“I think it’s…”
“It’s settled then. Once it’s done, we’ll have a nice long chat about how to fast-track your role here in the company. You understand? I already have a lot of money tied up in this, and the financial forecasts tell us that this will be one of our highest-earning properties in the country. A world-class golf course, mountain biking, hiking, and river rafting – make this a... Not to mention the lake that’s just on the edge of what will be our property, Ben. I bet you even swam in that lake, didn’t you?”
“Yes, S… Richard.”
“Then it’s settled. You’ll go home and tie everything up for us. Maybe even make them feel better about the whole thing by overseeing the project. You’re one of them, aren’t you.” Hegrinned. “I’m glad we could have this chat, son. Make us all proud.”
My feet drug as I walked out of his office like a fucking zombie. Foggy Basin… I hadn’t been back there more than a few times since I graduated. My parents hated that I never wanted to… They visited me often enough that I didn’t feel too bad about it. It was just that I had lost myself there.
I became someone that I wasn’t very proud of and didn’t really find myself again until I went to college. There, I became exactly what and who I had always supposed to be. My fear stopped me from being happy with the one person that I ever…
I couldn’t be gay back then. Everyone expected something from me, and the way the football coach used gay slurs taught me that being gay was not what was expected of me. So I hid. I became mean and angry. I hated myself.
I would only ever have one reason to go back there, and I knew that he was no longer there.
Fuck… I liked my job a lot, even if every resort was a carbon copy of the last. I was still good at it, and the pay was more than great. I knew that I would pack my bag and I would do what I was told.
I just didn’t think anyone there would be very happy to see me.
3
Percy
Ireally need to find a new bulk order delivery service. We’re always running out of flour faster than it can arrive. And the grocery store is… nice. But I pay way too much for the amount we use. Next time, I’ll double-order if I can afford it. The money comes in, and the money rolls out. Trust me—the emphasis is on the out these days.
I’ve been thinking a lot about what Tammy Sue said about making the bakery my own. I would love to add some of my favorite desserts, but I’m afraid that people would find them bougie. Would I just be rushing the inevitable end that I’m so afraid I’m hurtling towards if I change things up?
I’m just so fucking tired. And horny. I’m tired and fucking horny. It was a deadly combination.
I haven’t had an actual night of sleep since the moment I signed the papers to take over the ownership of the family business. Can a person function on three hours of fitful sleep spread out over seven hours every night? I’m doomed. I have dark circles under my eyes, and I’m quick to anger because I’mseriously twisted up these days. I knew it was going to be hard, but this was harder than I expected.
Cupcakes. My business survives on cupcakes, special occasions, and large cookie orders. This is not what I hoped for—not what I wanted—but this is what I should have known. It was the way the business had survived for decades. What did I expect? I knew what it was and what I had signed up for. I just wanted more.
“Are you going to put that in your cart, or are you going to continue throttling it to death?” Tim Wallis's smooth, mellow voice washed over me, and I smiled as I turned to find him holding a small basket filled with sugary cereal boxes.
“I could also throw it and knock down that stack of canned goods if you’d prefer.” I smiled back at him. Jesus, he looked great with that military haircut and bulging biceps.
“Oh, are we angry? We could turn it into a game.”
“I live in angst these days, and are there prizes?”
“Just stuffed animals,” he chuckled. “It’s good to see you again. I think we’re starting to make some strange habit of running into each other at the grocery store.”
“Last time, I think you were buying coffee, and this time, it seems you have a very large craving for sugared cereal. Honestly, you should just come into the bakery. That stuff is nothing but preservatives.”
“Kids. It’s all they’ll eat. Ever since the split, it’s like they’re punishing us by being on a sugar rush twenty-four-seven.”
“Sure…” I shrugged. I never knew what to say when people shared their difficulties.
“I’m serious. This is… well, mainly not for me—I mean, maybe a box or two... but it’s really for the kids.”
“How old are they?”
He sighed heavily. “Six and seven, and they totally suck right now.”
“Didn’t we all at that age? We started to figure out the social hierarchy and begin dividing into groups. Kids are mean. I remember that age like a chapter out of Lord of the Flies.”
“Yep. I don’t think I ever realized just how mean we all were until I started watching my own children become savages. Did they actually eat Piggy in that book?” He smirked.
