Dylan's jaw tightens. "I appreciate the offer, but I'm good."
"Are you sure? Because you know you can always talk to me. We have history, after all."
"We have a past," Dylan corrects. "Not a present. And definitely not a future."
The words are calm but firm, and I watch Vanessa's smile falter.
"I see," she says. "Well. If you change your mind."
"I won’t," Dylan says gently but definitively.
Vanessa glances between us one more time, and I see the moment she realizes this is not just a fling. That I'm not just passing through. Whatever she thought might happen between her and Dylan is never going to materialize.
"Good luck with the festival," she says stiffly, and walks out without another word.
The moment the door closes behind her, Dylan exhales.
"Sorry about that," he says.
"You don't have to apologize," I say. "But thank you. For what you said."
He walks around the counter and pulls me into his arms. "I meant every word. You are not temporary, Piper. You are not a placeholder. You are it for me."
My throat tightens. "You are it for me too."
He kisses me, soft and sure, and I feel the last piece of doubt I was carrying dissolve.
We work through the afternoon,finalizing details for tomorrow's festival. Evan comes and goes, making jokes and stealing samples and generally being the chaos Dylan clearly needs to balance his precision. Other bakers from town stop by to wish Dylan luck with the cake, and I film all of it, capturing the way this community comes together to support one of their own.
Around four, Dylan's phone rings. He glances at the screen and frowns.
"It’s Jace," he says. "Again."
"Answer it," I say. "He is probably worried after the fire."
Dylan sighs and accepts the call. Jace's face fills the screen, and this time he is not shirtless or holding a ridiculous prop. He looks genuinely concerned.
"Dylan. Thank God. I've been trying to reach you for two days."
"Sorry," Dylan says. "Things have been chaotic."
"I heard about the evacuation. Are you okay? Is Maddie okay?"
"We are fine," Dylan assures him. "The bakery is fine. Everything is fine."
Jace exhales in relief. "Good. I was about to drive up there myself."
"You don't need to do that."
"I know. But you are my brother. And after everything you have been through, I was not taking any chances." Jace pauses. "Is that your festival girl in the background?"
Dylan glances at me, and I wave. "Hi, Jace."
Jace grins. "Oh, she is still there. That is a good sign."
"She is staying," Dylan says, and the pride in his voice makes my chest warm.
"Staying staying?" Jace asks.
