Page 13 of Fall at Once

Chapter 5

Madi

Along with her house, Gigi’s Cozy Creek Confectionery was my favorite place to be. She’d been in this location on the corner of Creekview and Main Street since I was born. This was more than just a place to buy sweets or order a birthday cake. It was timeless; traditions began here. People came here year after year to order birthday cakes for their children, holiday pies for their parties, or cookies and candies for a quick treat to add cheer to their day.

Gigi had created a gathering place where locals and newcomers always felt welcomed. You could stay awhile, catch up with friends, enjoy a hot cup of tea, and relax with one of Gigi’s famous chocolate chip cookies.

Early morning sunlight shone through the floor-to-ceilingplate glass windows lining the front of the stately brick building. I smiled to myself as I took in the way their rays twinkled through the white etched logo that emblazoned the store’s name wrapped around an adorable cupcake.

I’d left Gigi at one of the sidewalk tables to sit with her friends while I headed inside. She said she’d catch up after she said hello to them, and I was glad. I needed a moment alone to get the melancholy and nostalgia out of my system.

I’d grown up begging my mom to let me spend my weekends here with Gigi, and she had usually let me. Only in the last few years had I spent less time here, and I regretted it. I’d missed it here, and I hadn’t realized how much until we had pulled into her parking space out front.

Sure, there were plenty of weird things about small towns, everyone knowing my business being at the top of the list. But there was a lot of good stuff, too. People cared. Last night, I’d spied a stack of casseroles from her book club in her fridge. Having neighbors like Cole, who were willing to pick up a random relative from the side of the road, was on the list, too. She had loads of help before I had even arrived in town.

I recalled learning to bake at Gigi’s side, decorating pastries and cakes, making candies, and every treat you could imagine. I could run this shop if I had to, and in my secret dreams, I hoped one day I would. Memories washed over me as I moved through the shop, outweighing the negative aspects of small-town life I’d thought of when I was stuck in my car.

My heels clicked over the rustic wooden floor as I woundthrough the bistro-style tables and chairs toward the display cases and service counter in the rear. Each round table was decorated with various differently colored rosebuds in tiny hand-blown glass vases atop a crisp white tablecloth. It was as gorgeous as ever in here. Gigi had somehow combined the sophisticated charm of a French café with the casual warmth of a small-town diner. It was as cozy as it was gorgeous.

The scents filling my senses were familiar and heavenly—vanilla, spices, chocolate, and fresh-baked bread—if I could bottle the smell and sell it, I’d be a billionaire.

She started as strictly a confectionery, selling various candies and sweet baked goods, but later added fresh bread and other types of pastries to her ever-growing and changing menu.

Over the last few years, she’d added protein shakes and breakfast sandwiches to her repertoire. Now, she was the unofficial breakfast stop for the Cozy Creek Fire Brigade, much to the delight of her older and primarily female early-morning patronage. It was a win-win, she had informed me. Her friends now had eye candy to accompany their tea and scones, and the fire brigade had another place to hang out aside from Bookers Pub.

I froze when I spotted Cole and his brother Tate at one of the tables with breakfast sandwiches and protein smoothies in front of them. They each wore that loose-fitting tank top over tight jogger pants and baggy shorts combo that was popular lately. I watched him, mesmerized. His thick, muscled arms flexed as he raised his shake to take a sip. I bit my lip as his luscious, completely kissable lips wrapped around his straw, and the last tracesof sweat ran down his temple.

Say good morning, stupid. Don’t just stand there staring at him.

Cole looked up as I got closer and smiled at me.

Why did I have to find him so attractive?

His brother was equally good-looking, but I didn’t care one bit about him.

My knees wobbled as I slowed, hesitating to get any closer, so much for my determination to steer clear of him.

“Good morning, Cole. Hey, Tate.”

“It’s been a while. How’s it going?” Tate’s sympathetic smile made me cringe inside.

Did everyone in town know about my pathetic breakup?Probably.

I sucked it up and plastered a huge smile on my face. “I’m good, thanks. I’m just happy to be here to help Gigi?—”

“Mornin’, Madi.” Cole’s gaze was as soft as a caress. My feet drifted ever closer to his table as if every time I saw him, the pull would be stronger. I had to fight the startling urge to jump into his lap. “Are you working today?”

“No, I’m just here to get reacquainted with the place. I haven’t been here baking with Gigi in ages?—”

“Hey, girl.”

“Kenzie?”

I spun, thrilled to find my cousin Kenzie behind the counter. It didn’t matter how much time we spent apart. She was the kind of person I would always be close to. We’d spent our lives picking up right where we left off. Distance didn’t matter when it came to Kenzie. She would always be my bestie. Us being cousins wasjust a bonus.

She was practically my twin with her long chocolate brown hair and heart-shaped face. But she had green eyes lit from within with her naturally effervescent joy instead of brown like mine. She was full of mischief, too, like right now, as she spun in a circle and waved at me with both hands. She wore white slacks, a white button-down shirt, and the shop’s official pink and white checkered apron. She clearly worked here.

“Kenzie! I didn’t know you worked for Gigi! Why didn’t you tell me?”

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