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Chapter eight

Naomi

“You have a name for this?” I stare at him blankly.

“Obviously. Catchy, isn’t it?” He beams with pride across the table.

“Operation Make Naomi a Boss,” I repeat it slowly.

“I told you…I had a lot of time on the plane.” He swirls spaghetti onto his fork. “So, what’s your endgame here?”

I take another sip of my wine, enjoying the contented feeling that’s come over me.

Baking is my passion, and I won’t apologize for working on orders.

But I was starting to get a little—okay, a lot—stressed out about it.

He was right. This break was much needed.

Even if he’s subjecting me to talking about our whole fake-dating scenario that I still have mixed feelings about.

“What do you mean, exactly?” I take a bite of my piping-hot ravioli.

“What do you want to accomplish at the end of this whole facade with me? Being able to say no when necessary, obviously, but what else? Telling your dad off? Quitting the dealership and starting a full-fledged bakery? What’s your plan? I need to know how I should tailor my efforts.”

I swallow hard. Everything he just listed causes a pit of nerves to drop in my stomach and a flush of anxious heat to cross my face.

“Truthfully? I don’t know exactly what I want.

I know that I don’t want to work in IT forever, and I would love to bake full time, but I don’t have the details all ironed out.

I can’t envision just one scenario. I can see several life paths that I would enjoy, honestly. That’s the problem with my brain.”

It’s the truth. I’ve daydreamed about each end of the spectrum—from staying exactly where I am, all the way to leaving town and starting an entirely new exciting life.

All I know is the idea of me staying at the dealership and under my dad’s thumb has gotten so depressing that I’m desperate enough to entertain this ridiculous idea with Robbie.

“So maybe we should start with baby steps? Help you gain some confidence first and go from there? And maybe narrow down what you’re looking for, what you really want out of life. You—not anybody else,” he offers.

I push my lips together in a small smile, finding that some of the nerves have dissipated.

I’m also feeling a twinge of hope in my chest. If feeling validated and acknowledged out loud by him feels this good, maybe there is a chance of drastic results once we put some actual work in.

I really do trust him with my life. As silly as this whole thing is, I’m starting to wonder if it just might work.

“Why are you doing this for me?” I ask softly, meeting his gaze from across the table.

Holding his stare, I ponder what I did to deserve a friend who’d be willing to go to such lengths for me.

To spend more time here than I know he really wants to.

To parade around town and put on a show.

To ruin his reputation when we inevitably break up and the town is forced to pick sides. What for?

“I saw a friend in need and jumped in to help,” he says, flitting his eyes down to his plate, a sudden show of vulnerability. “And for lack of a better explanation, this gives me something meaningful to do between gigs. I don’t have a lot of direction in my life at the moment, if you can’t tell.”

“I thought you loved being in the band?” I inquire.

“I do. And I get a rush from performing. I love it, don’t get me wrong…

but outside of that I’ve kind of just been…

wandering. There hasn’t been much substance to my life outside of shows.

” He shrugs. “Not that it’s a bad thing, necessarily.

But this will be a good change of pace. It’s nice to have a purpose. ”

He smiles, lifting the corner of his mouth into a boyish smirk.

“Maybe since you’ll be spending more time here, you’ll start liking it again?”

“No. Not a chance,” he replies emphatically. “Pine Falls isn’t for me. I may not know a lot of things, but I’m one thousand percent sure of that. I’m only here until you don’t need me anymore, then it’s back to my regular schedule of visits. I can guarantee you that.”

I nod, completely respecting his stance. He hasn’t ever divulged a whole lot about his relationship with his family, even back in high school, but I know enough to know that they’re a big reason for it.

“Back to you…I have a question. What would happen if you told your dad you quit? What’s the worst thing that could happen?”

“Well, that’s where it gets complicated.

I can’t just up and leave without having a backup plan.

He’s my boss. He also owns my car—he gave it to me as a hiring bonus.

And he co-signed for my house. So, really, he could take it all away at any given time.

Not to mention, I don’t have enough money to rent a storefront for my bakery yet.

I have a nice little cushion saved up, but I’m definitely not where I’d need to be in order to do that.

I have to be financially secure before I do anything.

I don’t want to be impulsive, you know?”

He nods, opening his mouth to reply, but he doesn’t get the chance.

“Well, I’ll be…” We’re interrupted by Iris and Opal, two local elderly women—or the ‘town gossips,’ as Mrs. Pelinski unaffectionately labeled them. “Opal, look who it is.”

“Hello, ladies,” Robbie says with a respectful dip of his head, sneaking a glance at me.

“Hi, Iris. Hi, Opal.” I smile at them.

“Naomi, sweetheart, you look just stunning as usual. Robbie, I haven’t seen you in ages. Your mother didn’t tell us you were in town,” Opal says.

I notice the way Robbie’s expression darkens at the mention of his mom.

“Yeah, she doesn’t know.” He swallows his words with a sip of scotch.

“Well, she’ll be thrilled to know that you’re here, I’m sure.”

Something else on his face tells me he doesn’t quite believe that.

“How long are you in town for?” Iris asks him.

“Just a few days between gigs. I had to come home to see my beautiful girlfriend here.” He winks at me, and my stomach immediately clenches, not expecting him to make that specific declaration. I hold my breath, waiting uncomfortably for their reaction. Sweet Opal almost falls right over.

“Oh, heavens. I didn’t know you two were an item! Iris, did you know?” I’m surprised my dad hasn’t spread the news to the whole town yet.

“Surely no! But it’s not surprising—two handsome young kids like yourselves…what a stunning couple.” She fans her face as if our news is overwhelming to her even in a physical way.

“Thank you,” I say sweetly, forcing the words out. “We’re very happy.”

“I thought you two were just friends?” Opal asks.

“Things changed,” Robbie says simply.

“Oh, I cannot wait until the whole town hears about this,” Iris says giddily, not even attempting to hide her tendency to chatter.

“Well, we’ll leave you two lovebirds alone. See you soon!”

I hold my breath as they walk back to where their husbands are sitting a few tables over.

“I sure hope you’re not having doubts about this, ‘cause the whole town is about to know about us within the hour,” Robbie says, resuming his meal as if that interaction didn’t bother him in the slightest.

“Might as well rip the Band-Aid off, I guess.” Unlike Robbie’s nonchalance, uneasiness lingers with me.

“By the way, we definitely could have kissed there,” he points out. “I think Opal would have flat-out fainted.”

I snort out a laugh.

“Maybe next time.” He winks. I shake my head, going back to the last few bites of my ravioli. While I chew, my mind keeps going back to what Opal said about his mom.

“So, you really don’t tell your family when you’re in town?” I ask gently. I know it’s a sensitive topic for him, and I don’t want to pry.

“Nope,” is all he says, his attention drawn down to his plate.

“What are they going to think of us dating? They’re probably going to find out.”

“They won’t care.” He gives a firm head shake.

“I know it’s none of my business—and please, tell me if I’m prying, because I’ll stop—but I’m just curious, as a supportive friend.

When was the last time you talked to any of them?

” I’m fully prepared for him to shut down the conversation at any minute, and I wouldn’t push it, of course, but I can’t help but wonder if maybe he might be in the mood to be vulnerable with me.

His jaw ticks as he sets his napkin on top of his plate. “The day we graduated.”

“Graduated…high school?” I ask in shock. “That was seven years ago.”

“I’m aware.”

I watch him, unable to think of the right words to say. That’s such a long time to not be in touch with your family, even if you don’t have the best relationship.

“I had no idea,” I finally say softly. Our eyes connect as he leans back in his seat. For the first time in a long time, I hold his eyes to study them. Wondering what complexities must be hidden behind them and what else he keeps tucked inside. He pushes his lips together in a tight smile.

“I don’t like talking about it,” he says with a shrug.

I wait patiently to see if he’ll give me anything else.

“Come on,” he says, scooting out of the booth.

Alright, I guess we’re done.

“Let’s head back. You need to get some rest, and I plan on spending the whole day tomorrow planning out which exercises we’re going to do first.”

“Why does that make me nervous?” I follow his gesture for me to lead him out of the restaurant. He follows close, his presence like a comforting, firm wall at my back.

His head dips low, close to my ear as he mutters, “I won’t lie—it probably should.”