Jamie: Bad news. I’m sick, and I can’t pick up Noah. I’m so sorry.
I drop my pen on my desk and grab my phone to answer her text.
Jamie was supposed to pick up Noah from school today. She’s done it a few times this month, and he loves his time with her. They go to the park or the movies, and she takes him to get cupcakes.
Man, my kid is easily won over with sugar.
Me: It’s cool. You need anything?
Do you need anything?
What the hell am I doing?
Nothing. This is normal. Not out of bounds.
Right?
I’d reply the same to my sister or one of my friends if they were sick.
Jamie: I’m okay. Thank you for the offer, though.
Me: Get some rest. I’ll get Noah from school.
Jamie. Thank you, Cohen.
I slide my phone into my pocket and glance over at Archer. “I have to go. I’ll have Georgia come in and cover my shift for a few hours when she gets out of class.” I rub my temples, already anticipating the backlash of hearing him bitch.
“Why?” Anger radiates off him, and he throws the paperwork we were discussing on my desk.
“Jamie is sick and can’t pick up Noah from school.”
“Find someone else to cover,” he snarls, scratching the scruff on his cheek. “I’m not working with her.”
“Look, whatever beef you two have, it doesn’t need to be brought up here. You work here. She works here. Get the hell over it.”
He glares at me. “As part owner, shouldn’t I have a say in our employees?”
“Not when she’s my sister.”
“I’ll call Silas.”
“He’s out of town.”
“Whatever, man,” he grumbles.
I take that as his acquiescence, and thirty minutes later, I’m in the school pick-up lane. The back door flies open, and Noah jumps into the back seat.
A frown takes over his face as he looks around. “Where’s Jamie? I thought she was picking me up today.”
I stare back at him in excitement. “She’s not feeling well, so you get to hang out with good ol’ Dad today.”
“Ah, man,” he mutters with a frown.
“What am I, chopped liver?”
“She was going to take me to the cupcake place.”
I frown back at the disappointment on his face. “How about I take you to the cupcake place?”
He thrusts his arm into the air. “I’d love that! Can we get Jamie one too? She loves cupcakes, like me. It’ll make her feel better.”
Just as I’m about to say no, I take in the elation on his face.
No way can I say no to that face.
It’s probably why I’ve been a sucker for most of Noah’s requests throughout his life.
“Sure.”
He dances in the back seat. “Can I pick it out? I know her favorite.”
“Of course.”
I text Georgia, asking for Jamie’s address, before putting the car in drive. She’s brought Noah there a few times to hang out at Jamie’s place. She called it a change of scenery, but I call it Georgia being nosy and wanting to know where Jamie lives.
Sally’s Sprinkles is a cupcake shop that sits on the corner of Main Street and Maple in our small town square.
I’ve been here a few times, but Noah and I tend to visit the frozen yogurt shop when we go out for dessert. When we walk in, my mouth waters at the sweet smell of baked goods wafting through the air. Noah wastes no time in skipping to the glass counter.
“Hi, Noah!” greets the woman wearing a frosting-stained apron.
“Hi, Sally!” He wiggles in place while debating his options.
My gaze pings back and forth between them. Other than giving her our cupcake choices, we’ve never talked to this woman before, let alone know her name.
I’m assuming she’s the owner, hence Sally’s Sprinkles.
It hits me that Noah has been here with Georgia and Jamie. That must be how they know each other.
“No Jamie or Aunt Georgia?” Sally asks.
Noah shakes his head. “Aunt Georgia is at school, and Jamie is sick. We’re going to bring her cupcakes to make her feel better!”
Sally’s hand flies to her chest, a grin taking over her wrinkled face. “You’re so sweet. She’ll love that.”
I kneel to Noah’s level. “What’ll it be, buddy?”
“Hmm …” He puts his finger to the side of his mouth, deep in thought, before pointing at a dark chocolate one. “She’ll love that one!”
“She most definitely will,” the woman squeals. “Those are her favorite.”
Noah tips his thumb toward me. “This is my dad.”
“Oh, it’s nice to meet you! I’m Sally.” She wipes her hands on her apron and waves to me as I stand.
Noah peeks over to me. “Her son and Jamie used to be boyfriend and girlfriend,” Noah explains as though he were the head of the gossip committee around here.
Raising a brow, I feel a surge of jealousy tightening around my throat. “Oh, really?”
What the …?
I shouldn’t care that Jamie had a boyfriend.
Sally nods repeatedly. “My Seth was heartbroken when they broke up, but med school was demanding.” An exasperated breath leaves her. “If only they’d get back together now that she’s out of school.”
Fuck Seth.
He had something I want—something I can’t have.
I’ll never have.
I clap my hands and rub them together. “All right, Noah, have you decided which one you want?”
No more talk of Jamie’s former boyfriend.
Noah nods, and we leave Sally’s Sprinkles with a box of cupcakes.