Page 65 of Buried Dreams

“Already have four new ones starting next week,” I inform her, and she gasps. “I’ve been busy,” I say, and she smiles.

“Apparently, I haven’t been paying attention,” my mother notes. I walk out of the bakery and head back to the food truck, leaving her to get used to the new kitchen. I’m about to text Brock when I hear a knock on the side of the truck and look up to see him standing there. “What are you doing here?” I ask him as he steps into the truck with a smile on his face.

“It’s nice to see you too,” he retorts, and I can’t help but laugh as he pulls me to him. It’s been five days since Saige went back to her mom. Five days and we’ve spent every night together. I was surprised I was able to walk on Monday after spending literally all weekend naked. “Don’t forget I have dinner with Saige tonight.” He bends his head to bury his face in my neck.

“Are you excited?” I ask, and he smiles.

“Do you want to come with us?” he asks again, and I shake my head.

“You haven’t seen her all week long,” I point out. “Why don’t you two have dinner, and then I’ll meet you back at your place when you drop her off?”

He looks at me like he has to say something. “Okay.” He kisses my lips. “We’ll talk tonight.” I don’t say anything, not liking his tone, but also knowing he has to get back to work. I don’t have a chance to say anything to him either when my phone rings. I look down to see it’s the local newspaper I called to place a couple of ads this morning. “See you later.”

I nod at him as I put the phone to my ear. “Hello,” I answer, watching him walk back to the shop.

“Everleigh,” the woman says my name. “This is Amy, and I’m calling you from The Town Chronical. I’m interested in doing a story about the bakery in the next issue.” I look down at my hands. “I’m hoping we could sit down and talk.”

“That sounds great,” I say, looking over at the bakery door and seeing my mother walk out with a huge smile on her face. “That sounds really good, actually.”

Chapter Thirty-Three

BROCK

Me: There is a key under the mat, let yourself in.

I put the phone down as I pull up to Karla’s place. The phone beeps, and I look down to see she texted me back already.

Everleigh: Is that safe to have it under the front mat? At least put it in a plant.

I shake my head and look in the back, seeing Saige get out of her seat and open the back door. I get out and hold her hand until the front door, where she turns around and gives me a big hug. “I’ll see you in two days,” I remind her, and she nods as the front door is pulled open.

“Hey, baby,” Karla greets Saige, coming outside and extending her arms to give her a hug. Saige goes into her arms. “Did you have fun?”

“Yeah,” Saige replies, “we had steak.”

“Sounds yummy,” she says. “Go get in the shower.” She motions with her head, and I smile at Saige.

“Two days, baby girl,” I repeat, and she smiles before skipping into the house.

Karla waits until she’s out of earshot before she turns on me. “I got the lawyer’s letter.”

I nod at her. “I thought we agreed.”

“We didn’t agree on anything. You said I could have her this week. What about next time? What about when you get a hair up your ass about something and take it out on me?” She doesn’t even bother denying it. “I want to make sure that it’s on paper.”

“Whatever.” She turns and starts to walk into the house.

“Karla.” I call her name and she turns back to look at me. “Just so we’re clear, who I see is none of your business.” She spins to face me. “And who I have in my house is, again, none of your business.” She starts to say something, but I hold up my hand. “Before you spew any shit, think about it. People who live in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones, yeah?” I wait a second. “I’m going to introduce Saige to Everleigh this weekend,” I say.

“She already met her,” she throws in my face. “Not that you discussed it with me.”

“Not that I need to explain myself to you, but she met her as my friend. This weekend, she’ll know we’re together.” I might be getting ahead of myself since I haven’t spoken to Everleigh yet, but I want Everleigh to be there with me, and I don’t want to hide the way I feel about her.

“Did you even give us a chance?” she asks softly.

“You knew how I felt,” I remind her. “I never, ever led you on. You knew I loved Everleigh, and I made it clear to you I didn’t think I would love anyone again.” She looks down. “You didn’t care.”

“Well, I guess I made a mistake, thinking I could change you,” she says, turning and walking into her house and slamming the door, telling me the conversation is over.

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