Avery snorted. “Sure. Have Madi there too and he will be. Let’s get everything tidied up so Evie doesn’t have to worry. I’ll pack up all the pastries. June can start cleaning up. I have a feeling Evie is going to have to be off the next couple days if Dr. Jacobs took her.” Avery was talking so fast, I wondered if she was an auctioneer. “Then we’ll head to the hospital. Okay?”
I nodded. “Sounds good, captain.” I put Lucky back in his carrier, feeling a flicker of guilt when he glowered at me. “I know, my guy. We’ll be done soon. I’ll try to fix the oven and then join the two of you.”
Calling her captain made Avery grin. June raised a brow and they exchanged one of those knowing glances again before splitting up.
June and Avery were a unit. I felt a little envious of how they just seemed to know what to do and how to split up the work. I had friends, of course, but no one that I could communicate with wordlessly. It was impressive.
I followed them to the back of the bakery and tested the temperature of the rack. It’d cooled down enough to touch, and I pried it out of its spot. There was an attachment at the top that locked the rack in while baking, and it’d somehow bent. That was probably why the rack wouldn’t come free.
I shined my flashlight until I saw the manufacturer label. I took a couple pictures. I could order the parts for this and have it fixed by the end of the week. Unfortunately, the oven was out of commission until then.
I had a feeling Evie was going to be devastated.
How could I fix it? I had people everywhere when it came to building and construction. I probably knew someone that could get a part faster for me.
“What was the issue?”
I jumped at Avery’s voice behind me. I turned to look at her. Her arms were crossed, her lips pressed into a thin line. “The attachment up top is bent. I’m going to order the part for her.”
Her brows raised. “You’d do that for her?”
“Of course.”
“Hmm.”
I could not, for the life of me, tell if she approved or not. Clearly, June and Avery loved my cat. Me? That was still up for debate. But she returned to June’s side. I ran my fingers through my hair and pulled my phone out to text my contractor, Alex, about the oven part.
It was a tough crowd. I’d forgotten how closed off small towns could feel. Not that Avery or June were excluding me, but I knew I’d be talked about later.
Coming back to Whynot was probably the biggest mistake I’d ever made. I hadn’t exactly loved growing up here. In fact, once I left, I swore I’d never come back. There were a lot of the older folks in town who would remember me and associate me with mybad upbringing.If they only knew the half of it, they’d probably pity me.
But, it didn’t matter. I was here to stay. And I’d prove to everyone that I was worth keeping around. Evie included.
A man’s voice interrupted my thoughts. I turned, ready to kick out whoever it was, but June’s face lit up like a neon sign.
“We’re back here!” June called.
Oh shit. Of course. Dallas Whynot stepped into the backroom and went still when he spotted me.
I never had an issue with him, but he’d certainly gotten caught between Austin and I several times. I was pretty sure I accidentally clipped his nose one time when he stepped in front of Austin to break up a fist fight when we were seniors. But unlike then, he was bulked up with muscles now. I worked out religiously, yeah, but he could probably take me. Not that he would. We weren't kids anymore, and I’d certainly grown out of picking fights.
Well, mostly.
Surprise flashed in his eyes. “Nick? Nick Steele?”
“Yeah,” I said, clearing my throat. “Hey, Dallas. How’s it going?”
“I—uh—good? Great. I’m so confused right now, but I guess Austin’s texts make more sense.”
“Oh, he’s already talking about me?” I asked, the corner of my mouth tugging.
Dallas chuckled and crossed the bakery, giving me a firm handshake. We had an audience, though, and they were scrutinizing our every movement. I felt like I was flayed open under a microscope.
“You’re opening a resort?”
I nodded. “Yep.”
“Cool. That’ll be . . . interesting.” He released my hand then turned back to his sister and June. “Madi will be over shortly. Mateo texted that he’s going to help Austin. Levi is picking up groceries and we’re going to meal prep for Evie so she doesn’t have to think the next few days. We’re all in caretaking mode.”
