| |
The next day, Erena found herself working at the bakery again. She hadn't slept last night. Although she hadn't asked, she suspected that the bet Margot and Nolan made had had something to do with how quickly Matt would come outside. The more she thought about it, the more fucked up it seemed.
So she tried not to think about it. Her movements were quick and efficient as she served customers. She could hear Margot's gentle swearing in the back, but she knew the commentary would be too quiet for human ears.
During a lull in customers, she walked to the doorway leading into the kitchen and peeked in at her sister. "What's going on back here? You're swearing like a sailor."
"My experimental tiramisu flavor completely tanked." Margot's forehead was sweaty and a lock of hair had escaped the cap covering her head.
Erena went all the way into the kitchen to stare at the mixing bowl on the counter along with Margot. The grayish brown batter had a sickly look to it. "Why is it gray?"
"I don't know. I don't know why I put this on the menu for the day. I even announced it on Instagram."
"Well, unannounce it. Nobody's eating that shit today."
"Thanks," Margot said sarcastically. "I can always depend on my older sister not to sugarcoat anything for me."
Erena opened her mouth to retort, then closed it. Margot's comment smarted maybe more than it should have.
Margot looked up and, likely noticing the stricken look on Erena's face, reached out to squeeze Erena's arm. "Oh, sis, I'm sorry. That was unfair. Also, I'm sorry about last night. Nolan and I thought we were making fun of Matt, but we shouldn't have pulled you into it."
Erena nodded. She wasn't going to tell Margot that it was okay, because it wasn't. But it would be.
"Anyway," Margot said, "anybody can tell that the guy is crazy about you."
Erena was surprised to feel her face burn. She was too old to get these fluttery feelings in her stomach over a man. And yet, here she was, thinking about him, wanting to giggle, her face probably turning red because somebody else mentioned him.
"It doesn't matter how crazy he is," Erena said. "I'm not going to have anything to do with him."
"Oh, sis." Margot's gaze was pitying, which pissed Erena off.
The bells chimed over the front door, so Erena hurried back to the counter. After that customer, more came in, crowding the little bakery in singles, pairs, and small groups. Margot emerged from the back to help Erena with the rush. The two of them worked side by side, moving back and forth behind the counter in syncopation, almost in a dance. It was the first time since Erena had returned to the territory that she didn't feel disconnected from her sister. The tension between them was easing. She didn't know what had caused it, but she was grateful.
She could even begin to see the appeal of working in a bakery. Once the two of them had fallen into a rhythm, the sounds of coffee being poured, the scent of baked goods, and the smiles of cheerful customers were all rather pleasant. It wasn't anything that Erena wanted to do on a permanent basis, but maybe helping her sister out occasionally wouldn't be such a bad thing.
Toward the end of the rush, Nina came in by herself. Margot had already returned to the back, so Erena was working the counter on her own.
"Hi, Nina," she said carefully.
"Hey." Nina smiled at her and set her giant purse up on the counter. "I wanted to get some cupcakes for a celebration."
"Sure, what do you want?" Erena asked her.
While Nina picked out a dozen cupcakes, Erena thought back to what Jameson had said. He thought the world of Nina. And yet, in the same breath, he had said that Erena should be friends with her.
He wouldn't want Erena to be friends with his mate if he thought that Erena wasn't good enough. She hadn't thought about it like that at the time, but now the idea filled her with warmth.
"So," Erena said tentatively, "what are you celebrating?"
Nina pursed her lips together, trying to hide a smile. "Can you keep a secret?"
Secrets were nearly impossible in the shifter world, but Erena nodded. "I'll try."
"You're the first person I'm telling. Well, other than Jameson." Nina took a deep breath and looked around the tiny bakery. "I'm going to announce it tonight, because everybody's going to figure it out soon anyway. But, I'm pregnant."
Erena felt a smile grow on her face. Nina hadn't told anybody, other than Jameson, until Erena. She was the first—almost—to hear the news. And this news was so, so wonderful.
"Nina, that's great." Erena's voice cracked with emotion. She couldn't stop smiling, and she was smiling so hard her cheeks began to hurt. "I'm really happy for you."
The bells jangled over the front door and somebody else walked in. Erena looked up to see Matt standing there.
He paused and did a double take. "You're smiling," he said.
Nina raised a finger to her lips. "Shh."
Erena cleared her throat. “Right here. I am standing right here.”
"Sorry," Nina said, turning back to Erena with a grin. "I'll see you at the Ring of Fire later?"
"Definitely." Erena rang up Nina's purchase at the register, then Nina paid, took her box of cupcakes, and left. Erena was still smiling after she had gone.
Matt approached the counter, his long legs carrying him across the room in just a few strides. He wore a pair of old jeans and there was a bit of dirt at the hem, like he'd been running in the forest earlier and had taken them off to shift. Probably making more rounds for Jameson, helping out to earn his place in the clan.
He leaned against the counter. The guy was a leaner, no doubt about it—he always seemed to be propping himself up against something.
Erena felt like a goon with such a big smile on her face, but she couldn't help it. A little baby would be joining the Rock Creek Clan. A tiny little person. She was overwhelmed with joy at the thought of it.
Grinning at her, Matt reached out to touch her cheek. She held her breath. Something was different, something good, and she didn't know what was going to happen but she was one hundred percent on board.