tend to stick to French patisserie, but I mean, who doesn’t love chocolate?”
Spinning around, she grabs a spoon, hands it to me, then pushes the tray toward me.
“Try. Let me know what you think.”
Digging the spoon into the cake, I lift it to my mouth, then moan so loudly it sounds indecent.
“Good?” she questions, smiling widely.
Nodding, I take a second spoonful, moaning just as wantonly as with the first bite.
Still smiling, Tori turns and does something on the counter in front of her, then spins back and decorates one of the cakes with a swirl of something and garnishes it with a sliced and fanned strawberry.
“Try that,” she says, pointing at the embellished cake. “Tell me if it’s better or worse.”
Not having to be told twice, I dig my spoon into the next cake and lift it to my mouth. I don’t know what the swirl is, but it tastes like a rich custard and complements the chocolate and strawberry so well it’s like a taste explosion in my mouth.
A fresh surge of tears falls from my eyes, but I wipe them away with my arm, pointing at the cake with my spoon and nodding.
