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Chapter forty-one

Naomi

“This scone is delicious,” I say, taking a bite of the pastry in an attempt to quell some of the awkwardness of this conversation.

My parents sit across from Robbie and me at the coffee shop, both of them watching quietly as I chew.

Being as this is the first time we’ve seen either of them since I quit the dealership, we’re all still hesitantly feeling each other out and adjusting to this new family dynamic together.

“You should try it with a drizzle of honey,” Mom suggests with a hint of a smile, sipping from her tea.

Dad sits beside her, stoic and firm as always.

By the look on his face, he’s still clearly hanging onto some animosity from my public defiance toward him.

Although, I don’t exactly blame him. I’ve been his puppet for as long as I’ve been his daughter, so there’s bound to be some resistance on his part.

“We asked you to meet us here today so we could share some news,” I say, looking excitedly at Robbie. I refuse to let the prospect of whatever my dad will think dampen my joy about this, so I forge ahead, ignoring his stern expression altogether.

“Robbie and I are officially business partners,” I announce. “We signed a lease for the empty building across the road. We plan to open a storefront bakery for Naomi’s Nummy Bakery together.”

“Oh, Naomi, that is wonderful news,” Mom says right away with pride gleaming in her eyes. “Congratulations to you both.”

“Isn’t it great?” I say, hardly able to contain my excitement, even though I can feel my dad scrutinizing me.

“So, he’s here to stay, huh?” My dad jerks his head toward Robbie, completely ignoring the bakery part of our announcement.

“She’s iffy about her feelings on that too, sir,” Robbie replies flatly.

Mom bites her lips to hide a smirk. “When do you plan to open the bakery?”

For once, she seems to be the head runner of the conversation, which throws me for a loop. I’m not sure if this is a one-time situation or if she’s been asserting herself more in general, but either way, it’s my turn to feel pride toward her.

“Not for a few months. There are a couple things we want to do to the space before opening,” I explain.

“This is so exciting.” She beams, her smile wide and uncontained now.

I pause, expecting Dad to start an interrogation about our business model or whether or not we have an appropriate amount of money saved up in case of emergencies.

But it doesn’t come.

Just a stare that holds neither animosity nor delight. Although, I can tell by the way he keeps rolling his lips together that words are threatening to spill out—he’s simply holding them back. For a man who’s never been good at keeping his opinions to himself, he’s doing an impressive job.

Honestly, I’ll take the silence over the public berating from him that he’s always given any day.

“I was thinking of getting your input on interior design and layout, Mom. You’re so good at stuff like that—if you’re up for it, that is.”

The flash of surprise is clear as it washes over her face, then she brings a hand over her mouth to cover the emotion.

“I would be delighted,” she says, barely above a whisper, with a crack in her voice.

“Thank you,” I say with an equal amount of emotion in mine.

She clears her throat, looking down to check her watch. “Well, we should be going. Your father has a meeting to get to.”

“Okay.” I nod with a smile.

The four of us stand, offering timid hugs and handshakes all around.

“Thank you for meeting with us,” Robbie says to my parents.

“Anytime. Let me know when you’d like to get together and discuss ideas,” Mom says just before they head out of the coffee shop.

I sigh, feeling content and happy as we watch them walk down the sidewalk. When they’re out of sight, I turn to Robbie. “I’d say that went well.”

“It could have been a lot worse,” Robbie agrees. “Should we head out too?”

“Sure.” I take his outstretched hand, pulling myself close to his side as we step outside.

As we start down Main Street, swinging our joined hands, I feel proud at how far I’ve come to be at a place where I can stand my ground with my parents.

And I look forward to this brand-new dynamic we get to have together.

This meeting today proved that we’re fully capable of maintaining a decent relationship—one where I’m allowed to advocate for myself and my needs. It’s honestly all I’ve ever wanted.

“How about a ride?” Robbie crouches down, his hands stretched out behind his back.

“Sure.” With a giggle, I hop on his back, wrapping my legs and arms around him, feeling carefree and weightless as he hoists me up. He grips under my thighs, securing me into place.

“What service,” I marvel into his ear, wrapping my arms around his neck and placing my chin on his shoulder.

“Only the best for the newest bakery owner in town.” He starts to spin us in a circle, nearly skipping as he does.

In between the laughter that escapes me and the blur of being spun, I can vaguely make out Opal and Iris in the window of the flower shop across the street.

“We have an audience.” I giggle, feeling wild and liberated yet safe and comfortable at the same time.

“So?” He stops spinning, although I have a hunch it’s only because he’s getting dizzy. He plops me down on a nearby bench between the ice cream parlor and the supermarket.

“Whoa. Apparently, I can’t do that anymore,” he laughs, rubbing the spot by his temple.

I grin, scooting closer to him, tucking myself under his arm. It’s all I can do lately to stop myself from wanting to be glued to him. We’ve always been affectionate, him and I, but now it’s laced with an intimacy and a sweet, constant kind of need to be attached.

He reaches out to tuck a strand of hair behind my ear, and I relish the spark his touch sends rushing over my skin.

“Thank you for this,” he says quietly under his breath, as if he knows there might be prying ears.

“For what?” I tilt my head up to look at him.

“For everything.” His mouth tilts up in a crooked smile. “For giving me a purpose in life. A direction. For giving me you. The bakery. Every last bit of it.”

My cheeks blush at his honesty as I get lost in the vulnerability behind his eyes. My stomach swoops under his gaze, and I want nothing more than to hang onto this consuming feeling for the rest of my life.

His eyes stay glued to mine as he says, “I have a confession.”

“What’s that?” My voice is barely a whisper.

His throat bobs, a minor crack in his confident facade, but he remains locked on me.

“I’ve fallen desperately in love with you, Naomi Tillman.” The way he says it makes it feel like a relief and the most comforting of promises all in one—a validation that he’s feeling exactly the same way I do.

“I have one too,” I say just as quietly.

“That you actually despise buttercream?” he murmurs.

I huff a laugh but hold onto the seriousness of the moment.

“I don’t think I’ve ever loved anything as much as I love you.” The words feel easy to say out loud, an outward acknowledgement of the truth coming straight from my heart.

He smiles that same boyish smile he’s had for as long as I’ve known him. Except, now it feels monumental and wildly unbelievable that it’s directed solely at me.

I marvel at how far we’ve come in a relatively short amount of time. For years, he was one of my best friends, my confidant, and keeper of my secrets. All too suddenly, out of nowhere, he became my fake boyfriend on a whim, and now, he’s the absolute most significant person in my life.

He leans in, keeping his eyes on mine until the very last second.

I bring my hand to his jawline as he presses his mouth to mine excitedly, eager to solidify the words we just spoke in a tangible way.

My eyes flutter closed as I meld my mouth with his, hoping my kiss conveys all the underlying promises and truths of my own declaration.

When he pulls away, he presses his forehead to mine, a quiet way for us to soak up the moment.

“We should probably get back home, huh?” he asks.

“Yeah,” I say quietly. “There’s a container of flour calling my name.”

He stands with a smile, again offering his hand, and for a moment, I get hit with a revelation that my own love story has been building right before my eyes—one I didn’t manufacture in my head.

What follows is a realization that perhaps the greatest adventure of my life is about to begin.

Perhaps it already has. All those years of dreaming it would come to fruition, and it has happened right under my nose.

With a giddy grin, I take his hand, ready for wherever he’s going to lead me.