Page 13

It was more than her usual anger bubbling in her chest now. This was fury, the need to tear things apart and scream at the top of her lungs. How dare they dangle this in front of her just to pry their way into her relationship? What right did they have to make such a bold claim on her life?

“You’ll move in with me and Gram,” Calvin added, in a frustratingly calm manner. She despised him for it. “There’s an extra room in the house that’s all yours. Originally, I was thinking until the end of the summer, but Gram said it’s yours for as long as you want. You can stay until you’re comfortable finding something on your own.”

“Who the fuck do you think you are demanding—”

“Jess, he’s sucking you dry,” Calvin said. “You’re constantly paying for him for everything.”

“Not everything,” she sputtered, her voice rising. “He offered to pay the rent this month.”

“For what? The first time in four years?” Calvin snipped, his quiet resolve cracking slightly.

“And you’re not happy,” Kevin added faintly.

The fire in her belly fizzled, her anger smothering out. She clenched her fists and closed her eyes, then began her three deep breaths. Deep one in, one. Deep one out.

“Jess—” Calvin started.

“Shut up, Cal, let her finish.”

Deep one in, two. Deep one out.

Deep one in, three.

She opened her eyes, feeling calmer. More like herself. With a quiet resolve, she glanced back and forth between the both of them. “You are out of your fucking mind, and you crossed a line,” she said coolly. “Feel free to find another baker.”

Jess turned slowly, heading for the stairs.

“I don’t want anyone else, Jessica.”

She turned her head, looking over at Kevin. He was now standing, like he was about to come after her. She watched him hesitate before shoving his hands in the pockets of his hoodie. “The offer stands. If you don’t want it, then I won’t go through with it.”

“So essentially, the success of your business falls on my shoulders,” she replied. “No pressure or anything.”

“I can’t guarantee that the bakery would save the business,” Kevin added. “But you’re the smartest woman I know when it comes to this stuff, and I can’t imagine doing this with anyone else.”

She rolled her eyes. “You’ve got your buddy Calvin over here. You’ll be fine.”

“He’s got his own business to run, and he only agreed to help manage this transition so I don’t have to…” He hesitated, looking down at his shoes.

“So you don’t have to move back home,” Jess finished for him.

He nodded, a small section of his honey-brown hair flopping in front of his eyes that were now back on her. “Please,” he said softly. “Please think about it.”

She gripped the railing and glanced down the stairs. “It is a good offer, but what you’re asking of me is too much. I decline.”

She bounded down the stairs, not daring to look back up at the face that was no longer full of sunshine. All because of her.

Jess sat on the couch, a sliver of light from their tiny back patio streaming in through the blinds, and nursed a glass of red wine. She shouldn’t have bought the bottle, but after a grueling shift on the register and stocking shelves, she found herself walking out of Post Road with a bag of groceries in one hand and the cheapest bottle of wine in the other. She was halfway through the bottle now, still in her uniform, letting the sharp tannins coat her tongue as she replayed the offer over and over again in her head.

A bakery, all to herself. Even if Kevin’s offer was outright absurd, she flirted with the idea of what if. What if she had her own spot, a chance to create what she wanted and actually have a say in how things were run? What if she could ditch Post Road and late-night summer shifts at Scoops for a more balanced schedule? Could she do it? Could she work side by side with Kevin every day with his constant smile and all of his frustratingly positive energy? Could she really leave Charlie behind?

Leaving felt prosperous. She was nine years in with Charlie. Nine years. She’d given up so much of herself to be with him, to live this life she wanted. Sure, things were hard right now, but relationships were never supposed to be easy. Things would get better, right?

Right?

She shook her head and took another gulp from her glass, wincing slightly at the sharp, potent taste. It wasn’t anywhere near the best wine in the world, but it was doing the job. Her hands were no longer shaking in frustration. Her mind wasn’t racing as quickly as it had when she looked into Kevin’s eyes, watching them droop with disappointment when she refused his offer.

The front door clicked as Charlie stepped into the apartment. He was still in his work clothes, slightly rumpled from the day. He locked the door behind him and shrugged off his coat, glancing over at the couch and startling slightly.