Page 7 of How to Break My Heart 1

All this and it’s only February. The hype of New Year’s resolutions is fading into the distance along with my love of this cold season.

A chair creaks, and my attention shifts back to the couple. The guy leans in, whispers something into the woman’s ear before she giggles again and runs her high-heeled shoe up his leg.

“You need to stop them,” I warn Billie, cringing involuntarily. “I think she might give him a foot job, and I don’t think I’ll be able to sleep tonight if she does.”

“Why me? You’re the owner,” Billie complains. “We had a deal. I make the yummy desserts, and you handle customers doingfoot jobsin the store.”

I let out a huff. “I don’t recall this agreement. However, I will put an end to this for the sake of not having to bleach our brains.”

I take a deep breath and approach the couple’s table. They instantly pull away from each other when they realize I’m standing beside them.

A forced smile graces my lips as I ask, “Is there anything else I can get you lovebirds today?”

The woman’s cheeks turn crimson. “We, um… are fine. The donuts are delicious.”

“Yes,” the man adds, clearing his throat. “Would we be ableto purchase a box to take with us? We could have them for dessert tonight.” He glances at the woman with what I assume is supposed to be a sexy grin, making this all the more cringey. The longer I stand here, the harder it is to control the urge to shudder.

“Of course, I’ll get them packaged up and brought right over.”

As I walk back to the counter, Billie tries to hide her laughter.

I pinch her arm the moment I reach her. “Gross, they’re going to have sex and use our donuts in their dirty games,” I whisper.

“Okay, stop! I will deal with them because I love you so much,” Billie offers with a teasing grin, then nods over my shoulder. “Besides, you have a visitor.”

I turn around swiftly to see Maddy, who’s at the door with a beaming smile. It’s been two months since I last saw her because she was vacationing with her boyfriend in the Bahamas. I’ve lost count of how many times they have vacationed in the year they’ve been together. Maddy is truly living her best life while I’m watching potential porn movies acted out in my café.

“Oh my God, you’re here!” I run toward her and straight into a tight embrace. She smells just like I remember—strawberries and cream. As we pull away, I take a moment to really look at her. She is sun-kissed, but what catches my eye is the hint of gold in her usually dark brown hair. Last year, during her quarter-life crisis, she impulsively got bangs. Now, they’ve grown out enough to just tuck behind her ears.

Her gemstone-green eyes sparkle with anticipation, and I realize she’s waiting for me to notice something. I glance over her again, but nothing seems unusual. She’s dressed in denim jeans with a black top and an oversize ivory knitted cardigan.

Then, she raises her hand and wavesitat me. The diamond catches the light, nearly blinding me as Maddy thrusts her hand in front of my face, her smile practically bursting with joy.

I squint at the ring, trying to make out the cut. I am no expert on carats, cuts, or top designers, but even I know this ring is massive and worth a lot.

“It’s a big ring,” I say slowly.

“I know, but do you know what type of ring it is?”

“Tiffany?” I answer with a scrunched face.

“It’s an engagement ring!” Maddy shrieks. “I’m getting married!”

My fingers instinctively trace the edge of the ring while Maddy’s words begin to sink in.Did she just use the M-word?

Oh my, I mouth, yanking her hand toward me to get a better glimpse. “Maddy, are you for real? Or is this some prank because you’re bored, and you know I’m heading to the doctor for a checkup and worried they’ll find something and then tell me I have one week to live?”

“Now who’s being melodramatic?” she teases. “Myles proposed. And the best news is, we’re getting married in a month. Here, in Cinnamon Springs!”

I shake my head, trying to slow my thoughts because my overstimulated brain has many, many questions.

“One… month?”

“Yes! And before you even think it, I’m not pregnant.”

“I wasn’t thinking it,” I lie.

“Of course you were.” Maddy tugs my arm, guiding me to one of the empty tables outside. “Myles’s grandfather is unwell. I mean, he’s ninety-six, which is a miracle in itself, so who knows how long he has left? It’s super important to his family that he’s part of the day, so Myles asked if I would be open to planning it quickly. I mean, it’s a wedding. How hard can it be?”