“Really?” He looks back and forth between the two of us. “I mean, that’s great. I’m thrilled for you. But why was it so busy?”
I look out of the corner of my eye to Gabi, who's giving me the same look.
“It’s also because of Maddox,” she says with a smile that hits me straight in the heart.
“Maddox?” Beau says, clearly a little confused.
“He made a post about the bakery yesterday on his Instagram. When I went to open the doors this morning, I already had a line. It didn’t stop at all during the day. It took us more than an hour after normal closing to get everyone through. It was… the most amazing day.”
My heart doubles in size looking at the smile on Gabi’s face. Yes, I’ve always made sure to help others when I can. It’s one of those things my mom drilled into me early as a child. But what I did today with one picture, seeing how Gabi is lighting up talking about her business and the success, I don’t know if a feeling will ever top this.
“So you let him post on Instagram for you?” Beau shouts, giving Gabi and I both a jump scare. “He can post about this place but when I offer you tell me you don’t want to use my name for clout?”
“That’s different,” Gabi snaps back, stepping up to her brother who has more than a foot on her in height, but that isn’t deterring her.
“How?”
“Because I didn’t tell her what I was doing,” I say, needing to defend myself, and Gabi. “I took a picture and posted it. You think I don’t know how stubborn she is? How she’d never let me do it if I told her? So I asked for forgiveness instead of permission. Do you have a problem with that?”
Beau and I eye each other, and he may have a few inches on me—and also by the looks of it has a better arm workout than I do—but I’m not backing down. He seems to realize this as I watch him rub the back of his neck as his breathing calms down.
“I’m not sorry I did it,” I go on. “Gabi deserves to have that kind of line every day and if I can make it happen from one post, then I’m going to do it.”
“Well that we can agree on,” Beau says before turning back to Gabi. “I’m sorry I blew up. I’m so fucking happy for you. You know I want you to have every bit of success in the world, right?”
“I know,” she says, stepping into her brother’s embrace. “I think we’re all a little surprised by seeing each other and this got out of hand very fast. Can we start this all over?”
“Sure,” he says as he gives her one more squeeze before letting go and turning to me and extending his hand. “I’m sorry Gallagher, but thank you. I know she’s thankful for it and I am too.”
I return his handshake. “I appreciate it.”
We share a firm handshake before stepping back. When we do, Beau starts pointing back and forth between Gabi and I, his finger following his eyes. “So… are you two?”
I turn to Gabi, because no way in hell am I answering that to her brother who five seconds ago wanted to murder me.
“Maddox and I are friends,” she says as she turns to look at me. “He’s been a really, really, good friend.”
I knew what she was going to say. I could’ve predicted it word for word. Doesn’t make the sting any less potent.
The silence is interrupted by the ringing of the bakery phone. “Can you two behave while I get that? I have no idea who is calling this late, so it might be a minute.”
“Yes,” we both say a little sheepishly. Neither of us say another word until the kitchen doors swing shut and the phone stops ringing.
“I need to apologize too,” I say. “I didn’t know who was coming in. I knew she had a brother and that he owned the bakery, but she never told me her last name. I didn’t put two and two together.”
“No worries,” he says as we both take a seat at one of the prep stations. “Gabi doesn’t want to use me or Shelby’s name or notoriety for a leg up. Even though we’d both give it to herwithout a second thought. But that’s Gabi, stubborn to do things her own way.”
I chuckle. “I’ve picked up on that.”
That makes Beau smile. “That’s what I think set me off about her allowing you to do this. When we first opened, I told her I wanted to make calls to promote the bakery. Local media, some bloggers, that sort of thing. I was going to pitch it that I was opening a new bakery with my sister as the head pastry chef. Really sell that it was a family business. She refused. She wanted to build this business from the ground up with me being as silent of a partner as possible. And then here you come swooping in…”
“In my defense, I really didn’t give her a choice. I took a picture and posted it before she even knew what I was doing.”
“I’ll keep that in mind the next time someone figures out I own this place and wants to do a story.”
“Is she always this stubborn?” I ask. “Like I’m stubborn, but she’s giving me a run for my money.”
That makes him smile. “Since we were kids. And since the divorce started? It escalated times a thousand.”
