Page 107 of Bake You Mine
“Look like it, too, so maybe you take today off.”
A laugh tumbled out of Liam’s lips. “You never encourage me to take unscheduled leave. Especially since I’ve been gone a lot from the restaurant during the competition.”
“I’ve never seen you like this.” He chuckled to himself. “Well, one time. When Sasha colored on your Pokémon cards when we were ten, you cried like your mama told you you were ugly.”
Liam’s shoulders dropped. “I just need a day, man. I’ll have my head on right tomorrow.”
Probably not, but Liam could fake it until he made it.
“Then go. You’ll be no use to us like this anyway, and the time away will be good for Enrique and Lacy. Don’t go holing up in your apartment. Get out of the house if you’re back in time for dinner service, cool. If not, we’ll have it covered, and I’ll feed my main man, Teddy, if I see your car is gone. You have a lot on your plate right now. You’ll make it up to me.”
Liam sputtered a few words before Damon waved them away. “Stop talking and get gone before I change my mind.”
Liam left, grateful to be out of Dodge for a while.
thirty-five
“I thoughtyou wanted to be an astronaut this year?’
“Mom, I told you, like, a billion times, I want to be a figure skater! Or maybe a rugby player!” Daphne rifled through the racks at the thrift store two blocks down from Petit Chou.
They’d signed her up for the girls’ rugby team, but the league didn’t pick up until the new year. Her kid had already asked if Liam could help her practice. Aubrey hadn’t worked up the courage to tell her what had happened. How did you explain something like this to a twelve-year-old? Especially to Daphne, who’d recently seen the collapse of her father’s marriage.
There was no way Aubrey would pay full price for a costume her daughter would only wear at school. Daphne was very adamant that she was far too old for trick-or-treating. Hopefully, she’d change her mind as they got closer to Halloween. Aubrey wasn’t ready to let go of that tradition just yet.
“I wish you could make me a costume. You know how to sew.”
Aubrey stopped at a shimmery bathing suit that could work as a figure skating top. “I do, little bug, butI don’t have the proper equipment. How about this one?” She held up a long-sleeved leotard.
Daphne grinned. “Ooh, that’s perfect! Now we need a skirt and tights.”
Her daughter ran down the aisle, barely missing a pair of elderly ladies. Aubrey apologized for her daughter as Daphne tore past them, but they only smiled.
When Aubrey caught up with Daphne, she’d already picked out a flouncy skirt that perfectly matched the bathing suit top. Once they were back in the van, she bounced in her seat.
“Y’know, maybe I’ll trick-or-treat this year after all. Is Liam coming with?”
“I don’t think so, kiddo. He’s got a lot going on right now.”
She waited for Daphne to press for more information. Instead, she pulled up her tablet and began watching an anime.
After they had unloaded their shopping, Daphne retreated to her bedroom with her homework, and Aubrey got busy making baked potato soup for dinner. Her father, meanwhile, was holed up in his study, likely tending to a task related to his volunteer work.
She moved around the kitchen, preparing dinner. She liked this kind of life—quiet, without much fuss, especially as her work life was set to amp up.
The familiar creaking whine of her father’s study door opening put her on guard. Her father came around the expansive kitchen island, his face grim. His volunteer work wasn’t easy, and it often wore him out. Some cases were complex, especially around the holidays, when many of these vets had no one to turn to.
“Another hard case?”
He pulled out the barstool and settled onto it. “Yes, but I also spoke to Liam today.”
She ceased stirring the soup. “Oh?”
Her father took off his glasses and rubbed between his eyes. “Were you going to tell me you were trying to put some space between you and Liam?”
She exhaled with relief. It made her a coward, but she was glad she didn’t have to break the news. “I was, eventually. I need some time. And as much as he might not want to admit it, so does he.”
He sighed. “Maybe you should talk to Liam instead of assuming you know what’s best for him?”
