Chapter 40

Chapter

Forty

The distancebetween the pavilion and where Tomas leads me feels longer than it should, each step heavy with anticipation and a nagging sense of dread. When we"re far enough away from the crowd, he turns to face me, his expression unreadable.

"I"ve heard back from the investors," he begins, his tone surprisingly even. "The contract is ready. It's everything we dreamed of, Claire: our own patisserie, your name on the door, full creative freedom, and a prime location."

The words should thrill me. Instead, they land with a thud, heavy with implications I"m not sure I"m ready to face.

"And there"s more," Tomas continues, watching me closely. "They"re not just investing in a single patisserie. They see this as the beginning of something bigger. An expansion within the year if we do as well as they expect."

It"s everything I"ve ever wanted, every late-night dream and scribbled plan in the margins of my notebooks. But as I stand there, listening to Tomas outline a future that once would have set my heart racing, I feel a profound disconnect. I'd still love nothing more than to open my own patisserie, but I want nothing to do with Tomas. Why does it have to be a packaged deal?

Tomas takes a step closer, his gaze searching mine. "I know things ended badly between us. But we were good together, weren"t we? We can have that again—not the relationship. I know that's over. But as business partners, I mean. Are you going to throw it all away because of my mistake?"

The plea hangs in the air, a tangled mess of past mistakes and potential futures. I take a deep breath, trying to steady my racing thoughts. I'd love nothing more than to find a way to move forward—but without Tomas. I'm not sure if there's a way I can pull that off.

"I need to think about it," I finally say, my voice steady despite my thoughts. "This is a lot to take in. I can"t just decide on the spot."

He nods, though I can see the impatience flickering in his eyes. "I get it. But the investors are pressing for an answer. I can give you twenty-four hours, Claire. That"s all."

"Fine, I'll let you know by tomorrow."

As he walks away, I try and come up with a plan. The offer is tempting, a fast track to the dreams I"ve nurtured for so long. But as I think about the day I"ve just spent with Morgan, the laughter, and the unexpected moments of connection, I can"t help but wonder if those dreams have shifted, morphed into something new and equally precious. Do I even want to live in LA anymore?

I look back toward the pavilion, where the lights of the baking finale twinkle like distant stars, and I realize that whatever decision I make, it won"t just shape my career. It will shape my heart, and that"s a responsibility I can"t take lightly.