Page 8 of Accidentally in Bloom

Gray opened it to see a pile of Fox & Forrest Cafe’s famous cinnamon donut holes. His eyes went wide at the powdered sugar heaven.

“I thought they only made these in the fall.” Gray popped two into his mouth and closed his eyes, savoring the melt-in-his-mouth goodness.

Fuck yes—this was like Christmas morning, but better.

“Aaron and Nick wanted to do something special for you. I’m just the messenger.” Nash pointed at someone behind Gray.

Pop, who rarely left the kitchen, hobbled toward their table with a plate of caramel pancakes topped with lit candles.

“This one was Pop’s idea, but I get credit for the candles.” Nash sent Gray a shit-eating grin.

Pop slid a big plate of pancakes with four lit birthday candles in front of Gray. “Happy whatever, kid,” Pop hit Gray on the arm and sent him a sly wink before scooting a small plain hamburger on a napkin under the table.

Gray felt an equal mixture of embarrassment and gratitude. Is this what family is supposed to feel like?

“Candles? C’mon, man. I’m not a teenage girl, and it’s not my birthday.”

Nash stared back at him with an open-mouthed grin. “Now, now. I worked very hard on those two-dollar candles. Blow ‘em out, Roberts.”

Gray rolled his eyes in embarrassment, but smiling, expectant faces stared at him around the diner.

God, he loved this town.

“Jesus, fine.” Gray blew the candles out and heard a smattering of claps. He narrowed his eyes at Nash, who chuckled into his coffee.

“You’re the worst.” Gray tucked into the gooey pancakes.

“Stop it, or I’ll blush. Oh…” Nash pulled out a folder. “Before I forget. Here’s the hard copy of the loan approvals. Congrats.”

Gray grabbed the thick folder full of headache-inducing paperwork. “You’re at least gonna pay for breakfast since I owe your bank eighty grand, right?”

Nash snorted as he speared a piece of bacon. “I’ll pay when you beat me in a one-on-one game.”

Gray leaned back, taking a break from shoveling pancakes in his face. “Can’t. My schedule is crazy this week. We have a new planting of dahlias going in, and I meet with the head of product for Bailey’s Home Improvements soon. Trying to get my stuff in all their stores.”

Nash’s eyebrows shot up, and he nodded with approval. “Wow, those guys are a national chain, right?”

“Regional, but it’s a start.” Gray rubbed his eyes. Pop didn’t have enough coffee in this entire building to combat how tired Gray felt in his bones.

“You guys are expanding like crazy. I don’t remember when you weren’t.” Nash’s face was neutral, measuring Gray.

Gray was ultra-aware when someone was trying to babysit him. He needed to be self-sufficient, no matter how well-meaning his friends and family were. He shrugged and stabbed a pancake. “Work keeps me grounded.”

“You’d tell me if you ever needed my help, right?” Nash said suddenly.

“Why would I need Lord Donnelly’s help?” Gray’s eyes playfully narrowed.

“Gray cut the bullshit. Work isn’t everything. You don’t have to prove anything anymore, you know? Live a little. You work more than anyone I know.”

Gray gazed into his coffee, not wanting to get into it.

“You okay?” Nash’s face now plainly displayed his worry.

Gray busied himself, wiping dirt off his jeans so he didn’t show the emotions clutching at his throat. He nodded and finally met Nash’s eyes.

“Yeah, I’m okay. Thanks for checking.” His skin crawled even admitting that much to his closest friend.

He desperately needed to change the topic away from himself. “Speaking of bullshit, you’ll never guess what happened to me on the drive into town.”

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