Page 48 of Always the Baker

My chest tightened as I remembered our conversations about her dreams. How her eyes lit up talking about colors and compositions. The way she’d sketched ideas on napkins, full of excitement.

I couldn’t believe I almost let her slip away.

I grabbed my phone, ready to call her right then, but I hesitated. This wasn’t a conversation for 2:00 AM. And maybe showing up in person would mean more…

I tossed and turned all night. My mind raced with thoughts of Billie and her mural. By morning, I’d made up my mind. I was going to see her, face-to-face.

The driveto Jasper Lane felt endless. I cranked up the radio, but even my own songs couldn’t drown out the nervous energy buzzing through me. What if she didn’t want to see me? What if I was too late?

As I pulled into the quaint main street, my heart started pounding. I spotted the sign for her parents’ print shop and tooka deep breath. The town was so small there was literally just one. This was it.

I pushed open the door, and a little bell jingled overhead. The office was cozy, nothing like the sleek studios I was used to. A few heads turned my way, eyes widening in recognition.

And there she was. Billie. Her braids were pulled up in a messy bun, and there was a pencil stuck behind her ear. She was bent over a desk, completely focused on whatever she was sketching.

“Uh, hi. I’m looking for my swe—for Billie Hopkins.”

Her head snapped up. Those dark eyes I’d been dreaming about went wide with shock. The pencil clattered to the floor.

“Brax?” she whispered, looking like she’d seen a ghost. “What are you doing here?”

I tried for a casual smile, but my heart was doing backflips. It was crazy how happy I always was to see this damn girl. “I saw your mural online. It’s incredible, sweetheart. I had to come see it in person.”

The office had gone dead silent with everyone staring at us. Billie’s cheeks lifted as she smiled.

“Maybe we could talk somewhere more private?” I suggested.

Billie nodded, still looking dazed. “Yeah, um, let me just grab my coat.”

As she fumbled with her things, I caught whispers from the people that looked to be waiting for orders.

“Is that really Brax Adams?”

“What’s he doing here?”

I shifted uncomfortably, wondering if I’d made a huge mistake. But then Billie was there, looking up at me with a mix of confusion and hope that made my chest ache.

“Ready?”

She nodded, and as we stepped out into the sunlight, I knew this was exactly where I needed to be.

Billie stood there, eyes wide and searching. Her mouth opened and closed, but no words came out. I could practically see the gears turning in her head, trying to process my sudden appearance.

“I, uh…” It was adorable watching her struggle with what to say, and I had to fight the urge to reach out and touch her.

I took a deep breath, steeling myself.

“Billie, I’m here for the real version of you. Just you. No lies, no games. I want to understand everything and get to know you.”

She blinked rapidly, her shoulders tensing. “Brax, I…”

“Please,” I interrupted, holding up a hand. “I read your letter and the email. I saw your mural. Regardless of why you did what you did, I want to know you.”

“You read it?” she whispered.

I nodded, feeling my heart race. “Every word.”

She bit her lip, and I could see the internal struggle playing out on her face. Part of me wanted to just wrap her in my arms and tell her everything would be okay, that she was mine, but I knew we needed this moment of truth first.

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