Page 46 of Tell It To The Waves

“Just go and see,” I whisper to myself, stepping out of my car and to the front door, looking in to see if someone is inside waiting. And sure enough, they are.

Turning around to make sure everything is in place and I’m presentable. His voice catapults me around.

“August?”

I stand there looking at him, not knowing what to say. Swallowing, I point to the brick building like I’m dumb. “I’m here to look at the place.” My eyes jump from him to the building. My stomach falling to the concrete sidewalk. Bohdi.

Our faces mirror each other, complete shock at seeing the last person we both expected. He clears his throat, “Come in and look around.”

I follow behind him, leaving a few feet between us; the door closes, blocking us from the world outside.

My hands shake from nerves. Not only from looking at this building, but now who’s standing in it with me. Needing to break the tension. “You own it?” I question him.

He turns around, smiling. “I do. I’ve owned it for the last couple of years.”

I’m intrigued by why he bought it, but I keep the question to myself. My feet take me behind the counter, leaving him standing in the middle of the room.

Entering the back, I’m surprised to see a full kitchen with two ovens. My eyes dance over each appliance, imagining all that could be cooked at once.

Pulling a side door and greeted with what could function as a stockroom.

“If you come back out here, there is a small hallway off to the side of the kitchen.” Bohdi’s voice travels to me. God, that voice. Deep and inviting, so comforting. So familiar.

“Stop it, August,” I reprimand myself as I push the swinging door open, exiting into the main room.

There is a huge, refrigerated bakery display case with three long rows of glass shelving.

Bohdi is now standing next to the front door, as far away as he can. I smile slightly because I wonder where that man from weeks ago from the pier is. I let out a little giggle as I turn down the small hallway and to the first door. Turning the doorknob, I find a room on the other side that could serve as a small office. It has a little window that peeks out onto the bakery floor. I stand there and look at Bohdi through it. He’s still in the same spot he was in, his phone in hand, but his head keeps looking up to the hallways and back down to his phone. I know there isn’t anything on that phone right now. He’s unnerved like I am. Good.

Exiting the office, there is another door that leads to a bathroom with one toilet and a sink. Honestly, that is all that’s needed.

Breathing deeply, I straighten my shoulders, exiting the hallway. The windows are picturesque and could serve as seating with their deep alcoves.

“Are you staying for good?” His voice booms at me. That question catches me off guard.

I turn to look at him; he looks so uncomfortable. “I’m not sure just yet.” I shrug, walking to the front window.

Spinning the key ring around his index finger, he doesn’t look at me. “There isn’t anything for you here anymore, August.”

I cut my eyes to him, and it feels like my heart stops beating at his words. My hand moves to my chest, patting it. Immediately, I need to hurt him back is insistent. “Why’d you buy a bakery, Bohdi?” With each word I let out, I close the gap between us until I’m standing right in front of him. He looks down on me, and I see his Adam's apple bob with his swallow. Me being this close unnerves him, but what he doesn’t know, it does the same damn thing to me.

Tilting my head just a bit, my eyes roam his face, stopping on his lips. “It was for me, Bohdi,” I say, knowing my words are true.

His tongue slightly peeks out, wetting his bottom lip. “Yeah, for the woman who broke my heart. Get over yourself, August,” he spits at me.

The words don’t hurt me like I thought they would, because I know he’s lying. I just can’t prove it.

“So, you’re not going to let me buy it, because you think I don’t belong here?” I look him dead in the eyes, needing his answer.

He twists his lips, thinking for a moment. “No, I think I’m going to keep holding on to it.” He moves his arm gently, the keys jingling in his hand.

Standing there, I nod my head, not giving him another word before I walk out of the store and straight to my car. I won’t beg for anything from him.

I don’t let him see me break; I do that once I’m away from the building and on my way to Baylee’s.

Stomping on the brakes too hard, I jerk myself before idling in front of Baylee’s house, sitting there going over our conversation. We each wanted to hurt each other with our words. And I don’t like that. I loved…love him for so many years. It doesn’t feel right.

Seeing movement out of the corner of my eyes, Baylee waves her hand at me, getting my attention.