Page 100 of Between Love and Loathing

I owned it. “Yeah, I really did.”

She squeezed me again and then whispered, “Now get through tonight and don’t either of you let each other go. Fake dating or not, he’s yours.”

She backed away before I could correct her, before I could ask how she knew. I’m guessing the Hardy family had figured it out, but I was too tired to inquire. The night had to be the beginning of the end for Dominic and me, and it seemed Evie and probably the rest of his family knew it.

When the last customer filed in and grabbed a coffee to go, I let out a sigh and pulled at the cupcake necklace Dominic had given me. Cleaning up with the staff didn’t take much time at all, and as I waved goodbye to them, I saw Valentino hurry over just as I was about to exit the resort.

“Clara.” He pulled me in for a hug. “I don’t have much time, but I wanted to see you and your bakery on the first day.” He stepped back and looked me up and down. “Gorgeous. Sugar and Spice Bakery was a hit, no?”

I smiled softly. “It seems that way.”

“You’ll come to my restaurant soon and have me cook for you then?”

“Oh.” I tilted my head, not sure what he was asking. “I’ll see if Dominic would like to come.”

Why I felt the need to invite him along was silly. Yet, my feelings for Valentino had never grown past simple admiration for his attributes as a chef.

“Yes. Or not.” He shrugged and winked at me. “You decide, huh? Also, I got you a little something to compliment that necklace.”

He held out a box that housed another necklace, this one longer and with one small diamond. It was nice but generic and also felt a bit slimy after he knew Dominic had bought me one.

“Thanks. But I can’t accept this.” I eyed the necklace cautiously. “It’s—”

“Oh, of course you can.” He pulled me in for another hug and told me he would see me at the beach tonight, leaving me there with another necklace, confused. When I turned to leave though, I saw Mrs. Johnson was standing in the lobby smiling at me with Mother and Anastasia alongside her.

Mrs. Johnson patted her gray hair as she stared past me before she walked up in low heel pumps to give me a hug. Then, she handed me an envelope. “Your mother and sister found out I was making a trip here to give you an update on Carl’s will. Of course, I said they could come to congratulate you on the bakery with me. You invited them to the reopening right?”

When I didn't answer at first, she pulled away to search my eyes. Then, she whispered, “Oh, darling. No need to explain if you didn’t. Do me a favor and don’t open that envelope in front of them, okay?”

Maybe I’d been caught up in my bakery, maybe I’d been caught up in Dominic, maybe I’d been caught up in my fake life, but I’d stopped thinking about them.

Maybe.

Or I’d blocked them out, knowing now that my physical health relied heavily on my mental health.

“Anyway”—she patted my cheek as she stepped back to take in the bakery again—“you did it. Carl and I knew you could. Anastasia and Melinda, isn’t her bakery beautiful?”

“Sure.” They came forward and my mother’s eyes along with Anastasia’s were glued to the envelope as she asked, “Should we catch up at your house?”

“I have to get ready for the party tonight at the resort,” I said softly.

“Then, we should come to that right?” Her tone was expectant.

I should have said no but saying that to a mother felt wrong. “Sure. It’s here tonight. Your names will be on the list.”

A smile snaked across her face as dread snaked through my bones, fast and ready to prove that all my luck had run out. I felt it like a viper, slithering through me, ready to strike.

CLARA

Dominic: I’m on my way back home.

Me: What for? Don’t come back for me. I can just have Callihan drop me off.

Dominic: My future wife needs to be on my arm when I walk into the biggest party of my life, Clara.

Me: Probably not how you should refer to me since we’re going to have to break up in a month or two.

Dominic: No one needs to know that.