Page 85 of Sugar Coated Secrets

“If I did or didn’t, it’s none of your business.”

“You’re right,” she says, “but still…”

My eyes widen as another customer enters.

“Fine,” she grumbles, turning to help them with their order.

The doorbell dings again. I look up, and my heart drops as Summer waltzes in like nothing has changed since I last saw her. She is still beautiful despite her stuck-up personality that circles her everywhere she goes, looking beautiful with her perfectly styled blond hair, tailored designer clothes, and expertly applied makeup.

“Oh, hey, Dulce. It’s been a long time,” she says, giving me a fake smile like we are old friends.

“Not long enough,” I mutter to myself. “How can I help you, Summer?”

I’m surprised to see her. She moved out of town after graduation. Is she here because of Ford?

“Still mad?”

I want to throw sand in your eyes.

Instead, I plaster a fake professional smile. “I’m thrilled to see you."

“Are you sure? It was just high school.” She waves her hand. “It’s supposed to be like that.”

“Funny, I don’t remember it that way,” Katie says, giving her an unfriendly smile.

Summer looks at the menu board above as if she is deciding what to order and ignores Katie’s last remark.

She didn’t come to eat or order anything.

“What do you want, Summer?” I ask, my restraint running thin.

She sighs. “Fine. I heard…”

“Ford?” I interject.

“Yes,” she says with a bubbly smile that I would love nothing more than to smack off her face. “It’s why I’m here. I’m having lunch with him.”

My heart drops. He wouldn’t.

I swallow the hurt rising in my throat and ask, “Then why are you here?”

"I want to apologize for what happened on prom night. I overheard what happened, and I’m sorry. No one thought they would leave you…”

I blink, trying to forget. Her words fading.

Images of blood on my hands. So much blood dripping in a pool at my feet.

I blink the memory away, her face coming back into focus.

“Kind of late. It was four years ago,” I tell her, hating her more with every minute she stands in my bakery. I want nothing more than to kick her out, but I can’t because her father is the mayor. She could destroy my business.

“Time flies, doesn’t it?”

"It does, and there are some things one would rather forget." I glance at her hand, hoping to find a ring, but come up empty. Hoping there’s another reason as to why he wants to have lunch with her.

She smooths her salon-dyed blond hair. She is beautiful. Of course, he would have lunch with her.

He didn’t stay with me last night. He didn’t kiss me goodbye after he drove off after following me home. Her being here is a punch in the gut. A bucket of ice-cold water freezing my heart.

---