Page 40 of Stopping Short

“Peck texted me and said you two were giving off couple vibes and I agree!” She claps her hands in excitement.

“Did she get impossibly happier since she started dating Peck too?” Harper asks me.

“Oh, yeah. The two of them are nauseatingly happy. It’s kind of weird. Totally makes people uncomfortable.” I scrunch up my nose like it bothers me, but I actually love it and am really jealous of their relationship.

They both knew what they wanted and they weren’t afraid to hold onto each other with both hands, even when things got tough.

“Shush! You don’t get to insult my marriage in my bakery.” She folds her arms across her chest and glares at me, but I know she isn’t mad.

“Sorry, sweetheart.” I chuckle and hold my arms open for a hug. She quickly rounds the counter and lets me wrap her in my embrace. “I'm completely jealous of your amazing marriage.”

“Everyone is,” she murmurs and I can hear the grin in her voice. “Now, what are you doing in my bakery?”

She steps back and stares up at me. Though I’ve known the Robinson family for a long time, it never ceases to amaze me how similar Charlie and Sophia look. They’re technically not sisters, but cousins, yet they could be twins if they weren’t seven years apart.

“Well, I need something sweet and Harper wanted to check in with you about that job offer.”

“Yes! I was hoping that’s what you were here for!” Sophia rushes behind the counter and pulls out a clipboard from under the counter. Her eyes move across the paper as she reads whatever it says. “How often do you want to work?”

“Oh, uh… how much work do you want to give me?”

“Listen, Harper, I could have you work here forty hours a week and still need more help. I’m more than willing to bring you on full time and give you benefits, but I need to know if that’s what you’re looking for. I don’t know what your plans are.”

“I don’t know either,” she whispers.

“She’s trying to decide if she wants to go to law school,” I add.

“Well, do you want to work full time until you decide? The Python and Pit Bull stadiums both just increased their order sizes. There are rumors the Pirates’ stadium wants to start ordering things, but that hasn’t been confirmed yet. I have local restaurants and grocery stores asking about selling my things, too. At this point I'm actually turning down work because I don’t have enough help.”

“I’d love that. Thank you.”

“Girl, don’t thank me. I’m going to work you to the bone.” Sophia smirks. “The further along I get with this pregnancy, the more tired I get. I can only imagine what it’s going to be like when I'm about to pop… And then after the babies are born.” Her brows tug together, forming a deep V.

“Stop worrying,” Emma groans as she comes out of the kitchen with a large tray of cookies. “I told you, we’ll make it work. You don’t need to worry about anything.”

“But-”

“Nope! We’ve got it handled!” Bella adds. “Especially if Harper’s joining our team. We’ll figure it all out and hire more help if we need to.”

“You guys are the best. I don’t know what I’d do without you.” Sophia watches her friends with so much thankfulness in her gaze.

“You’d eat too much cookie dough and drown in orders.” Bella giggles.

“You’d gain at least forty pounds… but not baby pounds. Those don’t count. They come out eventually.” Emma shrugs.

I glance at my watch. It took us a little longer than I anticipated to talk to Mason, Maddox, and Peck.

“I need to get going. We have a team dinner before the game and I have to be there for it. You’re invited to join us. Owen personally told me to bring you.”

“Oh, you should stay here! We can show you the ropes. Plus, we’re all going to the game tonight, so you can ride with us and Peck.” Emma folds her hands under her chin like she’s begging.

Harper slips her bottom lip between her teeth and peeks up at me. I can tell she really wants to stay with her friends and catch up, but she wants to come with me too.

“You can stay here, babe. I don’t mind either way and you’ll be safe here,” I murmur softly.

“Are you sure?”

“Absolutely. I want you to enjoy yourself. You might not enjoy a team dinner.” I grin.