Page 41 of Stevie
“Brooks,” she says softly, her face twisted in concern. “Sweetheart, what’s wrong?” Sweetheart. I’ve never had a pet name from a girl. I don’t look the type I would assume. But she’s calling me Sweetheart. It melts me.
I reach out and slip my hands carefully around her waist as I pull her to me.
“I like you,” I whisper into her neck. “So fucking much, baby.” I feel her wrap her arms around me tightly as she pulls my face to look at her.
“What happened?” She asks, and I shake my head. I can’t tell her what I did. I can’t tell her because I can’t have her look at me in fear. Stevie’s face softens as she reaches up and kisses my lips.
“I like you too. Now come inside.” I nod and follow her into the house with a feeling of dread in my gut. I’ve never shot a man before or shoved a barrel in a man’s throat. But with Vincent, there was no hesitation. For Stevie, I would do anything. But my fear is, will this come back on me?
Stevie
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
“So, how are you feeling?” Brooks’ sister, Tyler, asks as she, Spence, and I move around in the kitchen at Nuts About Dough. The cafe is closed, and I volunteered to take them here so we could work on baking Brooks’ birthday cake.
“I feel pretty good. A little discomfort if I move too fast, but I’m happy with the healing time after a month.” Tyler wheels over to our commercial fridge and sighs longingly.
“This would be my dream, just to bake all day.”
“Not me,” Spence snorts. “This is quite literally torture. I would rather buy a pre-made cake.”
“Pre-made cakes taste like ass,” I state as I turn on the standing mixer. “Plus, you get to add all the amazing extras to make this cake perfect for you. Every flavor has a personality. The fun part is mixing them to find what matches the customer.”
“Precisely!” Tyler beams, wheeling back over with ingredients in her lap.
“So, how are things in the piercing world?” Spence asks, and I know my flinch is noticeable.
“I would rather be baking cakes,” I state softly as I hand the mixing bowl to Tyler.
“So why don’t you?” Tyler asks. “It’s not like you have to be a piercer.”
“My mom couldn’t afford me full-time. And while I’m not overly excited to return to full-time piercing, I would miss my friends if I left completely. Though, I might not have much choice if the hate doesn’t stop. I don’t want Hel’s to be dragged into it, you know?” Guilt fills me with the thought of leaving my closest friends but also staying and having them deal with my problems.
“Do you like piercing?” Tyler asks while patting the pans of cake batter against the counter to release the air bubbles.
I give her a half-shrug. “It’s not my dream job, but I love my friends.”
“Your friends wouldn’t want you to do that job if you weren’t happy,” Spence states as she dips a pinky in the batter, causing Tyler to smack her sister away.
“My annoying sister is right,” Tyler says, while trying to blow a fallen lock of hair out of her face. “They’re your friends. They love you and want you to be happy.”
“It’s not that simple,” I sigh as I sit on the stool. I may be feeling better, but I’m definitely not 100%, and any activity wears me out quickly. “If I left, they would have no piercer.”
Spence raises a brow. “So train one, hire one, go part-time, and have limited piercing days.” She waves her hand to stop me before I can speak. “I know what you’re doing, Stevie. This one right here has the same condition.”
“Condition?” I look to Tyler, who gives her sister an irritated look before Spence continues.
“Yeah, you are both chronic people pleasers. You will sit there and be miserable just so that someone else doesn’t have to feel uncomfortable. Perfect example. Tyler here has loved your donut shop for years. Never came in, though, because it’s not wheelchair accessible, and she didn’t want to be a bother.”
“Spencer!” Tyler gasps as her cheeks flush red. Her anger waves her off before pinning me with her chocolate eyes.
“Stop worrying about what others think. This is your life, Stevie. Stop wasting it, pleasing everyone else.” We get back to baking Brooks’ cake, but Spencer’s words replay over and over again, making me wonder, is this life the one I want? And if not, what do I want?
* * *
“Stevie!” Atlas cries as he embraces me. “Oh, my god! We missed you!” I laugh as I pat the man on the arm before looking at everyone, all my closest friends. Well, except for two. Janie and Fox still aren’t back from Florida, but should be soon, and we are all hoping and praying they come back as a plus one. I spot Sadie talking with Nix and wave to the girl.
“Sadie, can I talk to you?” She nods and follows me back to the piercing area, her eyes wide and round behind her glasses.
