Chapter 5

5

Percy

" W hy is this fucking oven trying to kill me with grief?" I was at my wit's end with this shit. I wanted to just throw in the towel and walk away from the whole damn thing. Maybe I should sell and get the fuck out of here – go back to Paris and take Tammy Sue with me.

Bennie took his cap off and held it over his heart. "I'm afraid she's dead, Percy. There's not enough duct tape and prayer to keep her running."

My heart leaped. "So, I get a new one?"

"Well… You need to call the insurance company and let them know that the oven is officially dead, and I will upload the details to the claim. They either approve or not—most of the time, they do try to get out of it, but I'll do my best to help you."

"Bennie, you are a lifesaver. But I have no idea what the fuck I'm gonna do in the meantime. How can I function with one oven? I'll have to start baking as soon as I close the store to be able to be fully stocked the next day." My reality crashed into my happiness at the oven's demise.

"We can alter the offerings, Perce," Tammy Sue slid off the counter and put her hand on my shoulder. "I mean, we still have to keep our cake orders going, but maybe we kill some cupcake and cookie flavors and try out a few of your fancier desserts?"

I rolled my eyes. "I still need an oven for most of them, hon. I can't lay them out on hot coals."

"It's a chance to pivot and maybe make this place your own." She said in sing-song. She had been eating cookies and was riding a sugar rush. It happened at this time almost every day.

"First things first, I need to call the insurance company and see what they'll cover. Maybe there are some desserts I could make with less bake time. I'll go over everything tonight and have a game plan in place for tomorrow. Possibly another kind of tart?"

"I love it when you get all bossy. It's so hot."

"Will you go and give me a count of everything that's still in the display? I'll count the cooler."

"Sooo hot. Yes, sir – Sir."

"Alright, hot stuff," Bennie laughed. "I'll upload the information and some photos to the claim when I get back to the office. If I were you, I'd call them in an hour and get this rolling. Sometimes, they accept the info and cut you a check in a few days; other times… Well, it just depends." He frowned and closed his notebook.

"So come up with a plan B – got it. Thanks, Bennie, I don't know what I'd do without you. But most love affairs have to come to an end, and I'm afraid my oven has finally called it quits. You'll have to find some other broken-down floozy. How long will it take to order and install a new one." I picked up my tablet and swiped up to open my excel doc.

"If I do it, I can have it here in a few days. If the insurance acts like an asshole, it could take a couple of weeks. Let's hope for the first. I promise that I'll install it as soon as it arrives. Got to keep my best customer happy." He had one of the most genuine smiles of any of the people in Foggy Basin. He made you feel like he would take care of everything, and so far, he has always done so. He was also a great friend of my dad's.

"Get out of here before I make you take your broken-down harlot with you."

Tammy Sue's high-pitched scream made chills explode on my body, and my feet froze to the floor before my mind could understand what was happening. The thoughts that ran through my head as I ran to the door scared the shit out of me. Bennie followed right behind – his face ashen.

I pushed the metal swinging door open to find her standing like a statue behind the counter and an incredibly handsome gentleman looking completely confused.

"What's wrong."

Tammy Sue pointed to the muscular man whose polo looked like it had been painted onto his torso, and I…

No. It couldn't be.

Bennie bumped into me as I stopped dead in my tracks, and I stumbled forward, almost dropping my tablet.

"That's been actually happening more than I'd like today," he looked down and then back at me. His eyes bore into mine. "Hi, Percy. Can we… uh… talk?"

"He doesn't want to talk to you." I could have kissed Tammy Sue for standing up for me, even if her voice squeaked as she said it.

"I deserve that." His face fell, and he put his hands in his front pockets. My cock hardened in a way it hadn't in years. Why? Why did this man have some kind of fucking power over me still? I used to stare at his back in the school hallways because that was the only way I felt like I could look at him after he decided to hate me. No, not just me. After he decided to hate almost everyone.

"Yeah, you do." I tried to make my voice firm. I didn't actually mean to shout. "Sorry, I… What do you want, Ben?" I placed my tablet on the counter and stepped forward. This was my place, and I had all the power here. I needed to remember that.

"I thought I'd come and get a cupcake. I can go if you don't…"

"No, we don't discriminate in my bakery. We even serve people who made our lives a living hell for years. What flavor would you like?" I smiled and knew it looked about as forced as it could get.

"I am not giving that man a cupcake." Tammy Sue crossed her arms and turned to face me. "Not unless it's made out of shit."

"I think I'll just… I heard that you went to Paris and worked for a Michelin-starred restaurant. I… uh… asked about you." He looked as flustered as I did, and that was odd. Ben had been comfortable in any situation.

"So, you knew that I owned the bakery now?"

"Yes, that's why I'm here. Well, and the great cupcake. I actually have very fond memories of this place. You know, every birthday cake I have ever had has come from here. My mom could not bake. But she would bring me here, and your mom always let me feel like I was helping design it. You remember."

"She's sweeter than me." I crossed my arms and tried to look cross. But all I wanted was for him to close the space between us, take me in his arms, and tell me he was sorry.

"Well, you are a baker, so I would think that you would be pretty sweet yourself by definition."

I sighed and tried to keep my voice steady. "What do you really want, Ben?"

"I really would like to talk to you." He shifted his feet and shrugged.

"Aren't we? I mean, words are being spoken."

He took his hands out of his pocket, and I almost gasped at his biceps as he ran his fingers through his beautiful black curls. "I'm… Look, I know what I… I was a total asshole to everyone."

"I always felt a little special with your assholiness."

He stepped forward and held out his hands. "I know. I'm sorry. That was over ten years ago, and I'm not the same person I was. If you'd just give me a chance, I think you'd see that."

"But why would I care?" I said slowly, feeling like the world's best actor. I did care more than I wanted to admit. His being here was… Why was he here?

"Ok… I get it. Think about it, though. I really would like to have a chance to sit down and talk to you, Percy. I've always wondered what you did after you graduated. I'm glad that you followed your passion. You deserve it."

"Am I in opposite land?" Tammy Sue butted in – which was good because I was starting to melt under his dark-eyed gaze.

"I'm not the same person I was, Tammy Sue. People can change."

"I hope you have, Ben. But that doesn't mean I have to give you any time or listen to anything that you have to say. Right now, I have my hands full, and this is definitely not a good time for the Ben Fitzgerald forgiveness tour. Now, do you really want a cupcake?" I snapped.

"I did. But I'll come back later. I'm not done trying to talk to you, Perce."

"E. Percy. Only my best friends call me Perce."

"Got it." He dropped his head and spun around slowly before walking to the door. "I'm still going to try."

With that, he opened the door and walked out.

"Holy fucking shit."

"I am totally bringing my taser." Tammy Sue slapped the counter.

The world spun, and Tammy Sue was right there to keep me on my feet. Her strong arms grasped my shoulders and guided me to one of the stools we kept behind the counter.

"Well, that was better than must-see TV," Bennie laughed.

"Bennie and Ben!" Tammy Sue chuckled. "God, we really are living in a farce."

She had no idea how right she was. I couldn't get him out of my head for the rest of the day.