I was always racing to a finish line.
To be grown up.
I turn my face back to the sink, rinsing the suds out before she can see my chin tremble.
IthinkI’m having fun. I’m finally done. I finished school and started my business. Now, I’m ready for…
I don’t know. What do I want now?
My own life.Not a life away from my family, but one where I’m in the lead. Where I make my own decisions, have privacy, and don’t feel like I’m always following someone.
She doesn’t press further, just touches her hand to my cheek. “I love you.”
“I love you, too.”
But I don’t look at her because I don’t want her to see my face. In a moment, she’s gone.
I accepted a long time ago that my mother is the smartest person I’ll ever meet. In terms of street smarts. More than my dad, Madoc, Jared, or even Jax, because my mom has made nearly every mistake imaginable. When she speaks, it’s from experience. Not anger or power or trauma.
After boxing Mace’s brownies, I set them on the table and take the extras to the front. I load them into the case, but a customer stops me.
“Can I buy those, actually?” he asks. “They look great.”
“Sure.”
Boxing the rest of the brownies and setting them on the counter, I glance up, seeing Aro and Dylan through the windows. They stand right outside, next to one of the patio tables on the sidewalk.
They wave through the glass, Dylan using two hands.
What the hell are they doing?I toss a quick wave back as I direct my attention to the customer and the guy he’s with.
“Anything for you?” I ask the second gentleman as he browses the options.
Aro passes a stack of large white posterboards to Dylan. She holds them up for me to see through the window.
I’m mad at you, it says.
Mad? I glance around to the customers in the shop to see if they notice her.
“I would love something,” the young man replies with a sigh. “Anything for diabetics?”
Huh?
I turn back to my customers.Oh, right.I smile at the guy, noticing Dylan throwing the board over her shoulder, letting it fly onto the sidewalk.
Guess who we saw at Camp Blackhawk today?the next board reads.
My heart thuds. Aro grabs the stack, flipping to the next poster.
Oh my God…it says.
Then, she fans herself.
My stomach somersaults.Lucas.
The customers stand there, and I let out a single, nervous laugh, dropping my eyes. “Uh…how about…chocolate chip blondies?” I ask.
Moving down the case, I take a square of parchment paper and reach into the shelf. I raise my eyes as Dylan snatches the cards back.
