Page 32 of Only for the Season

“Kind of.”

“I’m hanging up now.” She starts to protest but I hit end call. And then I put my phone on ‘do not disturb’. Miranda is not on the list of names of people who can interrupt me when I need to work.

I throw my phone on the table and get back to work.

The door to the kitchen bangs open from outside but I ignore it. It’s probably Parker returning. Although the bakery is closed for the day, she said she’d be back after lunch to get an early start on the baking for tomorrow.

My stomach rumbles. I forgot all about lunch. I ignore it, too. I’m not going to finish coding this app if I stop working every time I’m distracted.

I concentrate on the lines of code as I try to find where I left off. The screen blurs in front of me. I yawn and rub my eyes. I’m tired, but I need to push through. But then my stomach rumbles again.

Crap. I’m not getting any work done until I’ve had a bite to eat. I think I have a protein bar in one of my bags. I’ll grab it and be back to work in less than five minutes.

I push to my feet and make my way to the kitchen.

“Stupid, idiotic people,” Parker mutters as she slams the door of the refrigerator shut.

She picks up her bakery tools and throws them in the sink. “They think they can tell me what to do?” She switches on the water, pours in some dishwashing liquid, and glares as the soapy water rises. “I’ll tell them what they can do.”

“Parker,” I call.

She whirls around with a scream. “Don’t make me release the kraken!”

I chuckle as I raise my hands. “Don’t release the kraken. It’s only me. Jeremy.”

She clutches her chest. “What are you doing sneaking up on me?”

“You must not have heard me over your fight with your spatulas.”

She narrows her eyes on me. “I am not fighting with my spatulas.”

“Okay.” I cross my arms over my chest and lean against her prep table. “What are you fighting with then? Is it the refrigerator? Or maybe your wooden spoon?”

“You’re not funny.”

I point to her. “But you’re not throwing daggers at me with your eyes anymore.”

“Oh, please. If I was throwing daggers at you with my eyes, you’d be laying on the floor bleeding out while I release the kraken to devour you.”

I gulp. “Devour me?”

“I can’t have your blood all over my floor. Health code violation.”

“You wouldn’t want to violate the health code. Murder is fine. But the health code is sacred.”

“Murder is totally fine when it’s justified.”

I lift an eyebrow. “And you’re justified in murdering me?”

“Not you. My parents.”

My brow wrinkles. “Your parents?”

“Yes.” She nods. “The man and woman who created me. Biologically speaking. Do you think children are delivered by storks? I hope you don’t expect me to give you the birds and the bees speech. I don’t have the patience today.”

“I do not need the birds and the bees speech.”

“Phew.” She runs the back of her hand over her forehead. “One less task for the day.”