Page 59 of Sweet Rivals

Still, when the donuts were done, the sadness came back. All I had wanted was to share this passion with others. I wanted the freedom to do this all day, every day. I had lost that in the fight with Jared. With him, I wanted to win. I wanted to prove myself. Maybe I could move to another beach town, as much as that broke my heart, it would at least be something.

Chapter Forty-One

At the end of the week, I couldn’t stand my four walls for another second, but I also didn’t want to see another living person. I couldn’t bear to explain my failure or giving up, whichever the case may be. So, I waited for midnight.

TheBakingChick: I’m sneaking out.

PotatoBake888: Jailbreak!

TheBakingChick: Yep. I’m going for a walk.

PotatoBake888: We still on for a movie later?

TheBakingChick: If you are still up.

PotatoBake888: I’ll wait for you.

I pulled open my closet and put on black leggings and a black t-shirt. I wanted to blend in with the night. I stood at my door, ready to go, my cats circling my legs, wondering what we were doing. They were clingy even when I worked full-time, but over the last week, they hadn’t left my side.

“It’s okay. No one will see me,” I promised as I pulled open the door, using my leg to keep them from darting into the hall with me.

I did it.

I was out of my apartment. The lights in the hall felt a little too bright for my liking, so I hurried down the communal stairs and out the front door. I hadn’t planned what I would do once I got outside, but the fresh air felt good moving through my lungs. As reclusive and introverted as I could be, I wasn’t cut out for life indoors. The ocean air called to me.

Loud voices echoed off the houses, so I turned in the opposite direction, which meant I walked toward the bakery.

“I’m not going to the bakery,” I whispered to myself. “I’ll just do a quick stop at the boardwalk so I can get to the ocean.”

When my feet hit the wooden planks, reflecting the white moonlight, I didn’t cross over to the beach. “Liar,” I whispered to myself as I started toward the bakery. “I’ll just peek.”

The stretch of boardwalk stood empty in each direction. Despite residual worry about running into someone, each breath of fresh salty air brought a little peace. Maybe I would be okay.

When I reached the bakery, that sentiment vanished. I blinked back tears. It was the same bakery that I had passed by since I was old enough to walk, but it was entirely different too. Jared’s contractor had installed a new awning that hung over French-cafe-style metal tables and chairs.

“Don’t do it, Jenna,” I told myself even as I approached and cupped my hands around my eyes, pressing my face against the glass. There was just enough light inside to shatter my heart that barely clung to life as it was. It was perfect. It was the exact vision of the perfect beach bakery that had been bouncing around in my mind since I was ten years old. Bright colored stools in pink and teal, comfy mismatched chairs and coffee tables. Cat prints hung on the wall interspersed with local artists paintings. Bookshelves filled with board games and used paperbacks. Edison lightbulbs hanging over the counter. Well-lit pastry cases.

Tears blurred my vision before falling down my cheeks as I tried to blink them away.

“You hate it that much?” Jared’s voice startled me.

I stepped away from the window quickly, almost falling over as I frantically whipped at my face. I wanted the familiar anger at Jared to flood me, but it couldn’t possibly compete with the anger I felt at myself. Instead, I was left with a depression that threatened to pull me under and never let me up for air.

“What are you doing here?” I asked.

“Walking,” he said. “I’ve been worried about you.”

“You have no right to worry about me.”

He shrugged. “That hasn’t stopped me.”

“Of course not,” I said. “Nothing ever stops you. You don’t ever worry about anyone else.”

“Come inside. Let me make you something to eat.”

I shook my head furiously. “No, I can’t.”

“Sure, you can.”

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