Page 51 of The Re-Proposal

Cody sighs. “I apologize for him.”

“And for Erica?”

He studies me. “She needed the truth, Ris.”

“There’s a way to talk to someone, Cody. You broke her.”

“What was the alternative? Let her believe she has a gift when she doesn’t? If it wasn’t me, it would have been the customers who broke it to her. And they wouldn’t have stopped at words. They have lawsuits and bad reviews. It would have affected the entire co-op.”

He has a point.

I know he does.

But I’m too stubborn to admit it.

Besides, he’s so arrogant that it makes me want to argue with him even if he’s right.

“Erica’s dream is to be a baker. It was that dream that allowed her to leave her abusive boyfriend and forge a new path for herself. Just because she’s not the best now doesn’t mean she won’t get better in time.”

“Yeah, but that’s—”

Cody’s phone is now a wailing pitch.

I ease back, slipping into the Clarissa From College. The one who knew she was never the priority. The one who knew that her boyfriend had to leave even if they were in the middle of something important.

“Go,” I say heatedly.

Cody’s eyes linger on mine. It’s clear he doesn’t want to leave, but it’s equally clear that he won’t stay.

“I’ll come back.”

“Don’t bother.” I turn away from him, my resolve hardening. “No matter what, there’s no reason to see each other again.”

* * *

Ms. Phoebe doesn’t mentionanything about Cody’s visit nor does she offer her opinion.

That’s how she is.

She’ll wait until I’m ready to talk rather than prod me for information.

Which is a horrible tactic.

Because now I’m left with the strain of initiating conversation.

Cody’s offer is a big fat elephant stomping around the building. It sits with me at lunch and follows me around while I prepare for the grand opening.

Ms. Phoebe is right by my side, doling out advice on kiosk placements and helping us set up the banner behind the stage. Her knowing looks in between conversations are heavy. She’s waiting for me to say something.

Unfortunately for her, I’ve learned all her tactics.

There’s no way I’m bringing up Cody first.

If she wants to pretend this morning never happened, that’s fine by me.

It’s not until work ends in the evening that she lightly broaches the topic.

“Still no call back from Regitech?” she asks, helping me drag down the shutters.

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