Page 76 of Beachside Kisses With My Enemy

“But that’s temporary.” I toss her a sandwich. “How long do you think you can keep taking cake orders and doing your normal job too?”

She rubs between her eyes, just above the bridge of her glasses. “I don’t want to stop decorating cakes.” Then she sighs. “But maybe you’re right.”

“That’s not what I’m saying. Why don’t you quit your job and start your own business? You’re talented enough, and clearly there’s a demand for it.”

Marilee frowns and doesn’t answer me. She needs time. Silently, we each unwrap a sandwich and take a bite. Mmm. The tangy mayo jives so well with the crisp lettuce and the savory beef. Maybe could use a touch of mustard…

And that makes me think once again of Blake. Is this how it’s going to be from now on? Sweet macaroni, I’m ridiculous. But I still can’t help a small smile from creeping across my face.

“What?” Marilee studies me, her tired eyes still observant.

“Nothing.”

“I thought you came to chat.”

“But we were chatting about you, not me.”

“You’re not going to tell me why you really came over here tonight?”

Ha. The irony. “I’ll tell you if you tell me what you’re thinking.”

She chews, and something beeps over the oven. Maybe the clock. Finally, she sighs. “While I’d like to start my own business, I can’t.”

“Because of the debt?”

“Yeah. And because…Lucy, I’ve already made a mess of my life. This job…I don’t have anything else.”

“Thanks a lot.” I stick out my tongue. “I’m sure Blake and Jordan and all of our other friends would love knowing that you consider us nothing.”

Despite my teasing, she grabs my arm, her eyes wide with regret. “You know that’s not what I meant. You all mean the world to me. But baking helps me feel close to my mom. And what if I give up the only job in this town that allows me to bake for a living to pursue something that might not pay the bills? That might utterly fail?”

I pat her hand. “If that happened—and I’m sure that it wouldn’t—then we would all be there for you. We’d help you get back on your feet.”

“I’m sure you’d do what you could.”

“You don’t sound sure.”

She smiles, but it’s wobbly. “I can’t rely on you all to fix my messes, friend. Blake’s got his own thing going on, and even though I know he’d help pay off the debts, I would never let him. And Jordan’s got enough on his plate trying to run his own business and juggle being a good dad to Ryder, who misses his mom more every day.” Then she swallows. “And someday, you’re all going to have your own families. Even Jordan will get married, and you know that whoever he marries is not going to be okay with him helping out his old pal Marilee.”

I don’t say what I’m thinking—that if Jordan were to marry anyone, it would be Marilee. The guy’s clearly crazy for her, and she’s the only one who doesn’t see it. “All of that may be true, but you know we will never be too busy for you.”

“Not intentionally. But it won’t be the same if you don’t live here anymore.”

The words are ice to my heart. “What? Who says I’m going anywhere?”

She blanches. “I guess I just assumed.”

Wha—? Oh. “You mean because…”

And that makes her laugh, which is a lovely sound. If only it didn’t come at my expense. “Because I assume you and my brother are an item after the way you snuck off to make out like high schoolers on Friday night. And snuck out of the house yesterday morning and were gone all day.”

“I thought you were asleep.”

“I could hear the flirting through the walls.” She shakes her head at me. “Was that what you were coming over here to chat about?”

“Yes! I didn’t want you hearing it from someone else. Or to feel like I was keeping things from you.” I tilt my head. Now for the question of the hour. “Do you…mind?”

“Why would I mind two of my favorite people finding love together?”

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