I looked down at the deed again, then up at my friends. “I wonder if I can get Ace’s Cake Batter open by the time he comes home?”
Whitney laughed and swiped tears from her cheeks. “We’ll have Hannah come live with us. We’ll turn your loft into a second bedroom. Between all of us, we’ll make sure it’s ready.”
I patted my tummy again.
“Then we’ve got a plan. Get the bakery open, then tell Ace he’s got a bun in the oven.”
Calvin’s fork clattered to his plate, and he dropped his head in his hands.
“What…” I said, giving them my most innocent look. “What could possibly go wrong?”
We all looked at each other and laughed. Then I promptly burst into tears.
***
The next six weeks passed at what felt like the speed of light. We had a wedding to finish planning, a bakery to open, and a season to win… not necessarily in that order.
The Beasts had gone on a bad run, losing three in a row. They were still in the lead, but that lead was narrowing significantly as they headed to the playoffs. Their trip to the World Series wasn’t as certain anymore.
I’d stayed away from the ballpark. Since my bump was now more like a basketball, I didn’t want to bring attention to myself or the pregnancy. I didn’t want anyone telling Ace about the baby before I could tell him myself.
Because my bakery had been used for food service beforehand, the kitchen was in pretty good shape. Whitney had been working her ass off designing my icing-shaped borders and making the front of the building scream bakery. It was looking better than anything I could have ever dreamed of.
I was instructing the delivery men on where to install my new ovens when Jack surprised me by walking in. Weeks ago, I told him I couldn’t see him any longer so I couldn’t believe my eyes when he was standing in front of me. Apparently, he couldn’t believe his eyes when he stared at my belly.
“So…” he began, scratching his head. “I think I understand everything a little better now.”
I exhaled and pushed my hair back from my face. “I’m sorry. I just…” God, how do I explain something like this?
He held up a hand. “I get it. I understand now. I just wish you’d felt like you could have told me. I guess I thought we were better friends than that.”
I was so ashamed. “The truth is, Jack, that Ace doesn’t know. And I don’t want him to know until he… well, until he gets back. So I’ve been avoiding everyone, not just you.”
He nodded but still looked hurt.
I sighed, feeling miserable. “I really am sorry. All of this was just so unexpected. I didn’t handle things very well.”
“Holly, where do—?” Hannah skidded to a halt just inside the door. “Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t know you had, um, company.”
She was blushing. My sister never blushed.
I looked at Jack who was looking at Hannah. They were just staring at each other.
Interesting.
I introduced them and felt myself start to smile as they shook hands, holding onto each other just a little too long. Thank God I never slept with him, or this would be seriously awkward.
Whitney stepped in just as Jack and Hannah stepped outside. I’d encouraged them to get to know each other better at the little diner across the street.
“What’s going on?”
I shook my head, still amazing at the chain of events. “I think they like each other. They’re heading over for a cup of coffee.”
“And you’re okay with that?” she asked me.
“Yes. Very.”
Through the window, I watched him open a door for her, his hand at her lower back guiding her inside. Jack was perfect for my baby sister. And she was perfect for him.
“They are cute together,” Whitney admitted and wrapped her arms around me, her hand on my belly. “Oh, he kicked!” She pressed her hand on my stomach harder as the baby swirled around.
“What makes you think he’s a he?” I asked her. So far, the baby hadn’t cooperated during any of the ultrasounds. I still didn’t know the sex.
“Auntie intuition,” she said, giving me a kiss on the cheek.
The next hour passed quickly as the ovens were set up and the electricians wired them. After a while, Jack and Hannah were back, her cheeks just as rosy as before. She was practically skipping back into the kitchen, then Whitney wandered off. That left Jack and me. I couldn’t stop grinning at him.
He scratched his head, looking embarrassed. “So… you don’t mind if I see your sister again?”
My grin was now threatening to break my face. “Of course not. I think it’s wonderful. I’m thrilled, really.”
He was grinning too, and it felt wonderful to not feel guilty about his happiness. He looked at my belly. “Well, good luck and I promise not to tell anyone.”
I stepped closer and gave him a hug. “Thank you,” I gushed. “Thank you for being so wonderful. I can’t tell you how happy I am.”
As I pulled away, I saw something out of the corner of my eye.
It was Ace.
He was standing in the doorway, a bouquet of roses in his hand.
Our eyes met then I watched his gaze lower to my stomach, then look at Jack.
He was out the door before the flowers hit the floor.
CHAPTER TWENTY THREE
Ace
When I hadn’t found Holly at her place, I’d gone to the bakery on a hunch. I’d just gotten back from Florida, and she was all I could think of. She was my priority.
Picking up the flowers had felt so foreign. I’d never bought flowers in my life. But these roses had drawn my eye, an incredible pink that grew darker until they were a deep red at the tips. They seemed like Holly for some reason — soft yet strong at the same time.
I hadn’t felt as foolish as I thought I would carrying them from my Porsche and down the busy sidewalk. I’d seen Whitney’s car in the parking lot and felt pretty secure in my belief that Holly would be there too.
I wasn’t shaky.
I was solid.
This was what I’d been waiting for, working for, puking for, aching for. This moment. When Holly could look into my clear eyes for the first time and know I was serious about making a life with her.
Workmen were coming in and out of the bakery. There were guys on ladders, hanging a sign. I looked up. Ace’s Cake Batter.
She remembered.
Taking a deep breath, I stepped inside… and froze. Holly’s arms were wrapped around Jack, and she was smiling and laughing and saying something. “I can’t tell you how happy I am.”
Pain primal and raw ripped through me, I looked down to see if a knife was sticking out of my chest. It wasn’t, so I looked back up to see Holly pulling away from him. A different looking Holly. Fuller. Even more beautiful.
Then she saw me.
And I saw her.
She was pregnant.
She was with Jack.
I cursed how clear my mind was because it connected the dots too quickly.
I was a fool. And I needed to get out of here. I dropped the flowers and was gone.
“Ace!”
I heard my name. It somehow came through the blood roaring in my ears. Then I heard it again. I was at my car, getting inside, turning it on when she caught up to me. She pulled the door open and flung herself in my lap, her arms around me, the warmth of her harsh sobs against my neck.