Once she pulled up into her regular parking spot, she switched off the engine and sat there. For a while, she couldn’t stop thinking about Darren or how good it felt to wake up in his arms. As much as she hated to admit it, she knew it felt natural, like the two of them had never stopped doing it.
With a frown, she reached for her purse, pushed the car door open, and stepped out onto the sidewalk.
The early morning sun was warm on the back of her neck as she stepped in through the back door, only to be met with a loud cacophony of voices and the smell of cake batter and sugar. Sophia ducked into the locker room, pocketed her phone, and tied the apron round her waist. After smoothing it out, she went back into the main kitchen, where Valerie stood at one of the counters, bragging about her latest work.
Sophia did a double take when she realized it washercake design that Valerie was taking credit for.
Heat rose up her neck and cheeks as she pushed her way through the crowd of admirers until she was facing Valerie directly. The blonde stood up straighter, tossed her hair over her shoulder, and gave Sophia a withering look.
“No need to push other people aside. You can get the same view as everyone else.”
“I don’t need it,” Sophia told her, her mouth tightening around the edges. “Because that’s not your design, Valerie, and you know that.”
Valerie snorted. “I always knew you were jealous, Sophia, but this is taking it too far.”
“You’rethe one who’s taking it too far.” Sophia gestured to the cake and took a step forward. “If this is your design, then how come you used regular half-and-half milk when everyone knows you’re allergic? Or how about the fact that I use chilled eggs, which everyone knows is my thing?”
“I—”
“Mostly, I just want to know why you signed my initials in small letters at the bottom if it’s your design,” Sophia finished with a triumphant look. She pointed to the cursive at the bottom and folded her arms over her chest. “As our future manager, I really think that claiming credit for someone else’s work is starting off on the wrong foot.”
A murmur rose through the crowd as Valerie stomped her foot and scowled.
Then Nora emerged and shooed everyone away.
When they were gone, she pointed a finger at Sophia and beckoned her into the office. There, Nora waited until the door clicked shut, and she was sitting behind her desk before clasping her fingers together and eyeing Sophia over her spectacles.
“That might’ve been a little harsh, but she shouldn’t have been acting like it was her design,” Sophia began after a lengthy pause. “I’m sorry.”
“Sorry? I called you in here to tell you that you did the right thing. I know you and Valerie don’t like each other, so I’m glad you were able to stand up for yourself.”
Sophia blinked. “Thank you.”
Nora removed her spectacles and began to polish them. “I know you’ve expressed no interest in the position, but I thinkyou should consider being my successor instead of Valerie. I’ve been watching you the past few weeks, and I was wrong. You’d be well suited for the position.”
Something inside of her grew and unfurled, something low and pleasant and unfamiliar.
It felt good to know she hadn’t been overlooked after all, like maybe she wasn’t as useless or as hopeless as she believed.
Nora had no idea how much her words meant to Sophia, who’d spent the past few weeks floundering and feeling like she was never going to be able to find solid footing.
No matter what she decided to do moving forward, it felt good to have that.
She’dalwayshave that.
Sophia swallowed past the lump in her throat. “I appreciate the vote of confidence, but I’m not sure I want to take over someone else’s bakery. I kind of thought I’d own my own bakery someday.”
Nora placed her glasses back on her nose, her hazel eyes full of warmth. “That’s fair enough. I don’t need your answer today, anyway.”
A few hours later, Sophia was still thinking about Nora’s offer when she began the walk home. With Zoe dropping by to borrow the car, Sophia enjoyed the opportunity to stretch her legs and inhale the warm breeze that drifted past her.
Until she heard a pair of footsteps linger behind her.
Sophia frowned and quickened her pace, hearing the person doing the same. Then she broke into a sprint and shoved her hand into her purse, quickly finding the pepper spray. By the time she made it back home, Sophia was gasping, but she was all alone. As soon as she stepped in through the front door and saw Darren at the stove and her father at the kitchen counter, the knots in her stomach unfurled.
Teddy greeted her with a bark, and Sophia’s earlier paranoia drifted away.
With a smile, she left her purse and shoes by the door and joined them in the kitchen. Darren handed her a glass of wine with a warm smile.
