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The look he gave me was assessing. But tender. And possessive. It sent a flurry of emotions through my already overwhelmed body, so I gulped and walked over to my grandmother to help her up and tell her it was time to go.

A Few Minutes Prior

I was scared.

That was the beginning and end of my disappearing act with True and Noah this morning. I didn’t know how to sit on the sidelines and not be everything somebody needed, so I ran away. Looking back on it, it was shitty, especially when I remembered I’d promised True breakfast in bed. Somehow, realizing I’d broken a promise to her felt worse than watching her without knowing how to help.

I didn’t fall for people often, and every time I did, it was a mind fuck trying to get out of my own way to enjoy it. Now, I was falling for two people. At the same fucking time, and I didn’t think my compartmentalizing brain knew what to make of that.

After standing in line for five minutes, I moved up and looked at the man smiling behind the counter.

Sincere Davenport.

“Hey, what can I get started for you?” His hand was already poised over the register’s keys, waiting for my order.

“Can you tell me what True usually gets here? I want to get her favorites.” My eyes fell from the chalkboard menu behind the counter.

Sincere smiled, wiping his hands over his blue apron. “Yea, no problem. It’s either the cookie butter or lavender latte when she comes in.”

“I’ll take both.”

All he gave me was a nod. “Hot or iced?”

“Both.”

“For each?” He tilted his head and looked at me skeptically.

“Yea, one iced and one hot for each. I don’t know which one she’ll want.”

A brief frown lit his face before he punched the necessary keys. “Anything else?”

“What pastries does she get?”

It wasn’t lost on me that I was asking somebody else for True’s favorites, and I ignored the pinch of frustration that followed while I looked over the glass showcase of sweets. I vaguely remembered her telling me something about a cinnamon roll. But that didn’t help me when this place had no less than ten different kind.

Sincere slid me an easy smile. “She usually gets a red velvet cinnamon roll, a cheese Danish, or a salted caramel cookie.”

“I’ll take all three.” Noah could eat whatever True didn’t want today.

Once I paid, Sincere went to get my order and I turned to look around the shop, taking in the details. I’d only driven pastthis place a few times, but I’d never been inside. The vibe was mellow and the few customers in here were quietly working.

A staircase on the far left wall led to the second floor and shared a connected space with the bookstore next door. I got that from the sign near the first step. There was an arrow pointing up and it simply read “More seating and books.”

A smile tugged at my lips. I could see why True liked this place. She liked anything cozy.

Dark honeycomb tile covered the floor and part of the walls, the gold grout adding color to the space.

There were small, hand-painted honeybees on every fifth tile and I wanted to know if that was symbolic of something.

I never got to ask because Sincere called across the bakery for my attention. A paper bag and four coffee cups sat on the counter, waiting for me.

He shot me another pleasant smile. “Do you want me to help you carry these to her?”

“What?” My brow furrowed and so did his.

“She’s next door. I saw her walk in a while ago and when I went to take Goldyn lunch, she was still there.”

Oh?