Page 35 of Sugar Baby
“Hey,” she called sweetly, but I shook my head. If I looked at her, I’d cry. “I love you, and I don’t want to leave you, but this is a great opportunity. I know money isn’t everything, but I’d be head nurse, and you know I’ll never be able to be that here as long as Nurse Rodgers is alive. She’s been the head nurse literally for as long as we’ve been alive. Ain’t nobody getting that position until she dies.”
I laughed as I looked over at her because she was likely right.
“I am proud of you, Rittany, and I want you to excel. I just hate that you have to do it away from me.” Wrapping my arms around her neck, I closed my eyes. “Congratulations on the promotion, bestie. I know you’re going to excel there.”
“Thank you, bestie. And you know, you can always come visit me. And I can come visit you. We might not be able to see each other as often, but you’re still gonna be my sister.”
“How much time do I have you?”
“I have two weeks before I start.”
“Two weeks!” I all but yelled as I released her. “Rittany!”
“I know, I know, but I don’t have a choice. They are providing housing with furniture, and I can’t turn that down.”
“Well, we just have to make the most of your time here before you go. And I’m going to throw you a bomb going away party.”
“Ooh I’m excited! See if you can get Dre’s fine assto come.”
My eyes rolled playfully, and I laughed as she returned to her side of the booth. I saw the way she was eyeing Dre when they randomly pulled up on us at the bowling alley last weekend. My girl wasn’t the type to approach a man though. She’d invite him to initiate something but that was it.
“I got you, sis. I’ll make sure he’s there,” I said, pulling my phone out to text Cash to make sure I didn’t forget. I hated that she was leaving, but I was genuinely proud of her. Just like I was shifting into a new season with my baking, my girl was getting ready to soar too. It would be weird not being able to randomly pull up on her any time I wanted to, but we’d make it work. That I was sure of.
Chapter
Twenty-Two
CASH
Everyone came together to try the menu Sugar Baby had come up with for her soft launch. It was the perfect opportunity for our families to meet. As I suspected, she and Mama got along well from the jump.
I felt like I was in dessert heaven with the ten cookies, cakes, and cupcakes she had for us to try. Instead of just giving it to us to sample and accepting us saying it was good, she had little cards for us to fill out for each item. There was an overall rating scale along with space for us to describe what we liked and didn’t like about each thing. I was so proud of her and couldn’t wait for her to start taking orders so I could make sure the city showed her love.
For now, she still wanted to work out of a commercial kitchen and do popups and deliveries, but the more time she spent near the beach, the more open she was to having a storefront near there. I understood her hesitance because that was the most expensive area to start a business, so if you didn’t have enough clientele, your business wouldn’tlast long. She didn’t have to worry about that, though, because I was going to make sure the doors of Sugar Baby Bakes stayed open forever if that was what she wanted.
Once business was handled, the elders left, and it turned into a little kickback. She and Rittany hooked up some party food and the whiskey and tequila was poured up. With blunts in rotation and the music blasting, I allowed myself to enjoy myself for the first time in what felt like forever. It took me more time and work getting ready to leave the business than it took to start it, but I knew it would be worth it.
“Aww look at them,” Sugar whispered sweetly, taking my hand into hers.
I followed her gaze, and my eyes landed on Dre and Rittany. They were holding hands grinning in each other’s faces as they talked. I wasn’t sure what was going to happen with that since she was leaving, and Dre’s attention span was too short for anything long distance.
“I’d prefer to look at you,” I clarified, taking her into my arms. “Did I tell you how proud of you I was today?”
“Yes, and thank you again. I was so nervous.”
“Not sure why. Everything you created was bomb, Suge.”
“I felt like it was, but I thought it was just because I’d created it.”
She giggled then released the cutest sigh.
“When do you think you’re going to do the soft launch?”
“Maybe this summer. I want to focus on sending Rittany off properly and Reek’s graduation first.”
“I feel you. Let me know if you need help with anything. You know I got you.”
“Actually, I was wondering if I could make somesamples for the next food drive. I don’t expect it to lead to much business, but I want them to have some samples anyway.”
