Page 8 of Playing for Keeps
Caroline parked behind the bakery and scanned the dark area before getting out of the car. Redemption Ridge was a fairly safe place, but with the tourists pouring into town for Christmas, she didn’t want to be surprised by a wandering stranger before daylight.
The coast was clear, so Caroline entered the back door of The Cakery and locked herself in. Bright lights shone on the blush-pink hallway, and clinking and clanking drifted from the kitchen.
Great, she was still sniffling. She slipped into the back room, stored her purse and makeup bag in her locker, and wiped at her eyes. Ugh. Crying was the worst, especially for stupid reasons. Her nose still tingled, and a dull headache pounded behind her raw eyes.
Buck up, buttercup! You’re the face of happiness.
Well, she didn’t have to officially radiate rainbows and sunshine for another three hours, but it might take her that long to pull her joy out of the gutter it fell into last night. She stretched her neck from one side to the other and rolled her shoulders. Four hours of sleep wasn’t nearly enough. Every muscle in her body ached like it did after she attended Zumba classes with Skye.
Caroline grabbed her bright-pink apron off the hook as she stepped into the kitchen. Skye was already kneading the biscuit dough at station one. Her dark hair was gathered into a ponytail that coiled in her hairnet.
“Good morning,” Skye sang, continuing to work the dough on the counter.
“Good morning,” Caroline mimicked.
Skye looked up, and her brows lifted.
Oh no. Skye was like a bloodhound on a scent trail. Having a best friend who was completely attuned to Caroline’s moods was both a blessing and a curse.
“What’s wrong?” Skye paused with her hands around the bundle of dough.
Caroline let out a bone-deep sigh. “I broke up with Conner. Last night.”
Skye’s shoulders fell. “Oh no. I’m sorry… I think.”
Caroline huffed. “My thoughts exactly.” She brushed her hands over her swollen face. “He’s a good guy, but?—”
“But you weren’t crazy about him. Unfortunately, I could tell.”
Great. That stinging behind her eyes returned. She did not have time to cry over a breakup. Those cupcakes wouldn’t make themselves. “Tell me I’m not ridiculous.”
Skye wrapped her arms around Caroline, careful to keep her floured hands out of the way. “You’re not ridiculous. A little strange, yes.”
“Thanks so much,” Caroline whispered. She needed to laugh or the tears that were hanging right around her eyes would spill over.
Skye burrowed her face in the crook of Caroline’s neck, and they sank into the deepening hug. Skye was the best friend and roommate she could have ever asked for. They’d been thicker than sourdough since they could walk, and she was the only friend who knew Caroline’s hang-up with relationships.
“You’re going to find the best man one day. I know God has an epic plan for you. You just don’t know what it is yet,” Skye soothed.
“I know. I just don’t know when it’s going to be the right time. I broke up with Conner because he kept dropping hints that he was going to propose around Christmas. If he asked, I couldn’t have said yes. I just can’t…”
“You can’t marry a sweet, attractive, wealthy man? Sounds awful,” Skye joked.
“It’s not… Ugh. You’re right.”
“I get it. I get it. Look at it this way, your self-esteem should get a good boost. Another sweet, wealthy, attractive man wanted to marry you!”
Caroline chuckled. “Why did you have to bring up the others?”
“Because I don’t know anyone who’s turned down three proposals.”
Caroline lifted her head and wiped her eyes. “Two. I didn’t let Conner have his moment.”
Skye tried to hide her chuckle behind the back of a flour-caked hand. “You’re such a heartbreaker.”
Caroline froze. It was just a word. Why did she want to crush a cupcake every time she heard it?
Skye’s eyes widened. “Sorry. I didn’t mean?—”
