Page 18 of Crash

We don’t speak any more about Luke during the drive to the bakery. Instead, we talk about my plans for the semester and graduate schools, whether I should work for a couple of years or enroll in an MBA program right away.

“You should definitely apply. Your grades are good, so I think you have a good chance. You can always defer if you want to work first,” Sandy says to me as she pulls into the back of the bakery.

We walk in through the back door, the smell of cinnamon and sugar causing my stomach to growl. Aunt Gab is in the kitchen, frosting a huge cake, but the minute she sees us, she rushes over and takes me into a hug. We’re the same height, and I look more like her than I do my own mother. We could easily pass for mother and daughter, and I’ve spent most of my life wishing she was my mom. She reacted just as I expected when I showed up at her house yesterday evening, unlike my own mother who stood by in silence as my father put me out of the only place I’ve ever called home.

“Your father is jerk. You are adult now, so you can stay with me.” She talks fast, telling me she will clear out a bedroom for me and how she will get Chris and Trouble to go to my parents’ house and get my things.

“Who’s trouble?” I ask, confused.

“That’s what mama calls Jake. She thought he was trouble when he first started coming around.”

“Do you still think he’s trouble, Auntie?” I ask.

“He is good boy. Deedee, take that box. All the stuff Trouble likes. You can have some too.” Sandy kisses her mom as she grabs a huge box.

“So nice of you to think of me. I have to go, but, Vivi, call me when you’re ready to come home.”

When Sandy leaves, I change into a pair of pants Tash left for me and a long-sleeved tee with the bakery logo on it, and for the next six hours, I fill orders and help with cake tastings.

CHAPTER 6

LUKE

Seven days. That’s how long I’ve managed to stay away. When I left my brother’s house last Saturday, it was with the intention of staying away. With this new fucking job, I see both brothers every day. I even crashed his weekly lunch date with Sandy, but neither one mentioned their permanent houseguest or her date with Blake, the closet gay. No mention was made of Vivienne Chateau at all. No hints. No clues. Nothing.

That was three days ago. Today I find out what the fuck is going on, and there’s only one way for me to do that. She won’t tell me anything. I know that. In fact, I’m pretty sure she will either insult or ignore me, but at the very least I will get a clue. I just need to know what to look for. Thankfully, I have one thing going for me.

“Come on, buddy,” I say as I reach and pull him out of the car seat. I grab the diaper bag Tracy was all too happy to pack and sling it over my shoulder. Travis kicks his legs as we make the short walk inside the bakery.

“Uncle Luke’s going to get you some cookies. Any kind you like.” He claps his little hands as we approach, only to find Steve behind the counter.

“Hey, Steve.” He turns around and we fist bump. We’re the same age and have hung out before, but his idea of fun is being with a different woman every week.

“Luke the Nuke,” he laughs, referencing my childhood nickname. “What brings you to this side of the tracks?”

“I promised my nephew cookies.”

“What kind?” Steve asks.

“Trust me. It doesn’t matter.”

“Cookie!” Travis yells, pointing at a sugar cookie in the case.

Steve reaches in and hands it to him.

“Hey, Steve,” the husky voice reaches my ears all the way from across the bakery. I don’t turn around yet, eager to hear what she’s going to say next. “You want to hang out later? Come to Auntie’s so we can watch those old movies from the eighties. Please.” She whines the please a little bit, exaggerating the word. I picture her doing a fake pout to get her cousin to agree.

“Yeah, that sounds cool. I need a break from the ladies after last night.” He gives me a sly grin and goes to fist bump me again. I pretend to laugh at his joke, but unfortunately for me, there is only one woman on my mind.

“What the hell are you doing here?” I guess she finally noticed me. I don’t miss the shocked expression on Steve’s face at the venom in Viv’s voice, but then he smiles, leans against the wall, and crosses his arms across his chest as if he’s waiting for a show.

I turn to face her, Travis still in my arms. All the fire goes out of her eyes when she sees Travis, who has now made a mess with the sugar cookie. He even wipes a messy hand on my clean, blue shirt.

“Oh my God! Come here, Travis.” She walks over to me, and without so much of a look, holds her hands out to Travis. I laugh when he ignores her and hides his face in the crook of my neck, cookie crumbs from his mouth falling on my shirt.

“Kids can sense evil,” I say to her. She looks from him to me. He finally removes his face from my neck and continues to devour the cookie. Undeterred, Viv goes behind the counter and grabs another cookie. This time a black and white.

She comes back and extends her hand to him. When the little traitor sees the cookie, he practically jumps out of my arms and into hers. With a smug look of victory, she steals my nephew and walks to the back of the bakery.

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