15. Chapter 15

Chapter 15

Evie

I'm sitting at my desk, listening to the sounds of the kitchen as everyone gets ready for the day. I got here early and started the coffee and the first batch of morning pastries. Now it's time for me to do some of the office tasks—my least favorite thing about owning Bake My Day.

I hear the bell chime over the door, and happy voices carry to my office as someone places an order. A smile crosses my face. I love that I get to help people start their day off with something that brings them joy.

I pull my laptop in front of me and open a browser. It's time to switch hats from work to MOH duties for the wedding. I shake my head as Sean's ‘duties' is now part of my vocabulary.

I'm still looking for the perfect cake topper. I've come across a few that I like but I haven't found one that screams of Sean and Jess to me.

I know what I want, but I haven't found it yet.

A few hours later, I'm scrolling halfway down the page when I find it. I click on it and gasp. My lips curve up, and I clap my hands together.

"That's it!" I say to an empty office. "This is perfect!!"

I was looking for something that would represent both of their personalities and though this isn't quite what I thought I had in mind, it perfectly represents everything those two are getting into right now.

My smile completely breaks free as I inspect the cake topper. I love it more than I was hoping I would. I want those two meddlers to remember exactly what they were doing at this time in their lives. More importantly, I want them to know that I know what they are doing.

I rub my hands together, feeling like I'm somehow getting them back. I narrow my eyes and shake my head. I can't get over this whole matchmaking thing. It's so not cool.

You know I can't help but fall a little bit more in love with you when you're angry, right?

My heart skips as Jamie's words replay in my head. Despite keeping myself so busy that I am passing out when my head hits the pillow, I still hear those words over and over and my heart races every time.

Does he love me? Like, really love me?

As far as I know, Jamie has never been in a relationship—I'm not even sure if he's ever had a girlfriend. I never considered him a player, but maybe he's just anti-relationship.

Would Sean and Jessica try to push Jamie and me together if they thought he would hurt me? I bite my bottom lip at that thought.

Nah. They wouldn't do that to either of us.

I know he knows what Sean and Jess are up to. Is he okay with it?

My stomach flutters as I recall his hazel eyes and the heat in them whenever he met my gaze while we were talking to Jacob and then again when he walked me to my car.

I put my hand to my cheek, remembering how his lips felt pressed there. My hand slides to my lips as I think about where I wanted those firm lips. I blow out a deep sigh and drop my head in my folded arms on my desk.

"Why can't I just stop thinking about him!?"

"Knock, knock." Liam's voice catches me by surprise, and I look up to find him and Penny looking at me quizzically.

"Hi, you two." I force a smile and try to pretend that I wasn't just talking to myself about Jamie. And that they didn't just catch me. "What are you doing here?"

"I was off today and took Penny out for lunch. I hope it's okay that we stopped in to say hello." Liam's forehead pulls as he intently examines my face. "Are you okay, Evie?"

"I'm fine, fine. Come on and sit down." I point to the chairs across from my desk. "I was just talking about a client of mine who is driving me a little batty."

"Sure you were," Penny says with dancing eyes. "His name doesn't happen to be Jamie, does it?"

My eyes widen, and my mouth drops. Dang, I'm caught. "Why would you think that?" I ask innocently. My heart is pounding so hard it's the only thing I can hear.

"No reason." Penny looks at Liam and they give each other a knowing smile. I feel my stomach clench.

UGH. I hate that my family and their significant others are so perceptive. It's really annoying being on this side of things.

About eight months ago, Penny and Liam were on that side of the desk but I was the one doing what they were doing. I sit down and look at the image on my laptop. If you can't get the dogs off of the scent give them a new one.

"Look at the cake topper I found for Jessica and Sean." I turn the laptop around. "What do you think?"

"Oh, Evie! It's so cute," Penny says as Liam throws his arm around her waist and kisses her on the cheek before looking at the screen. "What gave you the idea for the mistletoe?"

She looks at me with her eyes gleaming, and I see Liam trying to hold back a smile, but his eyes are swimming with humor.

"Umm, well. It just seemed appropriate. With the holiday-themed wedding and how they're putting mistletoe everywhere." I wave a hand dismissively.

"Everywhere?" Liam asks, tilting his head. "It was at Jessica's house for the party, but I haven't heard of it anywhere else."

I feel heat creep up my face as I think about me and Jamie standing under the mistletoe in front of everyone at the ugly sweater party. I clear my throat and will my inflamed face to cool down.

"And now at the ice skating rink for their upcoming party," I say quietly, not making eye contact with either one.

"That's right! You remember them talking about that, Pen? They talked about having something there when we were at Sean's house for dinner."

"Yes. I don't remember them talking about mistletoe, though." I can feel Penny's eyes on me, and from the tone of her voice, I don't need to see her face to know she's smirking.

I shuffle some papers around on my desk as I respond. "According to Jacob, Sean wants mistletoe on all the entrances and exits of the ice."

I hear both of them chuckle, and my face gets even hotter.

"Apparently, my brother thinks that everyone wants to kiss everyone." I bite my lip and look up to find two sets of eyes looking at me intently. "What?!"

"Everyone, or just trying to get you and Jamie to kiss?" Liam presses his lips together to keep the laugh he is holding back from escaping.

"Liam, can't you see that you're embarrassing Evie?" Penny giggles, trying to help but clearly enjoying my discomfort.

"I think you two should leave now." I look at both of them entirely seriously, and they laugh.

I feel heat creep up the back of my neck, and I clench my fists.

"Evie, don't get angry. We're just teasing you." Penny reaches across the desk and squeezes my clenched fist. I feel some anger leave as I look up at her affectionate expression. "All of us couldn't help but notice how unhappy you were anytime Jamie's name came up—"

"Granted, it took Penny and I a bit longer to see it, but when we finally did, it made us sad." Liam's teasing look is gone, replaced by a gentle smile.

"I wasn't unhap—"

"Evie!" They say together, looking at me pointedly with their heads tilted in the same direction. A chuckle escapes my lips at this display of unity, but then my heart squeezes, and my stomach drops.

I'm happy that both of my brothers are in relationships with wonderful women, but my longing for someone of my own is becoming overwhelming.

Jamie's face flashes across my mind, and I sigh.

"Wait." My forehead pulls, and I look up at them. "Are you two in on the matchmaking scheme?"

"Matchmaking?" Penny narrows her eyes and glances at Liam, whose eyebrows are up to his hairline.

"Matchmaking?" He repeats.

"Yeah. Sean and Jessica are doing their darnedest to stick me and Jamie together."

"Ohhhhhh. So that's why you were on the same team." Penny nods.

"And you kept getting all of those questions about relationships," Liam adds.

"And the mistletoe!" They both yell together, eyes wide.

"Now the cake topper makes perfect sense," Penny chuckles.

"They're going to love that so much." Liam shakes his head and laughs. "Especially knowing that it got you and Jamie back together."

"Jamie and I were…" I stop when I see them staring at me with their eyebrows raised, and raise my hands in surrender. "Okay. Okay. Jamie and I were something—"

"He's completely in love with you," Liam says so confidently that I would 've fallen if I weren't sitting.

"Huh? What?" I try to cover my surprise but only sound like a bumbling fool. "Pfft. He's not in lo—"

"Yeah, yeah. Just like you're not in love with him. We know, we know." Penny smirks at me.

For the first time since they arrived, I feel a real smile lift my lips, and I relax back against my chair.

I look down at my skirt and pretend to pick off some lint. "Is there anything that this family doesn't know?"

Penny shakes her head, and Liam grins at me. "It's annoying having perceptive siblings, isn't it?"

I meet his gaze and see the love and gratitude reflected there. I know he's talking about how Sean and I were when he first got home from the Army. We didn't let him hide, and we made sure that he got some help from an emotional support dog. Tex helped him to come out of his shell and then Penny helped to bring him back to us.

I lean on my desk and hold my hand out to him. He takes it. "Very annoying," I say as I squeeze his hand.

"I love you, Evie. You deserve to be happier than happy." He squeezes my hand back. When did my baby brother get so big and wise?

"Oh, and you're gonna make that happen?" I tilt my head sideways with a crooked smile.

"If you're going to be too stubborn, then yes. Sean, Jessica, me, Penny, Mom, Dad, and the Stewarts will make it happen."

My mouth drops open, and my face heats up as Penny and Liam laugh. I don't think I've ever felt so transparent in my entire life.

I guess there aren't any secrets in the O'Connell or Stewart families. I shake my head and laugh.

It looks like everyone is involved in the matchmaking, as far as Jamie and I are concerned. If I weren't a member of this clan, I would be outraged, but I am and I know how everyone works. Looks like I should settle in and enjoy the ride.

That is, if I am willing to hear Jamie out about why he left. Every day, I become more open to that. I feel my body lighten at the thought.

If everything works out, I end up with the man I love. And if it doesn't…well, I'm not going to let myself go there at this moment.