“Nothing,” she saysbrightly. “Could I borrow you for a quick minute? I have, a um, person here totalk to you.”
There’s somethingin the way she says it that’s totally weird, but I can’t pinpoint why. Liviisn’t known for being deceiving, but it sure seems like she’s hiding something.
“Sure,” I say,slowly. I glance behind her, and toward the front counter. She’s probablylying, and trying to get me out of my bad date. Maybe that’s why she’s acting weirdand making up something about a person being here to see me. It’s just adiversion to rescue me. Oh, bless her. She’s the best friend ever.
Then my eyes landon someone who is standing at the front of the bakery. He’s tall and drop-deadgorgeous, wearing dark jeans and a maroon shirt that does have the sleevesrolled up to reveal his sexy forearms.
And he’s lookingright at me.
Chapter 18
There is nomistaking it. Alexa is on a date. She’s sitting with a guy, having cupcakes andcoffee and smiling. It’s the exact scenario I had pictured just moments ago, onlyin my mind, she was sitting with me and not some other guy. A lump rises in mythroat and the weight of disappointment crushes into me. What’s worse is that Iam now realizing that her cryptic Facebook message wasn’t meant for me at all.
It was for thisguy.
Good thing heshowed up first and claimed her heart before I did. She would have been forcedto admit that her message wasn’t for me and that would have just been embarrassingfor everyone involved. I turn to leave, grateful that the place is busy and noone will notice me. Grateful thatshedidn’t notice me.
Someone touches myarm. “Gabe?”
I turn around andstudy the face of the woman standing in front of me. She’s petite, withshoulder length blonde hair and bright pink lips and a Sweets Bakery apron tiedaround her neck. I recognize her from the pictures online. This is Alexa’s bestfriend and coworker, Livi.
“How do you know myname?”
Her eyes widen. “Noshit. It is you? Wow.”
She gives me a lookover and then nods, as if impressed with what she sees. “I can’t believe you’rehere.”
She didn’t answermy question. “Who are you?” I ask, even though I know the answer from myinternet stalking. “I mean, why do you know who I am?”
She grins. “That’s privilegedinformation. So, you’re here for Alexa, right?”
I inhale and stopmyself from looking across the room to where Alexa is on her date. “Notreally,” I say, and it sounds like a question.
She folds her armsacross her chest. “You’re not a good liar. But before I go get her, I need youto tell me something.”
I shake my head.“Don’t get her. She’s busy, and I’m stupid for coming here, so just don’t eventell her I was here, okay?” I try to leave and Livi grabs my arm and holds mestill, even though she’s no where near being stronger than I am. I guess Idon’t really want to leave, even though it would be the smart thing to do.
“Do you like her?”Livi asks. Her grip on my arm tightens. “Do you like her in a real and true wayand not in some asshole way that will break her heart?”
It’s clear thatthis woman knows at least something about me, if not everything. I take a deepbreath. “Yes, I like her. Yes, it’s in a good way.”
Livi grins.“Perfect. Just wait here, okay?”
And then she’sgone, darting past other customers until she’s across the room and talking toLivi. I’m so fucking nervous about what she’ll do. Alexa is clearly on a dateright now. This is so stupid. I shouldn’t be here.
My throat goes drywhen Alexa looks up. She glances around for a second, and then she sees me. Ican tell the moment our eyes lock because she flinches. That’s not good.
The look in hereyes is something like fear, or shock, or I don’t know – maybe even repulsion.This was a bad idea. This was so stupid.
I turn and walkright out of there, taking my keys from my pocket so I can make a quick escape.I want to go home and drown my embarrassment with whiskey and then never thinkof Mable Falls again.
“Wait!” a voicecalls out as I’m halfway across the street. “Gabe, wait!”
I know it isn’tAlexa’s voice, because I remember the soft sweetness of her voice like it wasyesterday instead of weeks ago. It’s Livi, running after me, her apron droppingdusts of flour in her wake.
“Gabe, stop!” Shesprints across the street and holds up her hand as if she’s compelling me tostay put.
I stand here nextto my car, too much of a gentleman to just leave her without saying anything.“It’s fine. I shouldn’t have come.”
