Meant To Be (Coming Home To The Grove 2)

I open my recipe idea notebook and start writing a few notes.

Aunt Patty sneaks a peek and sees all the recipes are titled “Scott Might Like.”

“Oh, it’s like that, is it?” she asks cheerfully.

“No.” I slam the notebook closed. “I’m just wanting to do a good job, Aunt Patty. That’s it.”

But that still doesn’t stop Patty from teasing me. All I can do is hope she stops before Scott comes in for his morning coffee.ScottI’m pleased when I arrive at the bakery and there’s not any other customers. Carrie’s already setting my coffee down in front of me before I sit down.

She then sets down what looks like a burrito in front of me. “Try it.”

It smells good, whatever it is, but I really want to ask her out and have that done with. The butterflies in my stomach isn’t something a man my age should be struggling with.

I open my mouth just as Patty comes in the door from the kitchen. “So how did he like it?” she asks Carrie before turning to me. “She made it special with you in mind.”

Carrie’s blush is pretty, soft and sweeter than anything I could buy in the bakery.

“You don’t have to try it.” And she grabs for the plate, but I pull it back just in time.

“I want to try it. It smells really good.”

I pick it up and take a bite, but the whole time, Carrie is rambling about how I don’t have to, but I have to admit I ignore her as I take another bite.

“This is so good, Carrie. What is it?”

She’s watching me closely, and I can tell she’s trying to figure out if I’m telling her the truth or not. “It’s a breakfast burrito, but I remembered you like Mexican so I added some spices to it. It’s got potatoes, bacon, and cheese too.”

Before I know it, I’ve inhaled the whole thing with Carrie and Patty staring at me. Carrie is smiling ear to ear because there’s no mistaking how much I enjoyed it. Patty is looking between the two of us curiously.

I’m not even embarrassed about how fast I ate it. “Can I have another?”

“I only made one.”

I rub my hand over my stomach. “Well, that was the best thing I’ve ever eaten.”

She throws her hand up, waving away my compliment.

I’m just about to ask her out, even though her aunt is in hearing range, when the bell over the door rings.

Deflated, I turn and watch a few people walk in.

I missed my chance.CarrieI help the new guests with their orders but keep looking over at Scott. People keep walking in, and we stay pretty busy.

It isn’t long before Scott waves at me, leaving his money on the table.

I’m pleased he liked the breakfast burrito—and this time, I can tell he really liked it. For just a minute, I thought he was going to say something or ask me out. That’s silly, of course. No one is going to be asking me out.

Like my mom said, I’m a college dropout who is overweight and living with my parents.

Wiping the counter and picking up Scott’s empty plate and cup, I can’t help but hope for that girls’ night to happen soon. I need a pick-me-up.9ScottI planned to be early this morning. Today is the day I am going to ask Carrie out. I’d thought about it all night and I knew that I wouldn’t be able to rest until I actually did it. All I could think about is seeing all the other officers flirting with her, and it takes everything I had to stop myself from going over to her house last night and asking her then. But she would definitely think I’m a crazy person. So the plan was I was going to see her first thing this morning. However, the morning has already gone off course. There was a domestic call that came in early this morning, and there was no way I could let Crawford handle it on his own. Not yet.

When I finally arrive at the bakery, it’s almost ten o’clock in the morning, which is much, much later than my usual time.

I can tell the second she spots me, and I get in line. Her already beautiful face gets even brighter, and the pink tinge on her cheeks brings out her freckles even more. She’s making coffees and rushing around, but I’m not in any kind of hurry. A few people come in and get in line behind me.

I notice the way Carrie tenses up, and I look over my shoulder to see an older version of Carrie. Not as pretty but definitely a close relation.

As Carrie juggles four different orders and mans the cash register at super speed, I overhear who I’m assuming is Carrie’s mother talking about her. She’s talking to her friend standing next to her, but she might as well be on the other side of the room for how loud she’s talking.