"Fair enough." Levi released my chair, and I spun to face the bakery. His hands landed on my shoulders and squeezed before he released me. "Go get 'em."
I took a deep breath.
"And be friendly, Sonic. It won't kill ya," he added.
My hands lifted and dropped in an exasperated heap. "Now why the hell did you have to say that? I'm friendly."
His eyebrow raised slowly.
"I'm sort of friendly," I muttered. Then I pointed an accusatory finger at him. "This is why I prefer to bring Nero with me instead of you. People love dogs, and they're less likely to notice when I don't smile at them."
His chin tilted skyward as he burst out laughing. "That dog looks like he'd rip your face off on a good day. You take him places so people won't talk to you."
At that, I grinned a little. My four-year-old Doberman did look like he would rip someone's face off, which was why Levi told me I had to complete one full shift without him waiting for me outside the bakery.
"Sonic," he said quietly.
"I hate that nickname."
"No, you don't. There's nothing more appropriate for you than a prickly little hedgehog who wheels around like a bat out of hell."
Pointedly, I glanced at my watch.
"You're not going to be late." Levi shoved at my shoulder. "Smile at them. Ask questions. Don't assume the worst, okay?"
My tummy knotted up. His smile was softer, more understanding.
My best friend didn't have to ask me why I was so nervous. This was the thing I hated most in the world. Maybe not as much as like terrorism or global warming or patriarchal infrastructures that inherently protected sexual predators, but I hated it a lot.
It was why I was Green Valley Lite
Why I completed high school online and slid right onto college in the same way. Because of moments like this right here.
The moment when I went from Jocelyn Abernathy, the new employee showing up for her first shift, to Jocelyn Abernathy, the girl in the wheelchair. I just had to hope that whoever was waiting for me inside Donner Bakery wasn't one of The Blinders or The Pitiers. Hopefully, they'd be like Levi. Be one of those people who met me and simply saw me.
Those were The Unicorns.
Chapter 2 Jocelyn
Once I cleared the door, the first thing I noticed was the smell. It was the kind of warm and sweet and comforting smell that demanded you stop, close your eyes, and let it fill your lungs. It was cinnamon bread and banana cake, Jennifer's specialty. But it was also coffee and cupcakes and warm bread and sugary confections that made my fingers curl up with excitement to get started.
A few customers looked at me from where they sat at circular tables. Their facial expressions didn't even register, which said something about how nervous I was. I moved forward, glancing behind the large glass case next to the register for any sign of Jennifer's brown hair.
A short brunette crouched behind the register, pulling a lemon-blueberry cake from the bottom row of the massive glass case with her tongue stuck between her teeth in concentration. Her cheeks were covered with freckles, and her eyes were huge in her face as she set the cake down inside a bright pink box without incident. Just as I reached the counter, I heard her let out a huge breath.
When she saw me, her face split into a massive, white-toothed, cheek-lifting smile.
"You must be Jocelyn! Oh, I'm just tickled to meet you."
There was actual giggling as she hustled around the counter toward me. Oh sweet merciful Lord, if she tried to hug me, this whole part-time job thing might not be worth it.
Thankfully, she stuck her hand out, and pumped mine with almost violent intensity.
"Jennifer said you'd be in at two, so I've just been counting down the minutes until you got here."
My mouth opened. Closed. Then opened again. "Am … am I late?"
Her eyebrows, thick and dark over her equally dark eyes, bent down in a confused V. "Course not, I'm just so excited. You're the first person I've been able to train. We're going to be friends, Jocelyn. I can already tell."
Internally, I whimpered. Then I heard Levi's voice in my head. Smile. Ask questions. Don't make assumptions.
"What's your name? I didn't catch it."
Her hands clapped to either side of her round cheeks, rosy pink from the warmth in the bakery. "Heavens, I'm a mess, aren't I? I'm Joy."
"Joy," I said, the smile coming naturally in light of her comically appropriate moniker. "Nice to meet you."
That made her blush happily, turning her cheeks an even deeper shade of rose. "Let me grab someone for the register, and I'll show you the kitchen. We need to grab some more large boxes and the cinnamon roll cupcakes. We're almost out." She started back behind the counter, then stopped so fast I almost rammed into her. When she turned, she said, "Now, don't worry about your being in that wheelchair. We're all real accepting here. No one will bother you about it, and Jennifer told us we're not to make a fuss over you because you're perfectly capable of handling things on your own."
Her voice was so sincere, her eyes wide and serious, that I wanted to grab her hand and tell her to chill the hell out.
"I won't worry, Joy. But thank you for saying so anyway." I cleared my throat when she didn't start walking again. "They assured me the kitchen is fully accessible, so I should be just fine."
Joy nodded so vigorously, a chunk of hair slipped out of her ponytail. "Oh, it is, I promise. Her husband, Cletus, I'm sure you know Cletus Winston? Of course you do." I
