Page 71 of Suddenly Yours

The bakery no longer smelled like smoke and panic. Now it smelled like sugar, butter, and determination.

The ovens hummed steadily, a sound that had gone from terrifying to comforting in under an hour. Trays slid in and out like clockwork. Timers beeped, mixers whirred, and frosting bags piled up like colorful weapons of mass happiness.

Missy stood at the center of it all with her sleeves rolled up and her hair twisted into a messy knot. Once more there was flour streaked across her apron like war paint.

Angry Missy was apparently productive Missy.

Max leaned against the stainless-steel prep table with his arms crossed as he watched Meredith work. “You know,” he said casually, “I’m pretty sure you run a tighter kitchen than the army does.”

Meredith didn’t even look up as she measured sugar. “That’s because the army doesn’t have to bake cupcakes under pressure.”

Max’s lips twitched. “Fair point.”

Brit, who had clearly decided chaos was the best coping mechanism, nudged Ashley with her elbow. “I dare you,” she whispered much too loudly, “to balance three cupcakes on your head.”

She held up a handful of the ruined cupcakes they were about to toss out.

Ashley glanced at Missy, who was too busy piping frosting with military precision to notice. “Five seconds,” Ashley said. “If I drop one, you’re cleaning the walk-in for a week.”

“Deal.”

I turned just in time to see Ashley stack the ruined cupcakes on her head like she was auditioning for a circus act. Rory paused mid-conversation, squinted at her, then shook his head. “I don’t even want to ask.”

Crystal drifted past me holding a small bundle that was smoking. “I’m lighting this for positive energy,” she said serenely. “It’s just sage. We have to cleanse the space of all that bad juju.”

Rory snorted. “Can you also light one for the twenty pounds of flour that died a noble death tonight? I’m trying to figure out how much was wasted so Missy can file a report with her insurance company.”

Crystal smiled sweetly. “Everything happens for a reason.”

“Yeah,” Rory muttered. “Usually because someone’s a jerk.” He glanced over at Missy, who obviously hadn’t heard.

“You wouldn’t be far off there,” I mumbled.

As frosting-filled bowls and cakes lined the cooling racks, the night turned almost… normal.

Once more, I swirled frosting on cupcakes. I was getting really good at it.

There were too many people in the space. Music was playing softly from someone’s phone, and the laughter was bouncing off the walls.

I looked around at the crowded room and realized something important.

Every single person here was invaluable. They were more family than any we’d ever had before this.

Levi thought that he could break Missy. Obviously, he didn’t know her very well.

And he sure as hell didn’t know us.

I leaned closer to her and murmured, “You know, most people would’ve lost it by now.”

She didn’t stop working on piping more colorful flowers on cupcakes as she glanced over at me. “I already cried once in my life over him,” she said quietly. “I’m not doing it again.”

I smiled to myself.

Yeah. Angry Missy was terrifying.

And I loved her for it.

We stayed busy. Missy moved from station to station, totally focused and fierce. Every now and then, I caught her looking around the room like she couldn’t quite believe everyone was there for her.