The parcel/purchase counter, which Remi handled, was opposite mine, while the cute little desk next to it was for taking (from customers) and giving out (to our dealers) both retail and bulk inventory orders. Simran took care of all that good stuff,along with the ice cream station, because Lord knows Remi would be a mess by the end of the day if he were to do any of that.
We had a small baking kitchen to my left – exactly opposite to the shop’s entrance – where our bakers, Cruz and Daniel, made fresh Açaí-stuffed muffins, cupcakes, pastries, breads, etc. for everyday customers, grocery stores, and online platforms.
Simran was a couple years younger than Remi and I, and had decided to become a permanent employee atVila do Açaílast year, after announcing that she’d quit her other job as an assistant HR at a restaurant due to the constant disrespect of work ethics by both her colleagues and seniors. Remi, however, has been working at the shop since he was eighteen. Our families go way back, and our grandfathers have a friendship that movies are made and books are written about.
“Hey, kid.”
I blinked and looked up, and found Cruz grinning down at me. His hair, which was always in a bun, and his beard, which he liked to braid because it was so long, were both hidden behind lavender bouffant caps. His purple apron was splattered with flour, along with some Açaí as well, and when I quirked a brow at him, he placed a small tray with three cupcakes in it, in front of me.
“Had these out of the oven and cooled just for you. Hope you like em’,” he said, still grinning. The guy looked like Seth Rogen on steroids, but he had a personality of a friendly, next-door puppy. I swear.
“And, in case youdon’tlike them, you can always shove them in his eyeballs!” Daniel hollered from the kitchen.
I laughed, just as Cruz scowled and turned to glare at Daniel. “I wonder, every night I go to bed, why I haven’t shoved your smug face into the hearth by now. For the number of times you get on my nerves on a daily basis, I’ve already burned youin at least two-hundred different ways in my head. I just need Carina’s permission to do it in real life.”
I placed a hand over my mouth and laughed harder. Those two were the Laurel and Hardy in the modern slapstick that was my life.
Daniel leaned against the kitchen’s threshold and folded his long arms in front of himself. He was lanky, fair, with a head full of unruly salt-and-pepper hair, and blue eyes that were mostly always glimmering in amusement. “You think about me when you’re in bed with yourwife? Jesus Christ, Cruz, does Valeriaknowthat?” he quipped.
Cruz’s scowl deepened – if that were even possible. “Why are you like this? WHY?!”
Remi and Simran snickered, whereas Daniel flashed his teeth at his partner.
“Because it’sfun, Cruz; you should try that sometime. It’ll change your whole world, I promise.”
Cruz placed his hands on his wide hips. “I have fun by scorching your ass in my imagination. There’s nothing more satisfying than that,I promise.”
Both Laurel and Hardy – I mean Daniel and Cruz – have been working at the shop since I was twelve. They’re not just crazy-talented when it comes to baking, but they also never disappoint when they decide to cook savories for everyone.
In the years I’ve known them, I’ve come to consider them as part of my family. Their wives, too, treat me with the same kinda love they do their children.
Daniel chuckled at Cruz’s retort. “Come back to the kitchen, big guy. I miss the smell of your anger mixed with dough as you constantly breathe down my neck.”
“Doesyourwife know this about you?” Cruz sassed. “Jesus Christ, Daniel, what must Brianna think of you?”
Daniel opened his mouth, ready to missile another one of his snarky comments at Cruz, but I slapped the counter twice to stop him. When the two of them looked at me, I jerked my head toward the kitchen, fisted my hands, and knocked the left one on top of the right in a sign to say,Work.
Cruz sighed. “Fine, fine; we’re goin’.” He then pointed at the tray. “Do try these, though. I’ve added primary flavors in them in an effort to mix and match the taste. We don’t have to make these a thing, of course, but if you do like em’, I can make more for you and Miguel.”
I nodded as I smiled, and touched my fingers to my chin before bringing them forward to say,Thankyou.
Cruz gave me a soft wink. “You’re welcome, kid.” He turned and headed back to the kitchen. When he reached it, Daniel gave me a two-finger salute and flung an arm around Cruz’s shoulders. The latter didn’t push him off, and if I wasn’t mistaken, I saw his posture slack a bit as if giving up against Daniel’s persistent nature.
With a shake of my head, I grabbed my phone from my purse and picked up the first cupcake, which Cruz had labelled:Vanilla+Açaí.
I opened the message app and shot a quick text to my best friend, Ashleigh.
Me:My construction guy is a total cutie:’(
Her response came in just as I finished the impossibly yummy cupcake and moved onto the next.
Banana+Açaí
Ash:And that’s a sad thing because…?
Me:Because he’s so disgustingly gorgeous and I’m an absolute macaca.
Ash:Uh, excuse you? You do NOT look like a monkey.
