Page 5 of How Sweet It Is

He slides the glass back in place then turns to me. He takes one finger and pushes the sign that reads “We accept all major credit cards” so it sits askew. He folds his arms and stares at me.

I know what he’s doing, and I try not to let it bother me. It’s just a sign. It can sit crooked. It doesn’t matter. But my eyes won’t stop glancing at it. It’s wrong, and it claws at my insides like a dissonant chord playing, unresolved, making my muscles tighten. I hate that it’s bothering me, but I can’t help it. I try to let it sit, but finally, I reach over and fix it.

Pretty Boy laughs. “I knew it.”

I turn from him. “Shut up. You don’t know everything about me.”

He stills. “You’re right. I don’t.” He says it quietly, and my blood freezes.

Is he still suspicious of me? I can’t believe that he heard me talking to Rafe on the phone. Stupid. I need to be more careful.

I turn back to him, expecting suspicion on his face, but his gaze holds no harsh edges. The way he’s looking at me is laced with curiosity, like he wants to know more about me. But that’s ridiculous. He’s not like that. He’s all surface, a shallow pool of water, glittery and fun but with no depth.

I expect him to leave, but he doesn’t. He just stands there. “What?”

He shifts his weight. “How was it?”

I don’t know what he means until his gaze lands back at the spot by the register where I had the cupcake sitting. As he waits for me to answer, I realize he’s nervous to hear what I thought of it. I can’t be snarky to him. He looks too vulnerable right now. I smile. “It was delicious.”

His eyebrows fly up in surprise. “Really?”

“Yes. I loved it. You’re fantastic. Now go away before you get too full of yourself.” I shove him toward the kitchen. He disappears behind the doors, but I hear his laugh from the other room. It’s a deep laugh that rumbles in his chest, and I love the way it sounds.

The door chimes, and Kiera comes in. She looks so much like Kiki, it’s easy to see the family resemblance. She’s wearing a tank top and cutoff jeans and has her hair in two low pigtails. It looks cute on her.

“Hello,” I say as she walks up to the display case.

“Hi.” She stares at all the treats behind the glass.

“Is it hot out?” I ask, knowing the answer already. I hate small talk, but I’ve learned that standing there not saying anything to a customer is considered rude behavior.

“Ugh. It’s terrible. I feel like I’m melting.”

“At least August is almost over. Fall will be here before we know it.”

Kiera nods politely. “Yeah.”

I let her walk back and forth, taking in all of Levi’s creations, before asking, “Do you want me to get you anything?”

She checks the price sign. “Do you guys have any drinks?”

I shake my head. “No.”

“You should sell drinks. The bakery back home sold Italian sodas, and they put whipped cream in them. They were really good. All the kids would come in and get them then hang out and talk.”

I look out at the tables and chairs Levi set up that no one has used today. Kiera might be onto something. “That’s a good idea.”

She smiles. “Thanks.”

“How’s school so far?” I know school has just started, but from what I heard, Kiera just moved here, and moving during high school has got to be a challenge.

Kiera shrugs and looks at the floor. “Fine. I mean, it sucks, but school always sucks, right?”

I nod. She’s not wrong. “Yeah, school sucks. Have you made any friends?”

Kiera shakes her head. “No.”

And now I feel terrible for asking. Nice one. I totally get what it’s like feeling like the odd one out. While I always had Zoey in school, we weren’t part of the cool crowd, and pretty much everyone else ignored us.

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