“It’s a connection.”
She nodded. “Absolutely, and the joy on other people’s faces when they eat what we make…”
“It’s like getting a little piece of them back.”
“I knew I’d like you, Jules. No one who bakes like you do could be an asshole. I’ll lay it all out for you.”
I scooted my chair forward, the legs scraping against the polished concrete floor.
“I’m a little short staffed with some of the projects I have coming up. And I’m also hesitant about bringing in new people because of stuff with my husband.”
Oh no, was he a total creeper or something? “What stuff with your husband?”
“Emmett Cunning.”
I hope my blank stare wasn’t taken as a bad thing.
“And if I didn’t think I could like you more, I just did. He’s an athlete.”
“That makes sense. I’ve seen a few pictures and he definitely looks like he works out.”
She chuckled. “Understatement. Being the wife of an athlete comes with some extra spotlight time and crazies, so I’ve had to be careful with who I bring into the business.”
The office door banged open and a woman with ripped jeans who looked like she belonged in an Abercrombie biker gang ad waltzed in. Her rainbow-colored hair was tugged up on top of her head in an I-don’t-give-a-shit bun.
“Is she one of the crazies?” I stage-whispered to Avery.
Avery’s chuckle turned into a full blown laugh. “Absolutely.”
“Did you tell her you want her to be your new intern because you’re knocked up with your giant hockey player hubby’s baby?”
“Max!” Avery shouted, throwing a stack of cupcake wrappers at her head.
“What? I knew you’d be tiptoeing around the whole situation.”
Max pulled up a chair, spun it around on one leg, and sat on it backward. A total cool chick move. If she didn’t have a leather jacket tucked away somewhere, I’d eat my hat. Not that I owned one, but I’d go out and buy one and eat it—tag and all. Beautiful tattoos wound their way up one arm from her wrist to her shoulder. She definitely didn’t have a problem wearing her arms out in public.
Avery sighed. “I never should’ve had them put in that door connecting your shop to mine.”
“Nope, but you like to tempt my custom cake clients with your little treats, so it’s a win-win for you.” Max grinned and turned her gaze to me. “I’m Max. I work next door doing custom cakes. But Avery’s got better coffee and I love screwing with her.” Her smile was annoying-best-friend levels of hilarious. “Ah, you’re the girl she’s trying to rope into her little ‘taking a break’ experiment.”
“I—I think so.”
Avery shook her head and sat down behind her desk. “As Max so delicately put it, I’m pregnant and being on my feet and baking is going to be hard enough, so we’d like to branch out a little and possibly do some work that doesn’t require me to wake up at four AM and be in the shop for twelve hours straight. That’s where you’d come in.”
“What do you want me to do?”
“Come in and learn the ropes. Help in the front of the shop during the day—around your class schedule, of course. I’d also love to show you some of my recipes, and you can help prepare orders for our bigger events. I have some full time people and they’re great, but I’m looking for someone with your kind of talent.”
Max reached over and pushed her fingers against my chin, closing my gaping mouth.
“Seems like she’s in. Are you in, Jules?” She lifted an eyebrow.
My words came out in a sputter. “Sure, I’ll be here for as long as you like. I can be here at 4AM if you need me to be.”
“I don’t need a morning person, but send me the times you’re available and we can figure out a schedule that works for all of us.”
An hour later I’d had a tour of the bakery and still couldn’t get over the fact that I was here. I’d started the mental catalog of what I needed to look up when I got home. I wanted this engagement party weekend over, so I could start already.
“These are killer. Avery’s still testing them out to add to the menu.” Max handed me a mini lemon blueberry cupcake.
“After the long weekend, I’ll be here whenever you need me.” The bright citrus flavor complemented the vanilla cake so well. It was only one bite, but damn, I wanted more. Like, that whole damn tray of them. And that, ladies and gentlemen, was how I’d ended up with the name Gigantic Jules back in middle school.
“Partying it up before school starts?” Avery pushed the big baking trays out of the way.
“I wish. It’s my sister’s engagement party.”
“That’s not a happy face.” Avery rested her elbows on the butcher’s block counter.
“Understatement of the month. She looked like she said she’d be putting her hand in the garbage disposal.”
Was I that transparent? Shit, I’ve lost my touch. I’d have to work on getting my game face back for this weekend.
“Nothing wrong. There’s a lot to get done before the semester starts, and my mother can be…demanding.”
“I.e., a total bitch. We hear you loud and clear, Jules. Don’t worry, we’re not prima donnas here. Other than Preggo My Eggo over here when she’s pushing herself too hard.” Max licked the icing off her fingers.
Avery whipped a towel at Max’s head, which she ducked like she had spider sense.
“As you can tell, I could use some non-smart ass company around here, and I’d love you to bring in some of your own recipes, if you’re up for it. We can call them Jules’ Specials.”
“Yes, absolutely, I can do that.” Or I’d kill myself trying. Having something I made showcased at Bread & Butter was insane.
“Yeah, don’t screw this up, Jules,” Max said through her mouthful of even more cupcakes. And I officially hated her a little bit. She was chowing down on mini cupcakes like they were cucumbers and could rock the skinny chick, ‘I can walk into any store and buy off the rack’ look, while I’d be on the pole for an hour tonight to make sure that mini cupcake didn’t go straight to my already gigantic ass.
I mean, to my well-rounded and strong ass. There, are you happy Dr. Schuller?
“Thanks for the vote of confidence, Max.”
Max turned, her face completely serious. “We’ve got all the confidence in you. If I didn’t think you could do it, I’d have run you out of Avery’s office in five minutes flat. You’ve got this.”
A compliment from Max was something I didn’t think happened too often. In the short amount of time since I’d met her, that comment meant the world to me.
“I won’t let you down. Either of you.” I looked at both Avery and Max.
They gave me reassuring smiles and sent me home with a bag piled high with donuts, cupcakes, and croissants. I was still in shock in the taxi on the way back to campus.
As I grabbed my phone to text Elle, it vibrated in my hand.
BERK: When can I taste your frosting again?
I tried not to blush and failed hard. For some reason writing all the things I’d written him in letters was fine, but by text, real live text where he knew who I was, that was a hell no. He was a flirt. I don’t even know if he knew he was doing it.