I squeeze through the door, which no one bats an eye about, as I stand against the back wall and look on at the craziness. Every time I’ve been in, it’s usually only Phyllis, Kitty, and a few random other customers. But now if the two elderly women tried to come in they wouldn’t be able to find a place to sit. Every table is being used and there’s a host of people standing to the side waiting for their orders. Two college-aged girls are working behind the counter who I’ve never seen before.
Then there’s Gabi, who’s looking as frazzled and beautiful as ever. Her hair’s more of a mess than normal. She normally has traces of flour on her, but it looks like she just walked out of the bag. But that’s not stopping her from taking the time to talk to each customer, thanking them for coming in today and apologizing for things she was out of. Her smile is ear to ear, and I don’t know if I’ve ever seen anything, or anyone, more beautiful.
Fuck I have it bad…
Gabi catches me staring across the room and I give her a small wave. I purposely don’t walk over, not wanting to get anyone in a tizzy if I cut the line. But when she gives me a nod, signaling me to meet her at the end of the counter, I push off the wall and make quick work of the space between us.
“Seems as if the new advertising campaign worked,” she says with a smile that’s as big as I’ve ever seen it. “It’s been like this all day. I’m going to run out of everything in an hour if it keeps up like this and it’s barely noon.”
“That’s a good problem to have, right?”
Though by the worried look in her eye, I’m not sure it is.
“I mean it is,” she says. “And don’t get me wrong, it’s a problem I never thought I’d have. But at the same time, I hate feeling like I let people down.”
“I get that,” I say, suddenly getting an idea. “Are there things you could bake quickly so you could at least have something to sell?”
My suggestion takes her by surprise. “I mean sure. I could do some basic cookies and cupcakes. Brownies and easy recipes. But I’m needed out here to help the girls.”
“No you aren’t,” I declare, clapping my hands together. “I’ll help.”
Her eyebrows shoot up. “You’ll help?”
“Yeah,” I say as I walk around the counter, grabbing a blue and white apron that’s part of the uniform for Sugar and Sweets. “You go back and bake the treats. I’ll help…”
“Lexi and Jada.”
“I’ll help Lexi and Jada with whatever they need. Or if you need me in the back, I’ll be your helper.”
Gabi looks at me for a second, assessing if I’m serious or not. “Are you sure?”
I nod and take her by the shoulders, turning her around toward the kitchen. “You go do what you do best. And I’ll do the same.”
She looks back over her shoulder. “And what’s that?”
As I’m about to say something, I hear people yelling “Maddox!” with cameras coming out to take pictures of me in an apron.
“Giving the people what they want. And today, they want sweet treats served by Maddox Gallagher.”
CHAPTER 14
MADDOX
Ionce played a college football game that went into six overtimes.
In high school I was a three-way player and most Friday nights I was on the field for every play of the game.
I’m a professional athlete who has his body slammed every Sunday by guys who don’t fuck around in a weight room.
So tell me why I’ve never been so tired as I am right now after working at a bakery for six hours.
“Here Gallagher, you earned it.”
I look over my shoulder to see Gabi—who looks tired, but not as tired as me—setting down a bottle of water and a bear claw. “I thought we sold out?”
“We did,” she says as she sits across the table from me with her own treat. I notice she went with a jumbo brownie and her standard Coke Zero. “I might’ve put one aside for you earlier when I realized that suddenly the bear claw was going to be making a comeback among the Gen Z and millennial clientele.”
“You did?” I say, trying to keep it cool, even though inside I’m doing cartwheels. “Being your favorite customer is starting to pay off.”
