My hands shake as I unlock the front door to the shop. I barely slept, and after spending an unbelievable amount of hours prepping for today, I realized I need to hire help. I can’t do it alone. I don’t want to either. At least, not since Angelo’s come into my life.
I never thought this day would get here.
When I finally decided to open a cupcake shop, I knew it would take time to find the perfect location, the right recipes, and make my dream a reality. But the process took longer than I expected and hit a few snags along the way.
Originally, I signed a lease a few blocks away, but the building burned down after an electrical fire, pushing back my timeline. I was horrified, crying for days and feeling like I’d never find a new location. Everything I’d worked so hard for seemed out of reach.
“It’s the big day,” Roger says as he walks in behind me.
“You’re not helping.” I run my hand down the front of my skirt. Taking a deep breath, I turn to face him. “How do I look?”
“Like a sex kitten.” He smirks. “Angelo will like it.”
It’s funny how things work out. I was devastated by the fire, but if that hadn’t happened, I never would’ve met Angelo Gallo. So many things would be different, and my life and heart wouldn’t be as full.
I grimace. “I wasn’t going for the sex kitten look.”
Roger snorts. “Then you should’ve worn Crocs and scrubs, because that outfit—” he points to me, swiping his finger up and down in the air “—doesn’t scream anything except sex.”
I flick my gaze upward. “Why do I keep you around?”
“Because life would be boring without me,” he says as he stalks toward me. He grabs my shoulders, holding me at arm’s length in front of him. “I need to be serious for a minute.”
I nod and swallow down my nerves.
“I’m proud of you, Tilly. Mitchell would be proud of you too.”
My nose tingles, and my vision blurs. “Don’t make me cry.”
He tightens his grip on my shoulders. “There’s no time for tears, babe. You did something amazing here. Look around. This is all because of you.”
I take it all in as he turns me around, remembering the day I got the keys. The place was an absolute mess. There wasn’t a surface that didn’t need to be replaced or painted. “What if it fails?”
Roger shakes his head. “It won’t.”
I wish I had his optimism, but I know the realities of a new business, especially in the crowded and sometimes saturated market of Chicago.
“Now take a deep breath and try to relax.”
I laugh. Relax? Seriously, who can relax when they’re opening a business they’ve sunk every dollar they have to their name into? There’s no relaxation because if I can’t fill the shop and sell out of cupcakes each day, I’ll be penniless.
“This neighborhood needed a fun little shop like this. Plus, you have catering contracts already in place.”
“I’m going to stay positive. I can do this.” I nod.
Roger looks over my head toward the door. “Look who’s here.”
My eyes widen as I glance over my shoulder.
Roger releases my shoulders. “Looks like you have your first customers.”
“We wanted to be your first.” Betty walks into the shop, followed by the entire family.
“I can’t believe you all came,” I say quickly, barely able to stand still.
Tate’s the first one to reach me. “I love your cupcakes.” She peers up at me, buttering me up, and I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t working.
God, I don’t know how her father ever tells her no. Her face is so beautiful, and her smile is like her father’s.
