“Yeah. I’m a glutton for punishment.”
Maybe. Or maybe he still had feelings for her. “I’m sorry.”
He lifted the small box from the counter. “Here. This is what I grabbed from the back before she came in. I picked it up for you today.”
Tentatively, she opened the box to find the most delicious-looking cupcake inside. It was vanilla, with pink icing and half a strawberry on top.
“You said you liked cupcakes.”
Her gaze lifted. “So you bought me one?”
“So I bought you one.”
The beats of her heart stumbled over one another. Would it make her look completely pathetic if she revealed that this was one of the sweetest things a guy had ever done for her? One of the sweetest thingsanyonehad ever done for her? “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. It’s from Sugar and Spice. Everything’s amazing there.” He squeezed her arm before moving away.
Man, she needed to hurry up and make some money and get out of here, because something told hernotfalling for Cody would be one of the hardest things she’d ever done—and she’d done some seriously hard things.
He’d just stepped into the kitchen when her phone vibrated from her back pocket. She pulled it out and immediately felt the blood drain from her face.
Unknown number: Did you block my number? Mom and I have something important to tell you. Answer me.
She was so caught up in the text from her brother that she didn’t hear Cody step back into the bar. When he touched her arm, she gasped, almost dropping the cell.
“Hey, you okay?” he asked, voice gentle.
She clicked out of the message and pushed the device back into her pocket. “Of course. I’m going to take a five-minute break to devour this cupcake, if that’s okay?”
His brows were drawn but he nodded.
She walked away, needing a few minutes to collect herself. Why wouldn’t her brother leave her the hell alone? All she wanted to do was get away from them. He and their motherhad already taken everything from her. Could she not have some peace for just a small fragment of her life?
She was quiet.Too quiet. They were halfway through the shift, and she’d barely said two words to him. He’d already asked her half a dozen times if she was okay and always got the same damn answer…that she was fine.
Yeah, he didn’t believe her for a second. Something had rattled her. Something that even Mrs. Sandler’s cupcake couldn’t make better.
“Stop staring, brother.”
He glanced at Kayden, who sat at the bar, beer in hand. “I’m not staring.”
“You sure as hell are, and there’s no way she hasn’t noticed. You’ll scare her away.”
“What are you even doing here? I thought you were spending the night with Eastern.”
“He’s meeting me here.”
“Great. So I have to put up with both of you tonight?”
Kayden smirked at him. “We love how excited you are to spend time with us.” He lifted the beer to his mouth. “Have you heard from Nylah?”
The tightness in his chest loosened at the mention of his twin sister. She’d moved from Misty Peak to Cradle Mountain, Idaho, a few months ago. That’s where she’d met Liam. Cody had been skeptical about him at first, but after spending time with the guy, he knew the relationship was real. “Yeah, she called a few nights ago. She’s really happy.”
It was about damn time. She’d sacrificed too much of her life here, in this bar, helping their dad while Cody and his brothers had been serving in the military.
Kayden nodded. “Yeah, I spoke to her this morning. I’m glad she’s doing so well.”
Barry stepped up beside him. “Kayden. Talk some sense into your brother. He’s agreed to host Vanessa’s work luncheon here at the bar.”
