Page 3 of Don't Go Bakin' My Heart Holiday

“Too fast?”

“I… I’m not sure. I mean, it’s been over three months, but…”

“Four months, and yes, I am sure. It’s only ever been you, Percy, and I’m not going anywhere.”

“Can I think about it?” His shoulders slumped.

“As long as you need. But the offer is there. I mean, you did help me choose the place.”

“I know. I do love it. It’s much nicer than my little place. I don’t even know the last time I spent a night in my own bed.”

“So, you’re saying that your place has just become a closet?”

“With about half my clothes in it. The rest are at your place.”

“It’s a big closet. I think they’d all fit. I’d even give you half the drawers.”

“You have a three-bedroom house. I’m sure I could find room,” he snorted. “I’ve never… lived with someone before.”

“Neither have I, Perce. We were just waiting for each other and didn’t even know it.” I pressed my shoulder into his.

“Maybe we knew it a little.”

“Maybe we did. So, you’ll think about it?”

“I will.” He stopped and took my face in his hands. “You know I love you.”

I took him in my arms and kissed him in the middle of the street. I barely remember the mayor’s speech. All I could think of was Percy lying in my arms every night in a home that we both shared.

3

Percy

“We’re glad to have you here,” I nodded happily as I buried my fear in the pit of my stomach. She was young – cute and earnest, but young.

“Thank you. You and Tammy Sue have given me the best gift I could have ever asked for. I love this place and want to go to Paris and pastry school just like you did.” Amber beamed.

“How old are you?” I stared at the young girl with pigtails and couldn’t believe I had just hired her.

“Sixteen.”

I didn’t even remember sixteen. Good grief. “Well… Welcome. Maybe when the dust has settled, we can talk about you sometimes coming into the kitchen and helping out on the weekends.” God, her excitement was infectious. Tammy Sue was right, though. All she would have to do was take orders and sell anything left in the store while we were at the table. If she needed anything, she could text us, and Tammy Sue could run to help her. Our table was only a few storefronts away. It would be fine, or it wouldn’t be. At this point, what choice did I have?

“I would love that. Thank you so much, Percy. I’m really excited. This is like a dream come true.”

“Come with me, Amber, and I’ll show you how to use the register.” Tammy Sue smirked at me. She knew me well and could tell that I was in a spiral of my own making. However, she had no idea what was actually causing me to lose my mind.

Moving in together? Was that smart? Four months wasn’t exactly a year, and a year wasn’t really a lifetime. Of course, I was overthinking it. I did that with practically everything. It was the kind of mind that I had, unfortunately, been born with. I always watched out for the maybes as they tried to mess up my day. But this ask of Ben’s was a lot to process.

Did I love him? That answer was obvious to the entire town – yes, I did, and part of me always had. Did I trust him? Yes, I think I did. I wouldn’t be where I was if I didn’t. Our past was complicated, but he had shown himself to be a man of worth and honesty. It wasn’t about him, though, was it?

I was the problem.

Hi. My name is Percy, and I’m an overthinker and worrier. I also like to dabble in small amounts of self-sabotage when I’m bored. I’m also a bit of a control freak about certain parts of my life. Just knowing that I have a space that is all mine that I can run away to whenever I need to makes me feel safe.

Well, that didn’t really answer my question. I’m also a hot mess. But once again, everyone in town could have told you that. Being a baker meant that I liked things to be precise and easily measured. I was scared, wasn’t I? Love and Ben weren’t in my control. I couldn’t help it.

“You woke up earlier than usual today?” I turned to find Ben sipping one of our large coffees as he stood in the doorway. “Big day?” God, he looked hot. His muscles threatened to rip the sweater right off his body.

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