Page 67 of Dr. Sexypants

That wasn’t working for me anymore.

Obviously, today wasn’t the day to do it. She was going to Alan and Jessica’s wedding, and I wasn’t going to ruin that for her.

But tomorrow when we had lunch, I was going to bring it up. No matter how pissed off it made her, I was done being her dirty little secret.

That was the plan anyway.

But that’s not what happened.

****

Kristy

The day of the wedding, Lainey decided to keep the bakery open for morning customers, then close at eleven to set up for Jess and Alan’s reception.

So, it was all hands on deck.

Lainey’s employees, Paulina and Marie, worked the bakery while Jade and Brian, Lainey and Adam, and I were supposed to show up at eleven to transform it into a wedding hall. Lainey even recruited Conor’s grandparents, Hugh and Teresa O’Brien to help, along with Rob and Katelyn.

I knew Lainey was stressing about getting everything ready in time to still make it to the wedding, so I decided to show up early to help herd any straggling customers out the door.

Jonathan, the last guy I dated before Justin, stood at the cash register when I walked in. Before I could duck out of sight, he offered me a smile and wave and headed toward me holding his coffee and cinnamon roll.

Crap.

I mustered a smile when I greeted him. “Hi, Jon. How’ve you been?”

“Well, to be honest. I’m a little miffed at you.”

Oh, for fuck’s sake. I don’t have time for this shit.

He sat down at a nearby table, and I knew if I didn’t want the whole bakery privy to our conversation, I needed to join him.

I took a seat across the table from where he sat and placated him with, “And why’s that?”

“You broke up with me because you said I was getting too serious. That you didn’t want a boyfriend. But from what I hear, only two months later, you’ve got yourself a doctor boyfriend. So, was it because I didn’t make enough money, or, because I didn’t have a fancy title in front of my name that made me not good enough?”

Neither, it’s because you’re kind of a douche.

I was fuming and wanted to tell him to go piss up a rope, but there were customers in the bakery. I knew better than to go that route unless I wanted to be the rumor mill’s topic of conversation by noon.

Taking a deep breath, I tried to compose myself before I responded in a quiet, even tone.

“Wow, that was a wildly offensive accusation. Not that it’s any of your business, but Justin isn’t my boyfriend. We’ve gone on a few dates, but that’s it. He and I aren’t in a relationship. I’m still not interested in getting serious with anyone.”

“You’re not?”

“No.”

“So, what would you say to having dinner with me?”

“I don’t think that’s a good idea. There’s a reason we stopped seeing each other.”

“Yeah, but I’ve learned my lesson. I can be casual. Let me prove it.”

Not happenin’, my man.

Lainey came through the swinging doors from the kitchen and stopped short when she saw me sitting with Jonathan.