“We’re still here.” I take the coffee and gesture for him to come in.
But he shakes his head, softening the rejection with a sweet and all too closed-mouth peck. “You need to get to work.”
I raise my eyebrows. “Everything okay?”
“Now that we’ve gone rogue, I think it’s essential thatwe focus on making sure your other tasks are thoroughly and unarguably completed.”
I stick out my lower lip. “But work is boring and kissing you is way more fun.”
He laughs and leans in to kiss the pout off my face. “I’m glad you think so. But work is not boring. Don’t you want to check in with Emma anyway? See how the rest of the fundraiser went?”
I nod, begrudgingly. “Yes. I suppose.” I actually do want to—need to—talk to Emma so I can apologize for running out on the event and leaving her to fend for herself.
Plus, I need to see how she’s feeling about her upcoming date with Ethan.
I finish the final swig of my coffee, handing Ben my empty mug. “All right then. Be off with you so I can strip off these PJs and get dressed.”
His pupils widen, my words having their desired effect.
I pop a button on my pajama top, just to see if I can get him to break, but he shakes his head and focuses his eyes on mine.
“We should go see Mimi at the café later today.”
That’s enough to halt my fingers. “You were expecting to end up back home this morning, weren’t you?”
He shrugs, but his eyes can’t hide the truth. “I don’t really know what to expect anymore, Cam, but whatever ends up happening, we’ll deal with it.”
“Is this where you tell me we can face anything as long as we face it together?”
“You really are an asshole sometimes, aren’t you?”
I grin, leaning in to leave him with a lingering kiss. “The sooner you accept that, the easier your life will be.”
“Have a good day at work, dear.”
“Have a good day playing doctor since no one in this town ever seems to get sick or hurt.”
He rolls his eyes, bounding down my front walk with a spring in his step.
I take a minute to enjoy the view of him walking away before ducking back inside and getting dressed for the day. Skinny jeans and a red sweater and knee-high brown boots. Nothing I ever would have picked out for myself before, but when I check my reflection in the full-length mirror on the back of my bedroom door, I have to admit, it doesn’t look too bad.
I double back for a real coat once I step outside and realize that along with the wardrobe update and décor explosion, the weather has changed once again, a chill in the air and heavy clouds in the sky, the kind that look like they might open up and dump a snowstorm on you at any moment.
Pushing into the front door of the bakery, I slip out of my coat and hang it on the rack that yesterday stood empty, but today is dotted with scarves and jackets.
The bakery is crowded, a line extending almost out the door, so I jump behind the counter and start pouring coffees. “Sorry I’m late,” I call to Emma over my shoulder as I grind espresso beans and tap them into their little pod, which I now know is called a portafilter, ready to slot into the machine.
“We will be discussing the reason for your tardiness in great detail.” She offers a harried smile and a bag of muffins to the customer at the counter. “As soon as we get through this line!”
I hand one of our regulars his pumpkin spice latte. “Here you go, Fred!”
“Thanks so much, Cam! Great event last night!” Fred takes his first sip and sighs with pleasure. “Perfectly made, as always!”
I wave to him as he exits the store and turn to help the next customer.
It takes longer than usual for the bakery to calm down, people continuing to come through the door long past the typical end-of-the-morning rush. The delay could be chalked up to the fact that everyone wants to talk about the fundraiser, nothing but effusive praise directed at both me and Emma, but mostly me, if I’m being honest.
Finally, around midafternoon, the door closes behind our last customer and Emma flips around the “Open” sign, even though it’s a half an hour before we usually close for the day.
