So, I waited around, hoping that things would start to make more sense.
I also started doing my calculations and came to a disheartening conclusion: I still wasn’t going to have enough money to get the building that I had my sights set on.
I tried to cheer myself up with the thought of my date the following night. Elliot was such a charmer and incredibly sexy. And I already knew that he knew what to do with his mouth. I was curious about what else he knew how to do.
But, my bakery was my dream. I wanted my business to grow more than anything.
All of a sudden, I felt so overwhelmed my head began to spin. Everything felt like too much. On one hand, I was overjoyed and still tingling from what had just happened, but on the other, I was faced with the grief of my dream slipping from my grasp.
I found a hidden corner and tucked myself away, trying to pull myself together, but the emotional upheaval was just too much for me to take and despite me trying to fight it, a handful of tears rolled down my face. Once they started falling, I couldn’t stop them from coming. Huge, wet tears rolled down my cheeks. I choked back sobs so that I wouldn’t be noticed.
But, it was too late for all of that. Someone had noticed.
It was Tammy.
"What's wrong?" She sounded genuinely concerned, which surprised me.
I was full bracing myself for her to come and tear me a new one, but there was none of the usual hatred rolling off of her in waves. She really sounded sympathetic when she asked: “Was there something wrong with your auction?"
I sniffled a little and dried my eyes before finally bringing myself to speak. "No, I'm having a great time at the auction tonight, surprisingly,” I felt like a crazy person, telling her what a good time I had while I was wiping my tears, “I'm having a lot of fun with the guy I met; In fact, I plan on seeing him again. I'm not upset about the results, but it’s something else.”
"What is it, then?" she asked, sounding understandably puzzled.
"I didn't make enough from my bids to be able to upgrade my baking and catering business to a larger building," I said, the words driving me to tears all over again.
It sounded so shallow and stupid when I said it like that, and I knew I should be grateful that I’d found this auction at all, but I couldn’t help it. I’d pinned all my hopes on this and it felt like a dream being torn away.
There was a long silence before Tammy spoke again. "Oh, really? Which place did you have in mind?" she asked.
There was a weird edge to her voice, suspicious, but I shrugged it off and pulled out my phone to show her pictures of the site. The building was stunning, and I had been in love with it for ages, watching it obsessively to keep track of it and make sure it was still on the market.
Suddenly, Tammy snapped to attention, her eyes widened. She pressed my phone into my hand. "Aw, I'm sorry to hear that,” she said, but there was something icy in her tone that robbed the words of any sincerity.
Just looking at the building had brought on a fresh wave of tears, and I was trying to pull myself together when I realized she was gone. She had simply turned on her heel and disappeared into the crowd.
Had I said something wrong? I felt even sillier now having opened up to her only to have her end the conversation so abruptly. I was left standing there, surprised and confused.
But, instead of standing there and risking another breakdown, I decided to make my way home. I would have to come up with another way to get the rest of the money. I wasn’t quite sure how I was going to do it, but I had come too far not to see it through.
As I lay in bed, letting my thoughts run free, I started thinking about Elliot. Excitement raced through me again as I thought about the fact that I would be going on a date with him the next night. I was excited to see him, but more excited to finish what we had started.
I drifted off to sleep that night with a huge smile on my face and his face plastered on my brain.
Chapter Eight Elliot
I got dressed, careful to put on my best black suit and tie. I wanted to impress her the way that she had impressed me, and the best way that I knew how to do that was by showing off my impressive wardrobe.
I had accumulated pieces from my travels all over the world, so it was quite the collection that I had. As I put on the gold cufflinks that sported a letter E for my name, I smiled, knowing that that signature piece alone would probably be enough to impress her.
I pulled up at the address that she gave me, parked the car, and walked up to the door. I rang the doorbell. The door swung open and another woman opened the door. I recognized her as Candy’s friend, Amelia, and the girl Reid had been mooning over.
“She’s just finishing up getting dressed,” she said, standing in her doorway, the door halfway closed like she was ready to slam it on me.
She ran a hand through her hair absentmindedly. I wondered if something was going on
