Page 21

“ Hello, Sora. Did Shelby send you on a supply run again?” Alvin, the owner of the town’s supermarket, smiles in greeting.

His white beard moves like feathers on his face.

He has a kind way about him and his tired lines hold stories from his youth.

I bet he has a dozen grandchildren who play in his backyard. He radiates a warm, sweet grandpa.

“Morning, Alvin. And you know Mrs. Stevens. I’ve been trying to convince her to start a proper inventory list. But we know how stubborn she is.” I wave a hand in the air, heading for the baking aisle. I’d love to stop and chat with him, but I’m in too much of a rush.

Another busy day at the café but it's beginning to be too much for Shelby and her husband to handle, I’m afraid.

She needs to change her ways of keeping inventory as well.

We frequently run out of ingredients. I try to help the best I can, but sometimes it’s not enough, and I am becoming a daily customer at the supermarket.

Thank God Alvin warmed up to me and I honestly think he looks forward to my drop ins.

He said I remind him of his daughter. And he reminds me a bit of what my father would be like if he were still here.

Sugar and flour. That’s it. Grab them, check out, and get back to helping Shelby with the lunch hour.

As I browse through the baking goods, my mind drifts to Logan.

Will he show up today for his usual, or have we pissed each other off too much?

He hasn’t been to the café all week. Upsetting him about his father was one thing, and then the lake incident happened.

The recollection of my bra hanging by his fingers makes my face burn in embarrassment.

The lace material was on full display. But I don’t have the mental capacity or time to worry about his childish games. Besides, he can’t avoid me forever.

I plop the last item into my basket, then round the corner, stopping when someone blocks my path. “I’m sorry…”

It’s Claire. The unfriendly bitch from the festival.

The one who couldn’t keep her hands off Logan.

Her long-kept waves hang over her shoulders and her makeup is picture perfect.

She is stunning, if I’m being honest. But she is also the definition of a mean girl.

Turning into someone like her was a fear of mine being in Jason’s world.

Her big eyes glare at me in hate.

“Excuse me,” I say quickly, trying to get the hell away. I go to step around her, but she mimics my move.

Ugh.

“So, you and Logan have been seeing each other a lot lately?” The snarky attitude drips from her, and she’s obviously jealous of me and him hanging out, if that’s what you call it. If only she knew that Logan kind of hated me, then she wouldn’t be so angry.

“He’s my neighbor and kind of hard to miss.” I eye the checkout counter noticing the line growing longer.

“He’d never be interested in a woman like you.”

Um. Wow.

My attention shoots back at her. “You don’t even know me.”

“I know your kind. You come out of nowhere sinking your claws into good men like Logan, and then you fuck him over. Just like his ex.”

All I can do is hold a blank stare as she verbally attacks me.

Here I am holding flour, sugar, and a pack of gum, getting talked down to by a woman I do not even know.

“Look. Claire, is it? I’m not sure what happened to Logan and his former partner, but I can assure you, I’m not out to hurt him.

” The unyielding in my tone should be enough to convince her to back off.

Claire knows nothing about my past. My former life. She shouldn’t be judging me just because I’m an outsider.

“Logan is one of the few good men left in this town. Just stay away from him.” Her voice holds a sadness in those words, and I almost feel bad for her.

Almost.

She spins, practically taking out Mrs. Clark, the jewelry store owner, then leaves. Mrs. Clark passes me a knowing smile and a wave before dipping into an aisle.

Can Logan fall for a woman like her?

I take a couple of seconds, letting the shock wear off before placing my things on the checkout belt.

“Pay no attention to that one.” Alvin gestures in the direction Claire left in. “She’s had a crush on our Logan forever.”

Our Logan. He must be beloved in Sunlight Creek.

Smiling is all I manage. Not knowing what to say. Logan and I are nothing. Not even sure I can call us friends at this point. Acquaintances are more like it.

Still… the idea of him and Claire makes my stomach roll.

I quickly make my way back to the café, not stopping for anything. Especially crazed women who want to verbally attack me. I was gone far too long, and the lunch hour rush has already begun.

I help Shelby up front before whipping up a quick batch of my brownies, topped with chocolate drizzle and a misting of powdered sugar.

“My goodness. I can’t believe how slammed we were today.”

I tuck a piece of loose hair that has fallen back behind my ear and hang my apron over the hook.

“This is definitely one of our busier afternoons.” Though most days are busy.

I clear my throat. “Um, Shelby… ever think of hiring extra help? I know money is tight, but if you can manage it, it might not be such a terrible idea.”

She contemplates the suggestion. “Well… business has picked up a lot and I suppose we can afford it now.” With a sigh, Shelby finally agrees. “I guess hiring a front employee wouldn’t be such a bad idea.”

Oh, thank God.

I don’t mind helping, but I really want to put my full attention into baking. That is my job.

“You won’t regret it.” I smile, placing a hand on her shoulder, her patting the top of it in return.

After my shift, I take in the scent of the fresh summer air as I walk down the sidewalk to my car.

It’s another scorcher today, but the air feels lighter, more at home recently.

Each day it grows easier, like this is where I’m meant to be and meant to stay.

I can sense it. But I’m trying not to get ahead of myself because when something great happens, something bad happens in return.

Back at Lana’s, I fill her in on what happened with Claire.

“I always hated that bitch. It’s weird how obsessed she is with him. He wouldn’t go for her, anyway. Not in a million years.”

My insides smile at that. “Why wouldn’t he go for her?” And why am I happy about it? I just don’t want him to be with someone like her.

Lana puts a dab of mustard on her salmon burger. “For one, Claire is not his type.” She pauses, then swallows a bite. “And two… come to think of it, I haven’t seen Logan with anyone since Charlotte.”

Curiosity stabs its sharp teeth into me. “Who’s Charlotte?” I lean forward, itching for the details. She must be the ex-girlfriend Claire was talking about.

“Her and Logan were pretty serious. She was around for about a year before well, she wasn’t. Ended kind of sudden.”

My shoulders sag and curiosity roars through me. “Was she pretty?” Where did that come from? Though I nibble at my lip, waiting to find out.

Lana raises a curious brow. “She was. But don’t worry, you are way prettier.” She takes a drink from her, I love my cat , mug. Lana doesn’t even have a cat.

Heat rushes to my face. “That’s not why I’m asking.” Of course, a lie. Wondering what she looked like is eating me alive. I mean, to be with Logan, she’s probably drop dead gorgeous. Even though that sounds shallow, and Logan is a good man.

“Sure.” She smirks while stretching back in the chair.

Time for a subject change.

“At the studio all night again? I didn’t hear you come home last night,” I ask.

Lana yawns. “I wanted to finish my painting, so I just crashed there.”

She’s been spending a lot of time at the art studio. It makes me happy she has something to be enthusiastic about. I guess I found that too in baking again.

“Hey listen. Don’t bring up Charlotte to Logan. I know the town talks, but no one really knows what happened. Just that it ended pretty badly and messed him up good.”

A rush of sadness runs through me. “Of course. I won’t say anything.”

Lana nods. “Good. The town has finally stopped gossiping about it after nine months, and I’d hate to stir that pot again.”

Okay. So, this is a recent breakup. Fresh wounds. Did he still love her? I have so many questions.

“All right. I’m going to go shower. Do you want to hit up the pub tonight?” Lana pushes her chair in, and I hesitate to say yes because the thought of large crowds still makes me nervous.

“Yeah, why not.”

Lana heads upstairs and I think about Charlotte. How in love were they?

Another piece of Logan I itch to find out.