Page 14 of Sweet Hate (If You Dare #1)
HAVEN
“ S o, that was interesting…” Mia draws out the words as she flashes a big grin my way, her violet eyes dancing with mischief.
“Er, what was interesting, M?”
I line up my dart to take my shot, side eyeing her as she practically bounces on the spot.
“You can’t have missed Axel's face just now, girl! He legit looked like he was about to murder Lucas when you hugged him.”
“Axel needs to grow the hell up.” I throw the dart without looking at her.
“Bullseye!” Mia shouts out as she dances her way to pull the darts off the board.
“Yeah, I was picturing Axel’s face as I threw it.”
That sets us both off in uncontrollable giggles.
I feel so free tonight. For the first time since I’ve been back, I can just let go and say whatever I’m thinking because Mia gets it.
“So, what’s been going on there? Is he still acting weird?” She stealthily glances toward the bar where he’s sitting with Lucas. “He’s looking right at you, you know.”
I refuse to turn around and make eye contact with him. Fuck this guy. I need him to fix the bakery, then he can get the hell out of my life again since he was so keen on doing that before.
I don’t care how hot he is or how much I miss my best friend. Clearly, all that was a total fucking lie.
“I don’t know what to tell you, Mia. He’s hot, then he’s cold. He even had the audacity to tell me his phone number has been the same for the last fifteen years after he flat out ignored my messages. Who does that?”
She scoffs in outrage. “Fuck if I know. He disappeared after you left. From what Lucas said, he’d find him drunk or passed out somewhere all the time, but he wouldn’t tell us shit. Anytime I brought you up in conversation with the others, he’d disappear. But he hasn’t been the same since.”
Now it’s my turn to scoff.
“Oh please, he jumped from woman to woman just fine. Besides, if he had something to say, why would he have ghosted me all this time? Him of all people? Now he’s all up in my business, and I have to see him every day. You could have warned me he was a firefighter. Or a handyman for that matter.”
“Well, first, you blacklisted his name, remember? And I wasn’t expecting you to set the bakery on fire after being back in town for five fucking minutes!”
“Mate, that’s cold, even for you, Ice Queen!” I say, elbowing her in the side as we dissolve into more giggles.
I’ve missed this. Her.
“Besides, you probably should have expected the handyman part. You know his dad ran that business when we were kids.”
To be honest, I’d forgotten that. We didn’t see his dad all that often because he was always working. I never made the connection. I’m an idiot.
“Ugh, Mia…what if I made a mistake coming back here? Maybe I should’ve just stayed in London. I had a go od job, my own apartment, and friends who don’t know what an anxious, basket case I used to be.”
“Hey, you have friends here, and you weren’t a basket case! Besides, you wanted to be the next Blake to run the bakery and get it over the hundred-year mark. I for one am glad you’re back. I’m sure deep down, Axel is too. Does he know you’re staying?”
“Hell no. The few interactions we’ve had so far, he’s either been a growly, bossy prick or having to pick my clumsy ass up off the floor.”
We won’t mention the almost kiss or that I’ve felt his boner already.
“Besides, let’s not get ahead of ourselves.
I might be staying, Mia. It’s not a sure thing.
Especially now, for fuck’s sake. If I can’t do the wedding, I’ll have no option but to leave.
Luckily, Grams said there’s no pressure for me to stay and run Sweet Bakes, so I could just hire someone to do it for me and move back home.
I still own my apartment, and the hotel said if I ever wanted my job back, I could have it, no questions asked.
Besides I can work anywhere, if I really have to. ”
I have no concerns over what I’ll do if this doesn’t work. My dad’s a celebrity chef, so following in his footsteps made it very easy to get noticed, especially once I came out of my shell.
That’s why the Merryweather’s insisted on having me here. They love the idea of being able to name drop the up and coming local star —their words, not mine.
“Semantics, babe. You’re staying. You’re a Blake.
Sweet Bakes is your birthright. I can’t imagine you’d want someone else poking around in there.
You’d talk about running your own bakery when we were kids.
Besides the boys will figure it out. Axel would move heaven and earth to make sure you can meet that deadline.
No matter how much of an ass he’s being right now, I’d bet my life on that.
I think you should tell him you might be staying.
I bet that’ll snap him out of his weird fuckboy ways quick enough. ”
Ugh, I don’t need that reminder. That was the conversation that triggered me to ban all talk of him.
If only I could reinstate that.
“I’m not going to tell him shit. He doesn’t get to know what my plans are. He lost that right over a decade ago when he disappeared on me. And he can fuck whoever he wants, Mia. I’m not going there ever again. It was a stupid idea in the first place. All it did was tear us apart in the end.”
“Never say never, Haven. From what I can see, he’s about five seconds away from going caveman on your ass and ravaging you on the spot. It’s super hot.”
She fans herself with the darts in her hand, and I hate the shiver of excitement her words send up my spine.
Hasn’t he messed with my head enough as it is?
“No chance. That’s not happening. Besides, it’s my best friend I miss the most, and he’s clearly not that guy anymore. He doesn’t get to worm his way back into my life. Or my panties.”
“Who’s getting into your panties?” Lucas’s voice booms behind us and makes us both jump before he lifts me clean off the ground in a bear hug.
“Get off, you clown!” I slap his arm to put me down, which he does, but firmly keeps me tucked against him. I look past him to check if Axel will be joining us too, but lo and behold, he seems to be otherwise engaged, grinning at some blonde by the bar.
Twat.
“Who wants to play a little game of truth or dare for old time’s sake?”
I can’t help but laugh when Lucas wiggles his eyebrows, mischief written all over his face.
“It’s on, Batman!” I grin up at Lucas while Mia practically jumps up and down in glee—literally bouncier than a ball. These guys really are the perfect distraction from all the bakery stress, the wedding, and Axel .
“Ok. Whoever throws the highest number on the dart board goes first,” Mia tells us, giving us each a dart.
“And she’s back in the game!” Lucas shouts out when I hit the outer ring of the bullseye, putting me in the top spot.
“Want to shout any louder, Lucas? Not sure the guy in the back heard you.”
“The guy in the back didn’t, but we certainly caught Axeman's attention,” Mia singsongs, smiling slyly.
The pair of them grin mischievously at each other as I side eye the bar, sure enough, he’s looking right this way again, a scowl on his face.
Surprise , surprise . Blondie is still standing beside him though, her clawed hand gripping his forearm, trying to draw his attention back to her and her ample assets.
“Behave, you two!” Rolling my eyes at Mia, I suck in a deep breath and announce, “Dare.” Might as well dive into the deep end, right?
“Yes,” she hisses as she fist pumps before scurrying over to Lucas to confer. I should have thought this through—she’s looking crazy hyper tonight.
What if she dares me to go and kiss Axel or something?
Would I do it?
Or would I back down for the first time ever?
I’m so lost in thought, I don’t hear them talking until Lucas waves his hand in front of my face, bringing me back to reality.
“We dare you to sit on Lucas's lap for a complete round of the game,” Mia bursts out, and Lucas winks at me.
I slump in relief, releasing tension I didn’t know I was holding. That’s easy. Laughing, I walk over to him. He easily lifts me onto his wide thighs, promptly wrapping his arms around me and resting his chin on my shoulder. He pulls out his phone to snap a selfie of us and taps away on the screen.
A second later, my phone vibrates. I pull it out expecting to see a copy of the photo but see a new group chat notification instead .
Lucas has added you to “Left on read”
Lucas
Guess who’s back, back again.
photo downloading
Kim
OMFG
HAVEN!!! Are u back?!
Swayze
Seriously? Fuck yeah!
Kim
OMG OMG, why isn’t Jack back from work? Kids ruin everything. I want to be there dammit.
Mia
Don’t worry boo. We'll do a girls night. NO BOYS ALLOWED.
Lucas
That’s not very nice, Mia. Especially since it’s your turn next.
Kim
No way. Are you guys playing games without us?? Already?! When did you get back Haven? Why didn’t you say anything?? How long you back for??? How was London??? Did you bang a prince?????? TELL ME EVERYTHING.
Lucas
Jesus Kim, easy on the ??? You’re gonna give yourself a heart attack.
Also Axeman probably doesn’t want to hear about the princes she’s been banging.
Kim
Fuck him. He never even opens the fucking chat and I wanna know!!!!
Mia
Seconded.
Swayze
Dirty third. *Stepbrothers yep GIF*
Me
There were no princes.
Kim
OK FINE. But you did sample the British sausage though, right?
RIGHT????
Me
Kim
*skeleton collapsing GIF*
Swayze
*it’s been 84 years GIF*
Kim
Was he hot??
Mia
Umm hello. With their accents? How could he not be??
Lucas
Can you guys shut up so Mia can stop staring at her phone and take her turn? As much as I like having Haven on my lap, my thighs have gone to sleep.
Mia
Whatever, Baby Thor. You’re lucky her fine ass makes you look cool.
Kim
Send us some photos from London!! And hot London men!!!!
Me
photo downloading
photo downloading
Swayze
Well damn, you look hot as fuck. Where were you going dressed like that?
Me
I had a date.
Mia
OMG TELL ME EVERYTHING.
Me
Mia, I think I’ve just gone deaf in my right ear. Can you not squeal so loud?
Lucas
Jesus fuck, you’re telling me. Now I’ve got numb thighs and I’m hard of hearing.
Swayze
You’re getting old bro
Lucas
Shut it Wolfman.
Me
photo downloading
photo downloading
photo downloading
Kim
WAIT IS THAT WHO I THINK IT IS WITH HIS ARM AROUND YOU?
Dude! Did you fuck a celebrity chef??? PLEASE SAY YOU DID!
Mia
Oooft, I’ll sit on his lap and call him Daddy any day.
Me
Me too. But no, I did not fuck him or call him Daddy. He’s married. He stayed at the hotel AND HE LOVED MY DESSERTS. Came into the kitchen to tell me personally! Life goals made.
Lucas
Hell yeah baby!
Me
Now my left ear is ringing. Thanks Lucas.
Lucas
Sorry babe.
Kim
Ugh the spawn is crying. brB. Don’t spill any deets without me.
Looking up to grin at Mia, it suddenly dawns on me that for the first time in Sweet Haven, I’m happy, excited, and settled. And not because Axel has been around to help me feel that way.
I’ve done it myself.
Because this time, I’ve chosen to be here. My old friends are not only still here but are genuinely excited about me being back—well, all but one.
So now, it’s just the tiny matter of an asshole action man, a damaged bakery, and a local celebrity wedding to make or break my return to Sweet Haven.
But, for once, I consider not turning tail and running back to the safety of London.