“Then go get him,” I said. “Go ahead. I’ll stand here and watch.”
Lucy smiled. “Not for me, Emily. He’s all yours.”
She winked.
I walked around the counter and caught myself blushing.
Liam didn’t see me at first.
He was looking to his left.
I swallowed hard at that side view…
He’s engaged to your best friend.
I wiped my hands on my apron and took a deep breath.
Liam finally looked at me and he stood up and smiled.
“Liam,” I said.
“Hey, Emily,” he said.
Emily now? What happened to Em?
He moved away from the table and hugged me.
“Sorry, I smell like flour and coffee,” I said.
“I like that smell,” he said. “Can you sit for a minute?”
“Sure,” I said.
“I got you a coffee.”
“You didn’t need to do that,” I said as I sat down. “And you didn’t need to pay. You and Miranda never have to pay when you come here.”
“You’re running a business,” he said. “You need to make money. Not give stuff away. But that’s not why I’m here.”
“Okay. Then, what’s up?”
I felt happy near Liam. An old friend. Comfortable. It was nice.
“I was drunk last night, Emily,” he said.
“Liam…”
“Just give me a second,” he said. “I wanted to apologize about that. I had no idea you were going to be there.”
“Why should that make a difference?”
“I looked like a damn fool in front of you.”
“Liam, I’ve seen you drunk many times,” I said. “And I’ve seen you look like a damn fool many times too.”
Liam laughed. “That’s true. But I wanted to apologize. If I said anything…”
“No,” I said. “Not at all. I think Miranda was annoyed, but whatever… right?”
“She’s always annoyed,” he said. “She’s mad at me about it. I get why. She hates Jackson to begin with. So the fact that I was drinking with him and got into a bar fight… then came home drunk in front of you…”
“Seriously,” I said. “It’s fine. If you want me to talk to her I will.”
“No, I wouldn’t ask you to do that,” Liam said.
“But I want to know something.”
“Sure.”
“What was the bar fight over?”
“Nothing,” Liam said.
“How?”
“Jackson just wanted to prove a point. I guess we’re all feeling our age a little. We’re not twenty anymore, you know?”
“So you just fought some guys for no reason?” I asked.
“Stupid, huh?”
“Not really,” I said. “You have to do you.”
“I like that thought process,” Liam said. “Well, I’ll get out of your hair here. I just wanted to apologize. And… I did.”
Liam stood up.
I stood up too.
“Hey,” I said. “It’s fine, Liam. Everything. You know?”
“No. I don’t know. What do you mean?”
I shook my head. “Nothing. Um… do you remember that time you got drunk and tried getting into my neighbor’s house?”
Liam laughed. “Oh. That night. I had never had expensive scotch before. I was so dumb. Me and Steve.”
“You’re lucky my neighbor could sleep through a war,” I said.
“I know,” Liam said. “And you dragged me off their porch. That was… that was fun.”
“Yeah, it was,” I said. “How is Steve?”
“Steve? He lives in Florida. Owns a software company. Married. Two kids. The whole deal. I really only know that thanks to social media.”
“Right,” I said.
My eyes moved for a split second from Liam to see my sister and niece coming into the bakery.
Liam looked. “I better get going. Your sister never liked me.”
“That was a long time ago,” I said.
“It’s always good to see you, Emily,” Liam said.
He slipped away and hurried to get the door for Elise and Henley.
Elise was my sister.
She looked at Liam, then at me, then at Liam again.
She didn’t say a word as she entered the bakery.
But my six-year-old niece did.
“Aunt Emily!” her little voice yelled.
She ran for me and I crouched down to hug her.
When she jumped into my arms, I shut my eyes.
And I pictured Liam.
“What was Liam doing here?” Elise asked.
“Nothing.”
“Don’t give me that,” she said.
She grabbed my arm.
I was holding hands with Henley.
Henley loved to go in the back and hang out with Ember. As if Ember didn’t do enough for me, when Henley showed up, she always let Henley play with some dough and bake something to take home.
I pulled away from Elise and took Henley into the back of the bakery.
“Ember, look who’s here,” I said.
Ember looked at Henley and smiled. “There’s my helper. What are you in the mood for today?”
“Chocolate chip cookies!” Henley yelled.
“Oh, those are my favorite,” Ember said. “Are you sure you don’t want to make some oatmeal raisin cookies instead?”
“Those are for old people,” Henley said.
“Henley, don’t say that,” Elise chided her.
Henley looked back at her mother. She was the spitting image of Elise when she was younger.
The chin, lips, nose, and blue eyes…
And then Henley rolled her eyes slowly.
Just like Elise used to do to me.
I was two years older than Elise, and that eye roll was a daily part of our relationship growing up when she would get in my way and I’d tell her to leave me alone.
“Come on, Henley,” Ember said. “Let’s get you your apron and get baking.”
“Thank you, Ember,” Elise called out.
Ember gave a nod.
Elise grabbed my arm again. “Tell me why Liam was here.”
“Will you relax?” I asked. “He was talking about Miranda. They’re getting married.”
“They’ve been engaged for ten years.”
“Not even close. Stop it.”
“People who are engaged that long really have no intention of getting married.”
“And if that’s the case, it’s not my business,” I said. “They’re my friends.”
“No, they’re not,” Elise said. “Miranda pretends to be your friend. And Liam used to be your friend. The whole thing is weird if you ask me.”
“You know, sometimes your brutal honesty isn’t needed,” I said.
“Yes, it is.”
I walked from the back to behind the register.
I got Elise a coffee.
“What’s going on in your life?” I asked.
She took the coffee. “Nothing. Henley was begging to come here.”
“You and Dan okay?”
“No. We’re getting divorced. He’s been fucking his secretary for a year.”
“What?” I asked.
“I’m kidding,” Elise said. “Jeez. I can’t just come say
