The timer chimes, and I pull the goldenkanelsnurre—cinnamon sugar pastry knots—from the oven. Their buttery layers are perfect despite my divided attention earlier. Muscle memory sure is helpful on days like today, when my mind wanders to sparkly dresses and questionable entertainers. My hands always know exactly what to do.
“See?” I tell Bibi’s photo. “Some things never change.”
Trepidation expands inside like a loaf of breadproofing. As I score the top with Bibi’s oldlamein a pretty leaf pattern, I feel like I’m on a precipice, balanced on a blade’s edge. Must be that it’s New Year’s Eve.
A few hours later,as I box up the last of the morning pastries to drop off at the fire station for our first responders and grab a few extra to treat the girls, I post a sign that saysClosed for New Year’s Day. I can’t shake the feeling that I’m on the cusp of change and I really don’t like the way it feels.
Especially when the numbers just aren’t there to cover the rent increase. It wasn’t only that the cost went up, other things did too. Admittedly, being a one-woman show, a few things slipped through the cracks. I thought I had more resources available and then it snowballed. I’m not proud of my miscalculation and want to believe I’ll figure out a way to solve this problem, but I’m not so sure.
Several long hours later, dusk settles like purple velvet over Las Vegas, and I’m standing in front of the mirror in the penthouse suite Margo booked thanks to her wedding planning connections. I watch my friends transform into glamor queens.
The room is in girly disarray—makeup scattered across multiple counters, dresses draped over chairs, and the kind of excited chatter that only happens when multiple women are getting ready for a night out.
The lineup includes: Ella, the puck princess, who married the Nebraska Knights center, Jack. He happens to be a billionaire and she had a real Cinderella moment. Jess, originally from Cobbiton, somehow managed to make Liam Ellis smile, and he won her heart. Then there’s Gracie, who got her happily ever after with the assistant coach Vohn Brandt. The man is notknown for having a nice bone in his body, but convinced the sweetest human on the planet to marry him. We also have Juniper, one of hockey’s biggest fans, who married her childhood enemy Mikey after having to plan a wedding for their mutual friends together.
Delaney recently had a baby, so she and Hayden are staying in their own room, but she’ll be at the festivities tonight, along with Heidi and Grady, who also have kids. Whit and Redd, too. Come to think of it, so many of my friends are paired off and have families now.
Bibi used to say, “Time flies, especially when the oven timer is beeping.”
Even Bree, who writes romance novels but refused to believe in it for herself, fell in love with her nemesis, Fletch, over Christmas.
Miracles do happen.
Leah walks in and squeals, “Nina, please tell me you brought?—”
“A hair straightener, safety pins, stain remover, backup mascara, and a pair of earrings for Margo,” I finish, already digging through my bag and presenting the additional items I anticipated they’d need as if there aren’t full-service stores in this desert oasis.
Everyone gathers around like I actually had to trek across a sandy wasteland to get here. Though, to be fair, it took a lot of arm-twisting and a nonrefundable ticket that I felt guilty about turning down.
Duty calls, even among friends.
I pull out a slightly wrinkled pastry bag as well. “I also brought some leftover honey butter cookies.”
They cheer excitedly because we all agree that every occasion calls for something sweet.
Ella reaches for a cookie. “This isnotwhy we keep youaround, but we appreciate your delicious donations and your uncanny ability to fix any fashion emergency.”
Which is ironic since most days I wear pants with an elastic waist and an apron. I like to think of myself as resourceful—certainly came in handy when I was on my own and when Bibi got sick.
“Speaking of which,” Bree says, holding up a curling iron, “this won’t heat up.”
I sigh and pull out my backup curling iron, which I also brought. I worried it might put me over the weight limit on my bag, but I somehow knew it would be necessary. “Seriously, what would you do without me?”
“Probably walk around with a severe caffeine and pastry deficit, frizzy hair, and chocolate stains on our dresses,” Jess admits cheerfully.
As they return to getting ready, I perch on the edge of the bed and watch them, feeling slightly like an outsider so far from home and single.
Cara is married to Pierre, aka the Frenchman, who was known as being a “player” on top of being a defenseman. Until she came along, he had been the coach’s least favorite. She’s also Tommy Badaszek’s daughter. Talk about forbidden love.
Leah got hitched to the man who was her secret adversary as well as her best friend’s twin last fall. Margo and Beau, the grumpiest of the grumps, had a St. Patrick’s Day shindig after she planned a themed wedding for another couple, and it fell through. All’s well that ends well or something.
And then there’s me. Twenty-nine, with a secretly struggling bakery, and stubbornly, completely alone. Yep, definitely an outsider.
Without warning, Bree tosses me a tiny jar I belatedly realize contains glitter eye shadow. I stretch to catch it so it doesn’t sprinkle everywhere like sparkly confetti. Usually, I’mthe prankster between us—thanks to my father—but being outside my element has me on edge. Not to mention, so much has changed recently between my girlfriends and me. To borrow from Bree, an author, it’s like they’ve entered a new chapter of their lives, and I’m stuck rereading the same line over and over. Sure, I could do something about it, but when? Between bread rises? After I submit wholesale orders? Clean the bakery? Fulfill special orders?
From the bathroom doorway, Gracie calls, “Okay, New Year’s resolutions. What’s everyone thinking?”
Cara groans. “Oh no. Remember last year? I was going to learn French. I downloaded an app, practiced for three days, and now my phone randomly suggests ‘Où est le pain?’ when I’m leaving myself a grocery shopping memo.” Her accent is terrible.
