Page 25 of Enemy Ex's Secret Baby

One more impossibly tremendous bang. Just for good measure.

“— a problem,” I finish sheepishly.

The customer thanks me and scurries out of the bakery faster than I can say “goodbye.”

I sigh. The noise has been pretty constant all day since Drew arrived to fix the mixer. Bless his heart, I know we’re getting the repairs for free, but the man is noisy. We usually get some customers who like to hang around and linger, but as I look around, all the café tables are empty. And I’m starting to get a migraine.

Deep breath, Gillian. Don’t bite the hand that feeds you.

I go to the front door and flip the sign from open to closed. I need a little bit of a break.

I grab a couple cans of sparkling water and an oatmeal raisin cookie and bring it all into the back. Drew is bent over in the corner, his entire back drenched in sweat.

“Hey,” I say.

Drew jumps, knocking his head against the back of the mixer. “Ow! Fuck!”

“Sorry! I didn’t mean to scare you.”

Drew grits his teeth but doesn’t curse me out even though I’d deserve it. “It’s okay, I should have been more careful,” he says, rubbing the back of his head.

I hold up the sparkling water and cookie. “Thought you might need a break.”

He glances at the mixer and then sighs. “I’m nearly done, but yeah. Yeah, that’d be nice.”

With many thanks, he takes the sparkling water, but his sights are set on the cookie. He devours it in less than a minute.

“You want another?”

“No, no, I shouldn’t,” he says sheepishly and then cracks the can open. “Mm. Thank you. Needed this.”

I perch on the edge of one of the metal tables. “Thanks for doing this, Drew.”

He hums. “That’s about the fourteenth time you’ve said that.”

“Well, it bears repeating.”

Drew leans against the mixer and heaves a sigh. “I’m happy to do it, Gillian. Believe me.”

I can’t help the corner of my mouth turning upward in a mischievous smile. “You’re a really nice guy.”

He shrugs. “I’m not all that.”

“Stop, don’t be so modest. I know we’re all grateful Dana has you.”

Drew’s eyes alight slightly. Shit.

“You know, you two are such good friends.”

He looks away. “Yeah. I’m lucky to have her too. Not often your grief counselor turns into your best bud.”

The way he says bud is definitely stilted. I’ve never been truly alone with Drew. I don’t think any of us have been. Other than Dana of course. This could be my chance to get to know him a bit better. Maybe get a read on if he has any feelings for my sister. “Have you ever thought about…I don’t know…”

Drew smirks. “Gillian, you’re not slick, okay?”

My eyes widen. “What do you mean?”

“I’m not an idiot. Well. Not all the time.” He takes a long sip of his seltzer and then exhales. “I see how you and your sisters are always glancing at each other when you’re around Dana and me. And I hate to break it to you, but nothing is happening between us.”

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