Page 127 of The Score We Never Settled

He’s mad at me, I get it. I kept a secret from him for most of my life, with a boy he could never stand, but I didn’t think it’d drive him away this much.

Honestly, I guess I never expected the silent treatment, but more of him being on me constantly about changing my mind. So, this sort of reaction would’ve been the last one I would have bet on.

Nonetheless, I’ve been busy.

I’ve given Blake more responsibility, and he soaked that up like natural sun, but after day three, it started going straight to his head to the point where he began to tellmehow to make pies.

Annoying would be the word I’d use to describe him in his new general manager position; however, I trust him with Buttercup & Brioche when I’m not around. But, to keep him from all his newly given power from going to his head, I hired Everly and Adeline to keep him in check.

Everly has always wanted to be a baker, since a very young age, but Adeline…that’s a new one for me. She came in about two weeks ago, tension galore. We’ve never spoken about her ratting me out to her brother a few years back, and frankly, I’ve never forgiven her for it.

Regardless, current day, I’m not so upset with her about it anymore, and she offered her services when she heard me talking to Everly about traveling to see Briggs.

In fact, she practically jumped for the opportunity to support us and…I trust her enough with Blake at the helm to operate the place smoothly.

Unless Adeline and Blake kill each other.

Blake, again, with his new power, and Adeline, who claps at him every time he gets to be too much.

Everly will be the balance, and as long as there are no abandoned desserts in the oven, the place shouldn’t burn down while I’m gone.

“Why did you make the younger one part-time again?” Blake mutters at my back as he follows me into the kitchen. “She’s more tolerable, and she actually knows what she’s doin’.”

My eyes roll as I open the fridge to grab Uncle Ben’s brown butter maple pecan pies and the smoked chocolate almond pie I need a few hungry mouths to try—AKA Uncle Ben’s card buddies. “I’ve told you a million times, Blake, Adeline’s a fast learner, and she’s doing prep. It’ll make your life easier.”

“She keeps forgettin’ how to do the cash register.”

“Because you keep exiting out of the app on the iPad, so that she gets frustrated.” I hand him a pie to hold on to. “Don’t tell me you lack the manager skills to train someone. I thought you’d be welcoming to any new employee who helped us grow.”

“I am,” he retorts haughtily while he takes another pie. “She just doesn’t wanna learn, is all.”

That’s a lie.

Adeline is very capable, and Blake isn’t thrilled about letting another person into his world. For being as extroverted as he is at the bakery, he’s extremely introverted with his close circle. And I understand having trust issues in a small town that wants to know and pick at every detail of your life, but Adeline would be a champion in his corner if he’d let her in.

As long as he doesn’t date someone else while he’s married.

“You know,” I vouch, plucking an apple butter and ginger pie from the back of the fridge. “She’sreallygood friends with Gideon Redding. Maybe she can put in a good word for you.”

Blake scoffs, clearly unimpressed. “He’d have to come out of the closet first in order for that to be of good use to me.”

I crane my head, perking a brow at him because Blake isn’t this complicated. He’s just as stubborn as all get out. “Did he need to make posters to satisfy that requirement? How do you know what he’s done?”

He lifts his shoulders with both pies still residing in his palm. “I ain’t heard nuthin’ about it.”

“I have.”

His light green eyes narrow. “No, ya haven’t.”

“Excuse me? Yes, I have. The only thing he’s missin’ is the LGBTQ sticker on the back of his truck and, even then, it doesn’t matter.” I pinch my own eyes together because Blake must be blind, in denial, or just plain stupid. “Becauseeveryoneknows.”

Blake shifts his weight just as Adeline strides into the kitchen, blowing a piece of wavy brown hair out of her face.

“Layla Jean, if Blake won’t give me the password to the iPad when it times out, can you? I can’t cash anyone out when he’s purposely goin’ out of his way to make my life harder.”

I steer my unimpressed glower to said man and just stare.

Meanwhile, he’s unaffected.