Page 8 of Always the Baker

I watched as Ember’s fingers flew across the keyboard. Her swift pace reminded me of Bruce inBruce Almightywhen he was typing.

“What if you took a weekend trip to the city?” she continued. Her eyes sparkled with excitement. “Just a couple of days toget a taste of the life you’re dreaming about. And hey, maybe this would be a great chance for you to create a new reality for yourself. Be that version of yourself now so you can know how it feels to be her in the future.”

My heart skipped a beat as I sat up in my seat. Drumming my fingers against my thigh, I considered her words. The idea of taking on a new identity, even if just for the weekend, sounded fun and refreshing. Could I actually pull it off? “Are you serious? I have a job. I have responsibilities. I can’t just… leave. I—”

“Why not?” Ember interrupted, turning the screen toward me. “Look, I found some great deals on hotels. Nothing fancy, but clean and safe. I didn’t put you in the downtown area because they’re usually a little sketchy.”

I leaned in, my eyes widening as I scrolled through the options.

“This could actually work,” I mumbled as a grin slowly spread across my face. The rooms she’d looked up in Rose Valley Hills were just over a hundred dollars a night. They were by the art district, which was between the downtown area and the beach. I couldn’t believe the rooms were so reasonably priced. There had to be a catch. For that price, though, I was willing to risk it.

“Of course it could!” Ember nudged my shoulder. “Come on, Billie. When’s the last time you did something spontaneous?”

I snorted out a laugh. “Uh, never? You know me. And if not never, it’s definitely been a while. All I’ve been focusing on lately is work.”

“Exactly,” Ember said, pointing a finger at me. “It’s time to shake things up. Live a little!”

My stomach fluttered with a mix of excitement and nerves. “My parents would freak if they knew. We’re nearing the end of the fall sale and they’ll need me for the extra weekend shifts.”

“So don’t tell them.” Ember shrugged as she looked her freshly manicured nails over. “You’re an adult, Billie. You can take a weekend trip without asking for permission. If they need that much help, I’ll step in.”

I bit my lip, hesitating for a moment before grabbing the laptop. “You know what? You’re right. I’m going to do this!”

With trembling fingers, I clicked through the booking process. My heart raced as I entered my debit card information.

“I can’t believe I’m doing this,” I whispered.

“Believe it, girl!” Ember cheered as I hit the ‘Confirm Booking’ button.

A rush of adrenaline coursed through me as the confirmation page loaded. The money I had saved definitely came in handy. This felt like a good investment—myself. What better use of the money was there? A weekend in Rose Valley Hills might have been just what I needed to get me out of this funk.

“Sheesh.” I breathed deeply, staring at the screen. “I’m really going to the city.”

Ember pulled me into a tight hug. “This is going to be amazing for you, Bill. You deserve this.”

As the reality of what I’d just done sank in, a giggle bubbled up from my chest. Soon, we were both laughing, giddy with excitement and the promise of adventure. Well, maybe not adventure. The promise of being able to be someone else—someone no one there would know.

I sat up on the couch, put a pillow over my legs, and hummed as my mind raced with possibilities. “Okay, I need a game plan. What should I do in the city?”

Ember tossed me a notepad and pen. “Girl, literally whatever you want. The sky is the limit.”

I tapped the pen against my chin, then started scribbling. “First up, I’ve got to hit that rooftop bar you told me about. Theone with the speakeasy underneath. Or should I doJD’s? That’s the place with the glass flooring and beach view, right?”

“Ooh, fancy, and right! Either of those would be a flex. Do both!” Ember nodded approvingly. “What else?”

“How about a real theater production?” My voice rose with excitement. “I’ve always wanted to see one live. A professional one. Not the high school plays you made me sit through since you were in the drama club.”

Her eyes rolled playfully. “I’m gonna bypass that comment. I love this.” Ember grinned. “Keep going.”

I scribbled furiously. As the ideas poured, my handwriting became messier with each exciting addition. “Shopping at those high-end boutiques, you know, the ones where the celebrities shop. I heard Rose Valley Hills is like a smaller Miami with a lot of black wealth. They have their own strip that has all the best stores like in the Hamptons. Oh! And maybe a trip to an art gallery and the gondola ride.”

Ember peered over my shoulder at what I was writing, as if she could actually read it. When we were in high school, I used to get so tired of people trying to copy my work that I started writing sideways. The cursive was sloppy as hell and kept them from being able to cheat… and it stuck with me this very day. “Damn, Billie. You are not holding back.”

I laughed, surprising myself with how carefree the ideas were. “Why stop there? I’ll add a spa day. The full package. I’ll get a massage, a facial, the works. You think they do mud baths there too? I’ve wanted to try one ever since I watchedSuits.”

“Girl, you’re only there for a weekend.” Ember chuckled. “But I love where your head is at. I say do literally everything you can. You can sleep when you get back home.”

I stared at my list. A mix of excitement and disbelief washed over me. “Is this too much?”

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