Page 10 of The Longshot

It was fail proof, yet one caveat remained.

Simon.

He knew my parents.

He was close with my parents.

How could I cut the ties between the three of them without unveiling the truth?

It was simple.

Tell my parents that Simon and I had broken up, but when I did announce it, they didn’t take it lightly.

“Why would you guys break up?”

“You were ‘perfect’ together!”

In an attempt to mask the truth behind our split I murmured out another instead,“Simon and I just aren’t right for each other,” I tried to explain. “We’ve changed. We need to take a break.”

I gave my parents little opportunity to debate my intentions as I coldly ended the call, blaming my abruptness on my “busy” school schedule.

They understood.

Like I said… school is everything to them.

And so here we are. It’s been three full weeks since I moved in with Ruby and thankfully, throughout this time, Simon's un-godly efforts to track me down on campus have remained unsuccessful. My roommate Holly, who I too had to trust to keep my whereabouts a secret said he’s been going mad trying to get a hold of me. Yet, while he’s been going off the charts, I’ve been here. Settling into my new routine. My new life in Crawley.

I’ll admit, I didn’t think my “new life” would mean helping to open and close Ruby’s Bakery every day, but hey, even though I’m mopping flour up from the floor and busting my ass off in a kitchen, I’m exactly where I need to be.

Away from Simon.

I wring out the mop through the bucket, draining the clouded water before I place it back into the storage closet. Stretching my arms out wide I let out a tired yawn, craning my neck from side to side. It’s only mid-afternoon, but I’ve been here since half past three this morning to prepare.

I’m about ready for my mid-day nap as I go to loosen my apron from behind my back, fiddling with the knot when all of a sudden a pounding rattles through the front door.

I stumble backwards and my mind immediately spirals to the worst.

Simon.

He’s here.

He’s found me.

What am I going to do?

I tuck myself into the kitchen, hiding from plain sight. The pounding of my heart is now the only sound that consumes my mind until all at once I hear an unsuspecting voice call out, “Hello? Is anyone there?”

The voice is full of desperation.

“Please. I need a cake!”

A rush of relief washes over me.

From the tone alone I know it’s not Simon. But another clear indication? The fact that Simon would never say “please”. Yet, even with that sliver of reassurance, I still can’t place the voice.

Reluctantly, I not-so-subtly peer out from the kitchen, an action that the man standing at the front entrance seemingly takes full notice of.

“Oh, thank Christ.” He rests his forehead against the glass, hands perched up as he peers in. “I was worried that no one was there. Can you let me in, please? I really need a cake.”

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