Nick’s face stays still, his expression hard as stone, but his eyes, his eyes speak loud and clear. He wants more time together. He wants us to keep playing this game where we can be whomever we want in this little town.
We’re tucked away from the world, hidden behind a vale of trees from the city we call home. In this place we’re free to be us. Together.
The front door flies open, and a gust of wind sweeps through the bakery, blowing the paper menus off the counter.
“Surprise!”
We all stand still, turning our heads in unison to the voice at the door. Vanessa is standing with a huge smile on her face, with her arms out wide like we’re all going to run and embrace her.
“Vanessa?” I say her name like a question, even though I can see she’s right there.
“Yeah, don’t act so happy to see me,” she says with a giggle as she drops her bag to the floor and starts walking around the room. “I thought I’d come check out the new place. You guys did such a great job of getting it all set before the big day. I just had to see it for myself.”
She spots Lewis and gives him a pleasant smile. “You must be Lewis.” Holding out her hand, she steps forward to introduce herself. “I’m Vanessa, we’ve talked on the phone, but haven’t had the chance to meet yet.”
“So you’re the big city baker everyone’s been talking about.” He gives her his signature smile and shakes her hand. “Thank you so much for sending these two, they saved the place, they really did.”
“As I knew they would.” Vanessa moves around the bakery, touching everything she can. She picks up the menu and looks at me. “Paper?”
“For now. The original order wasn’t going to make it in time, so I had these made and the new, leather bound menus will be here next Friday.”
She nods, accepting my answer. “And the ovens are all set?”
“Yup,” Nick answers, folding his arms across his chest. “Fixed them myself. There was a faulty igniter on the set. Misty tested them out, and they work perfectly now.”
“Misty tested them?” she asks, unsure how I fit into the equation.
“Yeah, you didn’t tell me she was quite the baker herself.”
Vanessa looks at me over her shoulder, her lips thin. “I thought you hated baking?”
“I do, but I should practice my skills once in a great while, I guess.”
“Huh,” she says, nodding her head. “Well. . .” Vanessa pauses, running a finger across the edge of the counter and checking it for dust. There’s none of course, because I know how she likes her bakery kept, and the expectations she has. “I thought I’d spend the night, maybe do a little sightseeing, meet some of the locals. What do you think, guys? Want to take me around town?”
Nick lets out a gush of air as he smiles. It’s a fake smile, I can tell instantly. He doesn’t want to spend our last night being a tour guide for Vanessa. He wants to spend it with me.
“Uh, yeah, sure, we can do that,” I answer. Because saying no would draw unwanted attention. Doesn’t he realize this?
Vanessa lets out a giddy squeal as she quickly steps to me and pulls me in for hug. “This is going to be so much fun. I can’t wait to see the place.”
I look up at Nick, and he isn’t even looking at me. He’s looking down, disappointment filling his face in the shape of lines across his forehead and a taut mouth.
He sighs heavily and storms off into the kitchen. Our last night together isn’t about us anymore. There’s a third wheel and it’s the one person I never want to hurt.
Lewis takes Vanessa around the bakery, giving her the tour. They sit down at one of the tables and she helps him go through potential candidates for the open baker position.
Nick won’t even look at me. I can’t tell if he’s pissed off or just really upset. He brushes by me, his shoulder swiping mine, and he doesn’t even look up. I don’t know what he wants from me. I didn’t ask for this.
“Hey,” I say softly, trying to get his attention as I split up the menus into piles on the counter. He ignores me. “Hey,” I say a little louder. But still nothing.
He moves past me, shoving the kitchen door open and disappearing inside. Glancing up at Vanessa, she and Lewis are focused on the applications, so I take the opportunity to try to talk to him.
Sneaking into the kitchen, I find Nick leaning over the sink, his fingers gripping the edge of the stainless steel basin so tight his knuckles are white.
“Hey, why are you ignoring me?”
“Why do you think?”
“I don’t know. But maybe you can tell me instead of pretending like I’m not even here.”