Page 24 of Set It Right
“Yes. Please. I have decision fatigue. If you could make some for me, I’d love you forever.”
She gasped, one hand flying to her cheek. “You don’t already?”
I waved my hand back and forth. “To be honest, it’s touch and go.”
That made her giggle more. “All right, you. Go find a table. I’ll bring something over in a minute.”
I reached into my purse for my wallet. “I have to pay.”
She rolled her eyes. “No, you don’t. Besides, I’m planning on joining you. Your company is payment enough.”
I would have argued getting to sit with her would be another treat, but there was a line forming behind me, and I didn’t think I’d be able to talk her out of it anyway.
I claimed an empty table near the front window. The next table over, a man appearing to be in his fifties pecked away on his laptop. A group of women were playing some type of card game at the table in front of me, speaking softly. Teen girls were clustered around another table, snickering over something on one of their phones. The door chimed as customers went in and out, not remaining silent very long.
Phoebe appeared a few minutes later, carrying a pink box and two iced coffees. She sat across from me, wiping her hands on her frilly apron, and smiled.
“It seems like your shop is doing really well,” I said.
“Oh, it is. It helps to be the only game in town—and that I kind of know what I’m doing.” She flipped open the lid of the box. “I’ve created addicts out of the whole town. They can’t resist my baked goods.”
I snorted a laugh. “Is that what you’re doing with me—giving the first hit for free so I’ll keep coming back?”
“Absolutely.” She nudged the box closer. “Pick your poison. I put one of almost everything in there. If you want a suggestion, I highly recommend the carrot cake muffin. There’s cream cheese frosting inside.”
“Sold.” I lifted the muffin out of the box, surprised and intrigued by how heavy it was. My mouth was watering so much I could barely peel back the wrapper before taking a massive bite. “Mmm…ungh.”
Her brows lifted. “That good?”
“Yunggg.” I covered my mouth to muffle my moan. It might’ve been my hunger speaking, but this was the best thing I’d ever tasted. I took another big bite as soon as I swallowed the first.
Phoebe was more polite, taking delicate nibbles of a chocolate cookie that looked so good I had to stop myself from snatching it from her. Luckily, there was another one in the box.
Once I got a handle on myself and was able to behave like a normal human being, we updated each other on our lives. We’d never fallen out of touch, but it had been a few years since we’d seen each other in person. Phoebe became almost euphoric talking about becoming parents with Deacon. She said he was the sweetest, most protective dad, and Abigail absolutely melted in his arms. She was only slightly jealous of their bond. Mostly, she adored watching them together.
Iwas slightly jealous hearing how wonderful her life was, but I was able to set aside my feelings about the disaster of my own life and revel in her happiness.
Her soft-brown eyes swept over me. “Please tell me if I’m being insensitive. I only know a little bit about what happened with your marriage, and maybe you don’t want to listen to me gushing about mine. You can tell me to shut up at any time.”
I reached across the table to squeeze her hand. “First of all, I would never tell you to shut up. Second, if you want to know, all you have to do is ask. It’s not a secret.”
“Okay…” She rested her chin on her fist, “what happened, Z?”
Somuch. Yet, when it came down to it, it was pretty simple.
I took a deep breath and launched into the worst decision I’d ever made.
“I married a liar enmeshed with his family. There were no boundaries between Jackson and his brothers—to the point where it was like we were in a four-way marriage. I tricked myself into thinking they were extremely close, like Zane andme, but this was way beyond. We rarely had a second of alone time, and when we did, nothing I shared with him remained private. After we got married, we were supposed to move an hour away from them, but I quickly came to realize that was never going to happen. I don’t think Jacksoneverintended to move and only said it to placate me and get me down the aisle.”
Her nose crinkled. “That sounds awful. My family is close too, but they know when to back off.”
“Your family is lovely. They’re nothing like his.” I blew out a breath. “I might have put up with it. Actually, I know I would have. I was determined to make it work no matter what.”
She shook her head. “That stubborn streak.”
“A mile wide.” I smiled ruefully. “No one wants to get divorced, but it’s even worse when you’re thinking about it on the honeymoon.”
“No…” She pushed the bakery box all the way to my side of the table. “You deserve a cookie—or twelve.”
