“Oh mygawd, you are terrible. You know what I mean. Show them the hidden cinnamon roll that you are.” She shoves me in front of her. “Go.”
I plant my feet. “I have no fucking clue what that means, but no, not unless you’re coming with me.”
“Are you being serious?"
“Dead.” I stare her down.
Her hands go up with a huff. “Fine, wait here for two minutes while I change.”
“You got it, boss.”
She rolls her eyes with a smile, sets her cell phone down on the table, and then disappears through the swinging door to the kitchen.
My focus falls to the big window in the front and all the people loitering around the store. When I glance back, Daisy is playing on her phone behind the register. Since people can still come in to buy things, it makes sense that she’s still working.
The bell over the door rings, and Gavin walks in with his daughter (and my niece), Layla, and Preston.
“Uncle D, what’s going on with you and Brooke?” Layla asks, and Gavin smirks, crossing his arms in front of him as he waits for my reply.
“Can I?” Preston asks and points to the cookies.
I nod, and he grabs one for himself and then hands the other to Layla.
“I didn’t know you were back in town,” I say.
The last time he was here, the week went so fast that I didn’t have time to get together outside of noon ball. That was more than a week ago now. Sure, had I skipped out on a night with Brooke, I might have seen him more, but I didn’t want to do that.
“Yeah, I just can’t seem to stay away.” He chuckles awkwardly, and then leaves in a rush.
We all watch him go, and then we see our sister dart in the opposite direction.
“Sooo,” Gavin starts. “Are you going to answer your niece's question?”
I pin my brother with a look that leaves no doubt he’s annoying me.
“I’m here to help Brooke with the bakery.”
“Is Brooke your girlfriend?” Layla asks.
Layla is a fresh teenager, and she’s nosy as hell, as any thirteen-year-old would be, but considering I’m going to be the same way if she ever brings a boy home, I let it slide.
“Brooke is just my friend.”
“I don’t know, Uncle D. You two sure have been hanging out a lot lately.”
“Yes, and he’s like gum on the bottom of my shoe that won’t come off,” Brooke says, appearing from the back and capturing 100 percent of my attention.
She’s changed from her typical leggings and crop top to a pink jean skirt that hits the middle of her thigh and a white top with frilly edges on the bottom and sleeves. Her hair is still in a messy bun on her head, with pieces falling out to frame her face, but she clearly added some makeup. Her eyes are brighter and her lips are a shiny, glossy pink I can't seem to pull my gaze from.
Gavin bumps me.
I’m just about to tell him quietly to fuck off, when Brooke’s phone vibrates loudly against the table, drawing all of our attention.
She has her settings to show incoming messages on her lock screen, and the one I see makes my blood boil.
“Is that Tony from your dating app?” I ask harshly, snapping her phone off the table, as if holding it closer will change the words I just read on her screen.
Her eyes flash between me and the screen, and it seems this notification is just as shocking to her as it is to me.
