“Afraid of the competition?” He needles me. Until I shoot him a dirty look. “We won’t be the only ones. Drake and Sandy already signed up. Think about it, it’ll be fun.”
Of course Drake and Sandy did. They’re probably helping to plan it. Now that my friends are both in serious relationships, they can couple up and cast me aside. No problem. I know when I’m not wanted. I rush to my feet. “Count me out.”
“Stone,” Cayden’s tone turns serious. “I’d love for you to come, even if you just watch. Maybe we can add you to the judge panel.”
I shake my head. “No need. I won’t be missed. It’s not like I’m family. These days, I’m not even sure I’m a friend.”
“Stone!” He calls after me as the bell over the door jingles. I ignore him and head for home.
Chapter 4
Camilla
“Can you believe the size of my closet?” I gush as Dad sets the last load of boxes on the floor in the master bedroom. “Lots of room to hang my clothes and drawers too. I should go on a shopping spree so I can fill it up.”
“That’s silly,” Dad says, standing with his hands on his hips, looking around the large bedroom, sizing it up. “If you spend all your money on clothes to fill the closet, you won’t be able to afford the rent, and we’ll have to spend another weekend moving you back home.”
“It’s a joke, Dad. You know, sarcasm? It’s meant to be funny.”
He releases a long exhale. “I don’t know why you can’t come back home, marry a nice man, and raise your children, like your mother did.”
This has to be the least appealing request for me to get married my parents have made yet, never mind that we’re going for the millionth spin on this never-ending cycle. “What if I want to work while my husband takes care of the kids?”
My father narrows his eyes at me. “Is that a joke, too? Because you have no sense of humor. Maybe I should buy you a joke book.” I shoot him a dirty look. “See that?” He points at me, and I bite my tongue, expecting him to go on a tirade about how rude I am. “The look on your face right now? That’s funny.”
Mom joins Dad in laughing at his mocking of me.
I stretch my arms toward the ceiling and yawn, hoping they’ll take the hint. “Thanks for the help, guys. But, I should start unpacking.”
“How are you going to unpack when you have no furniture?” Dad asks.
“Besides, you haven’t even shown us the bakery,” Mom complains. Not that I believe she has any genuine interest in it.
“It’s not a bakery yet. Just an empty storefront.”
“Still, we came all this way, at least show us the place.”
They could see everything they needed to by looking in the window from the outside. They aren’t going to like seeing an empty store, but on the bright side, heading downstairs will bring us closer to ushering them out the door and walking them to their car. “Fine.”
Heading back to the kitchen, I unlock an innocuous door that could easily be a closet or a bathroom. I flip on the light and lead the way down a staircase that takes us from my apartment to the back room of the storefront.
“Oh,” Mom says, looking around with furrowed brows. “When you said empty, you meantempty.”
“The landlord removed everything. It needs some renovations.” I explain.
