“Oddly enough, so do I,” Brandt said. “Come on, let’s see what’s going on in there.”
They opened the door and stepped through to find Remi with both hands planted on the display counter top. “I didn’t know I was going to give them to her when I told you I wasn’t. I saw her unexpectedly when I left my mom’s, and in order to make a quick getaway without having to talk, I said, ‘here, have some coffee and donuts. It wasn’t planned. I didn’t lie to you. I just didn’t know it would happen.”
“It doesn’t even matter, Remi. And you still don’t get it. It’s not that you gave it to her after I asked if it was for her. It’s not even that you can’t focus on anything else if she’s even remotely nearby. It’s the insult to my intelligence that I mind. Do you really think I’m not aware? I’d much prefer honesty to the lies, no matter what the truth is. Stop lying to me! Better yet, stop lying to yourself.”
“Bailey, I love you! Why can’t you see that?” Remi noticed Bailey looking behind him and turned to see who had entered the shop. On seeing Brandt, Lucien and Shaun, he started to growl a bit, but then he happened to notice Cristie and her parents crossing the street to get to the coffee shop. They’d apparently left the steak house across the street and were coming for dessert and an after dinner coffee. And the moment he saw Cristie, he was focused in like she was his target again.
Bailey slammed a pan of croissants on the counter to snap him out of it.
“What?! What was that?”
“Me! And the ‘what’ is you’re doing it again! You can’t come in here and try to win me over, while staring non-stop at the woman you obviously can’t take your eyes off of!”
“Bailey…”
“No, Remi. I’m done. I’m done!”
“You don’t understand what’s happening,” he said defeatedly.
“No, I don’t. And that’s part of the problem. You don’t trust me enough to tell me what’s happening all around me. It all has a direct effect on me, but I’m not worthy of an explanation.”
“It’s not what I want, Bailey. I want you.”
“Do you realize that I can’t even blame her. I can’t even hate her! She’s kind and sweet and if things were different, I’d want to be her friend. Maybe we will be friends one day, but this is alltoo fresh, and until you feel you can be truthful with me, I don’t want any part of any of it or you.”
“Meet me after work. I’ll tell you everything. You’ll see, it’s just the way things are, and no matter what you mean to me, the pull toward Cristie is something I’m fighting against and losing. I don’t want it this way, but I’m starting to think I’m not going to have any choice.”
“How you doing today, Remi?” Riley bit out from just inside the front door. They’d entered the shop while Remi was in the midst of his confusing explanation.
Remi quickly turned and found them standing quietly near Brandt, Lucien and Shaun, listening to their conversation. He sighed and shook his head, in what was clearly defeat. “I cannot fucking win,” he muttered.
Cristie plastered a smile on her face and approached the counter, ignoring everything except Bailey. “Hi, Bailey. I was telling my parents about your amazing pastries and they wanted to get some to take home with us. We’ll be leaving in the morning.”
“Hi,” Bailey said.
“I’m sorry. I tried to dissuade them, but they wouldn’t listen,” Cristie said.
Bailey smiled and shook her head quickly. Her voice when she spoke was shaky, but gradually steadied as she continued to force her way through the situation. “No worries. What would you like?”
“Let’s go with three or four boxes and make it an assortment in each?” Cristie said as more of a question than a statement.
“Make it five so we have some left to take with us in the morning,” Maia said as she joined Cristie at the counter. “Hello, Bailey. I’ve heard a lot about you. You’re a wonderful young lady from all I’ve heard. And so talented!”
Bailey smiled at Maia, genuinely. “Thank you. I really appreciate that.”
Maia smiled at her and they talked about all the different kinds of pastries and donuts as Bailey made choices to fill the large boxes.
“Would you like some coffee for the ride home?” Bailey asked.
“Do you have frozen or iced coffee?”
“She has the most delicious caramel frappes, mom,” Cristie said.
Maia’s eyes seemed to glaze over and she all but started drooling. “I’ll have two, extra-larges, please.”
Bailey laughed softly. “I feel the same way.”
She finished making their order, and filled four extra-large to go cups with caramel frappe and whipped cream so Cristie and her dad could have a cup, too, then accepted their card and rang up the order. Maia signed for the food and coffee and then reached out and touched Bailey’s hand. “I wish you every happiness, Bailey.”
