“I’ll take a few of each. What about Cy?”
I looked up from the case. “I thought Cyrus was in Chicago.”
April had been bending down to get her purse from the back of the stroller, but jerked up looking at me in surprise. “He got back sometime over the weekend. You didn’t know?”
I shouldn’t have felt pain at learning that, but I did. He was back and hadn’t come by or called.
I shook my head and tried to act like it was normal that I wouldn’t know his whereabouts. “He likes the peanut butter chocolate.” I hoped my voice sounded normal as I got the cupcakes and put them in the box.
“I’d have thought since you two—”
“That was just a one-time thing.” Well, two but there didn’t appear to be a reason to share that. Afterall, we’d decide to be friends. “He’s got more important concerns than keeping me up to date.”
April sighed. “Poor guy. He’s a wreck about his mom but trying to act all stoic.”
Now I felt guilty for getting hurt when he was dealing with so much. He had more important things to worry about than me.
“Do you know his mother’s prognosis?” I asked, closing the box with the cupcakes and taping it shut.
“I don’t have details. I just know he’s worried. Jude says he might return to Chicago and work remotely.”
My gut clenched. Cyrus was leaving for good? “Is there anything I can do to help?”
She studied me. “I don’t understand. If you and Cy are close enough friends to sleep together, why don’t you just call him?”
God, now I sounded like an insensitive bitch. “I hadn’t wanted to bother him or interrupt him while he was with his mother.”
Bertie let out a wail.
April sighed. “This kid goes from happy to demanding in an instant. I should go.”
“You can feed him in my office if you like.”
She shook her head. “Nah, I’m going to take these to the office and I’ll feed him there.”
“Give Jude and Maya hugs from me,” I said as I gave her the box and she paid me.
“You need to stop by the house and get them yourself. Soon, okay?”
“Yes. Soon.”
When she left, I kept my mind and hands busy to keep from closing the shop and heading to see Cyrus at the office. My feelings were a whirl. I was hurt and angry that he hadn’t called or come in now that he was back. We were friends, damnit. But then I felt guilt at being angry. It was selfish of me to be upset. He had a lot on his mind. Too much to think about my feelings. Not only that, but I was a terrible friend. Why was I waiting for him to come see me? He was the one with a mother who was ill. I should be a friend to him.
I closed up the shop fifteen minutes early, filled another cupcake box with all the peanut butter chocolate I had left, and walked down to Cyrus’s office.
Dina was putting on her coat as I came in. “Oh hey. More cupcakes? April brought some earlier.”
“This is more of a care package for Cy. How is he?”
She shook her head. “Poor guy. Scary stuff. He’s still back in his office. I’m off.”
“I can just go back?” I asked.
“Yeah sure. He’s been working non-stop since he got back on Monday. He could probably use a break.”
Guilt filled me again that I’d been upset that he hadn’t let me know he was back. “Thank you Dina. Have a good evening.”
“You too. I’m going to lock the door since he’s the only one here.”