I smelled like coffee, sugar, and baked goods. In other words, I smelled like my favorite things.
It had been a long day, and considering I hadn’t slept the night before, I was honestly surprised I was still on my feet.
“Are you heading home?” Raven asked as she pushed her hair back from her face. She had added a few additional pink streaks recently and it made her even more adorable. I loved that Raven seemed like the sweetest, quietest of the bunch, and then ended up with funky hair, a few more piercings than me, and could stay up longer than I could and party the night away, with her boyfriend, if they weren’t staying at home and watching movies with Sebastian’s daughter.
“Yes. Although you should be heading home first. You opened. I came in late.” I winced as I said it, hating myself for even doing it.
I was never late. Nor was Raven. We both worked our asses off since we moved here from Portland, opening up a bakery and coffee shop that would be exactly what we needed. I was blessed when it came to Raven. She was my best friend and family, in a way that even my brothers weren’t.
There were reasons that my brothers and I weren’t close, and it had nothing to do with them. Nor did it truly have anything to do with me.
My family was screwed up for its own reasons, but no matter what, I knew I could rely on Raven. The fact that we had moved to Colorado, her former home, and now owned our new place, meant that I trusted her with everything.
So me being late because I was tired and heartbroken over the fact that someone I thought was a nice guy thought I was a little too much for him, hurt.
I didn’t want to be a flake. Raven wasn’t a flake either; my goal had always been for us to be equal partners.
Not her having to cover for me because I was tired.
“Sebastian is picking up Nora from her Girl Scouts camping trip today, and they’re going to be late. They get some daddy and daughter time, and I don’t want to sit at home alone. So, I’m hanging out here. You can go home if you want. You don’t have to close.”
My heart twinged, and though both of us were still technically working in the back, I reached out and hugged my best friend.
“I’m glad you and Sebastian had alone time though. I know it sucks having Nora gone overnight, but it must be nice for the two of you.”
I loved Sebastian. He was damn perfect for Raven, even though the two of them had gone through a few rough patches to get to where they were. And Nora was the most adorable five-year-old ever. They just clicked, the three of them. I knew that they were going to make an amazing family when they were ready to make it official.
Raven had already moved in, the house next door being rented out to another family. It happened quick, far quicker than I had expected, but I wasn’t surprised. The two of them were meant for each other, and it just made sense.
I wished I could find that. I wasn’t very good at it.
As was evidenced by Matt dumping me right when I thought we were getting it right.
“I’m glad that Sebastian and I had alone time, too. Tonight, when I get home, there will be dinner waiting for me, and my family.” She smiled softly, her eyes getting that dreamy look they got every time she thought about Sebastian and Nora. I was so damn happy for Raven.
“You’re making him cook?” I teased, knowing that Sebastian was a good cook, but Raven was better. And she was the absolute best baker I had ever met. Hence why I began this company with my best friend.
“Oh, he’s picking up food. That was the deal, and it makes Nora happy. Seriously though, there’s a couple more hours, Frank is closing anyway, and Jasmine wants a couple more hours for the week. You don’t have to stay the whole evening.”
“I love you. And yes, Jasmine does need a couple more hours, but that doesn’t mean that I need to go home.”
“I’m not kicking you out. But I am saying maybe it’s okay if you take some time off.”
I started on another order while Raven worked on the brioche that would take overnight to prove.
“So you’re saying that I need some time to wallow?” I ask, only sounding a little sullen.
“That’s not what I’m saying at all,” Raven said with a sigh, mixing ingredients together with the recipe beside her even though she wasn’t even looking at it. I was working on four different kinds of lattes at once, making my foam art, even though I never realized that would be part of my life. But here I was, and I enjoyed it, I enjoyed making people happy. Coffee was a way of life, and while it could be addicting, it was just a piece of home. I loved making the perfect first taste, and then the second taste even better. That was the problem with some coffee places—you had that perfect first taste, and then it got bitter. I wasn’t about to do that. No, I found that balance, no matter what milk substitute or sugar substitute that they needed.
We had nearly every type of milk here, and made our own nut milk with a blender and emulsifier. We had oat milk, almond made from organic and sustainably sourced almond farms, pistachio, goat, and countless others. The only nut milk we didn’t have was cashew, and that was because a good friend was allergic. And since he worked in the building, there was no way we were going to accidentally hurt him. Only a few people had even asked about it, and when I explained we had an allergy, they completely understood. I could always find a milk alternative for them.
I was suddenly thirsty, and after I handed off the finished lattes to Jasmine, I worked on a small cup of decaf for myself. I didn’t need any extra coffee, and while some people thought that decaf was a way to ruin the bean, I thought that enjoying coffee without adding too much caffeine to your system was a way to go.
“Earth to Greer, you doing okay?”
I shrugged. “What? Did I miss something?”
“I just asked what exactly you and Matt fought about, and you didn’t seem to be hearing me. You were focused on your foam art, which I understand. We are working here, but you also can talk to me.”
I sighed, sipped my drink, and smiled at the taste of hazelnut, oat, and the perfect crisp blend of my decaf. I needed to work on finding another bean.
Nobody complained, but I always wanted more. And maybe that was my problem.
“I’m having an annoying day.”
“Because of Matt?”
“I wish you wouldn’t say his name.”
“I’m sorry.”
“No, I’m sorry. I’m just in a shitty mood. Maybe you’re right, maybe it is because of him. Maybe I just feel like I’m in a funk. He dumped me, even though I told the guys I’m the one who sort of ended it. Matt already had one foot out the door.”
“Did he say why? You guys seemed to be hitting it off. And I liked that for these past couple of months you’ve been smiling more and dancing around and feeling settled. After all, you followed me here to Denver when I wanted to be closer to my family, and took a chance on a new venture. But Portland was your home.”
I shrugged uncomfortably, going through the next order. “Portland was my home. And then Seattle was my home, then Portland again, then Seattle, then Portland. You know, I never stayed in Oregon long enough to actually have a full year of school once my parents divorced the first time.”
Raven winced and I shrugged, grateful for the lull in orders so I could start working on paperwork.
“I love my parents, and I hate them. Portland was home. Seattle was sometimes home, but now Denver’s home. I love it. I love the people.” I liked being with certain people more, but I didn’t say that. There were rules, and crushing on the hot guys in the office next door who happen to be your friends, and were most likely hot for each other, was not allowed.
“Well, I’m glad that you’re here. Denver was my home growing up, and now will be my home for a very long time if the Montgomerys have anything to say about it.”
I snorted, thinking about the complex and ever-growing Montgomery family that seemed to rule the state of Colorado. The co-owner of our franchise and coffee house, Latte on the Rocks, wasn’t a Montgomery, but she was married to a coworker of the Montgomerys. And those coworkers were all parents or cousins of the Montgomerys that happened to own and work in this building. Raven was dating a Montgomery, and our friend Brooke was married to a Montgomery, and our friend Lake was an actual Montgomery. And one of the guys that I tried not to think about was a Montgomery. Technically, he was a Montgomery-Gallagher since his mother was the Montgomery and one of his fathers was the Gallagher, but I tried not to think about Noah.
Or Ford.
I shouldn’t dwell on that, especially when I was heartbroken over the fact that Matt had dumped me.
“Matt said I wasn’t focused,” I said, after my thoughts had rambled so much they just proved the point for him.
“Are you kidding me? That’s idiotic. You are twenty-five, you own your own business, you have a college degree, and you make the best damn coffee in the state.”
“It’s so sweet that you think that it’s the best damn coffee when we both know that I make only decent coffee.”
“You do more than decent. And if you can call me the best baker in the state and I’m not allowed to complain, you have to sit there and not complain when I call you that.”
“You know, you throwing my words back in my face is not very nice.”
“Not focused though?” Greer said as she smashed her fist into the dough in front of her, working on another set of rolls.
“He thought I wasn’t focused on him enough. I guess he’s right. Between work and my friends and just more work, I haven’t had time. Plus, there’s research to do in this job. And we own this business. Yes, Haley is the actual proprietor, and the Montgomerys own the building, but we do everything else.” I gestured towards the paperwork in front of me. “I might have been a business major, but it still takes a lot of work.”
“We work hard, and anybody who is with us needs to understand that. That’s on Matt if you’re not focused on him. Oh, I’m sorry, if he thinks you’re not focused on him.” She rolled her eyes as she said it. “And honestly, last month when we did the charity softball tournament, it was only two weekends, and he could have joined but decided not to.”
I winced and nodded. “And that meant I spent more time with you and the Montgomerys than him.”
“He was invited.” Raven frowned. “Why didn’t he come? I thought he played baseball in high school or something like that.”
“He did. But I think the fact that it was mostly men 6’2” and taller with broad shoulders, big beards, and ink all over them that might have pushed Matt off.”
Raven blinked at me, her hands still in dough. “He’s intimidated by the Montgomerys?”
“Why do you sound so surprised? Most people are intimidated by the Montgomerys. And I’m not just talking about the tattoos and the piercings. They’re big, they’re loud, and they’re amazing I know. But they’re not what a lot of people imagine when they think of a huge family.”
“They’re exactly what I think of when I think of a huge family. Then again, I grew up knowing the Montgomerys. Matt couldn’t have been jealous though, you’ve never been with any of them.” Raven paused and looked at me. “Have you?”
I threw my hands up so quickly I accidentally tossed the pen across the floor. Raven looked down at it, and then up at me, her eyes wide.
“No, I’ve never been with a Montgomery. I’ve never been with any of them. We had literally just moved here, and I started dating Matt. I thought it stuck. It didn’t. You are the one that shacked up with a Montgomery. Not me.”
Raven studied my face, trying to figure out what I was hiding. I technically wasn’t hiding anything. I wasn’t with a Montgomery. I just happened to have sex dreams about one. And his best friend. Often. And sometimes those dreams were when I wasn’t sleeping. But I was never going to act on them, which was why I had gone out with Matt.
And as my mind kept whirling in a thousand different directions, clearly I wasn’t staying focused enough, Raven studied me.
“Seriously. I haven’t been with one. And I’m not going to be. I’m glad that it worked out between you and Sebastian, but I don’t have that kind of history, and me being with any of the ones in this building would be complicated. I want this business to succeed. I want my friendships with the family and everyone else to succeed. I can’t fuck this up, so I’m going to stay single for a while, or maybe go on a thousand one-night stands because why the fuck not. But I’m not going to think about Matt anymore. He didn’t want a relationship with me, and I need to get out of my own head.”
Raven nodded as I spoke, but she still studied my face, as if she were trying to figure out exactly what I was thinking.
Damn woman saw way too much.
“I’m glad that you’re thinking about having fun and just enjoying yourself and figuring out exactly what you want. But you don’t have to hide away from everybody. I can go and kick Matt’s ass if you want. Or send Sebastian. I’m sure he’d enjoy that.”
I smiled as Raven finished cleaning up, drying her hands, and then I ran around the counter and threw my arms around her.
“I love you. Just saying.”
Raven smiled and kissed my cheek. “I love you too. Why don’t you take the evening off like you should have and go do something fun?”
“What is fun? I sit at home and I crochet, or I hang out with my cat. Maybe that’s why I’m not focused.”
Raven pinched my side and I laughed, shaking my head, “Hey, that’s not nice.”
“You are hot, amazing, young, and now single. You can have all the fun you want. And if it wasn’t for the fact that Nora is coming home tonight, I would go party and paint the town red with you.”
“I have no idea what paint the town means,” I said with a dry laugh.
Raven blinked. “Neither do I. Okay, I’ll have to Google it later. You need to get out of here, enjoy yourself. In fact, I’m going to leave with you. Let’s go tell the others, because we’re the bosses, and we’re technically off already.”
“You’re insane and I love you.”
“It’s what I do. Seriously though, I love you. Go have fun tonight. Go out. Go drag Daisy with you.”
“Daisy’s working tonight, remember?” I said, speaking of another Montgomery.
“Oh damn. What about Aria?” she asked, mentioning Sebastian’s twin.
“I’ll plan something this weekend. Okay? Tonight I’m just going to go home. Horatio misses me.”
“I love your little orange cat. Hug the baby for me.”
“You know I will. Of course, Horatio doesn’t actually let me hug him. He’ll sit on my lap when he wants to, or sit beside me. But I don’t get to hold him.”
“Only you will get the meanest cat out there, who doesn’t like people, but will totally cuddle with every other stranger that walks into the house.”
“I don’t know what I did to Horatio in a past life, but I will make that cat love me.”
“It’s only been a few months, he’ll love you.”
“Sure,” I said, totally not believing her.
We made our way out front to finish what we needed to do. As predicted, Jasmine and Frank were up for closing, and were actually excited to do so.
I packed up my things and headed home to my cat who didn’t love me quite yet, but tolerated me. Sometimes.
I pulled into my garage and closed the door behind me, walking into my kitchen, whistling under my breath.
I was fine, and I would be fine. Yes, I was going to spend the night crocheting an uneven sock, and snacking on whatever was in the fridge, but I’d be fine. So what if I wasn’t good enough for Matt? Or if he didn’t think that we were good enough for each other? I’d find a way to make this work. Or at least figure out what the hell I was doing for myself.
I wasn’t alone, not really. Horatio scampered into the kitchen, orange tail high, and the tabby just glared at me.
“Hello baby.” I cautiously knelt down, hand out, hoping he would come to me. He stared at me, took two steps forward, one step to the side, and then gently arched his neck, just slightly, but he didn’t touch his head to me. I would have to move at least three inches in order to brush my fingers along the top of his little tabby head.
And that meant if I moved too quickly, he would run away. But if I didn’t move fast enough, he would look at me as if I had forsaken him, and we’d start all over again. I didn’t breathe, I oh so casually moved my fingers towards him. He didn’t move away, and he didn’t look at me. But his head was tilted in a way that I knew that I needed to pet my baby.
When my fingers barely touched the top of his head, he froze, his whole body stiffening. I did the same, and when he leaned into me, that lovely purr echoing in the kitchen, I let out a relieved sigh.
Of course, I shouldn’t have done that. Way too much noise. Horatio scampered off, running out of the kitchen, his back feet leading the way because his back legs were so long, he galloped sideways.
I sighed, still crouched down with my crossbody purse slung between my legs on the ground.
“Well, at least we’ve made some progress,” I called out to the cat, who just made a loud retching sound in response. I sighed. “Okay, so first clean up the vomit, feed the cat, water the cat, have the cat ignore me, and then eat some cold pizza. Sounds like a good time.”
By the time I finished that routine and read a book in the bath while Horatio paced beside the tub but still wouldn’t let me touch him, I was tired.
I laid down in bed, book still in hand, and smiled when Horatio padded his way to the end of the bed. He wasn’t going to let me touch him, but he would let me get close. I figured it was an okay night.
We had made progress. Maybe not with myself, but with Horatio.
A loud beeping echoed in my head as I forced myself awake, and I began to cough, smoke filling my lungs.
I looked around, and realized there was smoke in the house, and everything smelled like fire. Horatio was cuddled up to my side. His body shaking, I nearly screamed.
My house is on fire. Somehow, there’s a fire in my house.
I grabbed my phone and tried to grab Horatio but he ran. Panic seized me. “Baby. Come here. We need to go.”
But Horatio stood by my closet door and wouldn’t come to me. I pulled out my phone and tried to dial 911, but accidentally hit the most recent call instead.
It was two in the morning, and while I was trying to get Horatio out, trying to think of how to get us safely out of my house, a deep voice answered.
“Greer? What’s wrong?”
I had called Ford. The last number I dialed because I had his coffee order. His voice nearly made tears spring to my eyes, but it was something. It was something.
“My house is on fire. And I can’t get my cat. Ford. I need to call 911. My house is on fire.”
Something snapped and the fire grew closer. I threw myself towards Horatio, grateful when I caught his little orange body. His claws dug into my arm, Ford shouted directions in the phone, I coughed, and I prayed.
“Greer! Greer, are you there?”
But there was nothing.