Total pages in book: 63
Estimated words: 59236 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 296(@200wpm)___ 237(@250wpm)___ 197(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 59236 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 296(@200wpm)___ 237(@250wpm)___ 197(@300wpm)
“Fork or chopsticks?”
“Um, either one,” I said, swallowing hard.
My voice sounded raspy and forced because my throat had gone tight with sudden tears. The kindness Leo showed was the first I’d had from someone else in a very long time.
Whatever walls I’d built up to protect myself, apparently egg rolls took them down. I took weird, short inhales to stop myself from tearing up because I was not going to cry. Not in front of Leo who deserved better than witnessing an emotional breakdown over Chinese food.
“Oh crap. You’re not a vegan or something are you? Cause I figured with all the eggs in muffins and stuff you probably just ate regular food. If you need something without meat in it—I think the noodles are okay?” he said.
I couldn’t help it. I started laughing in big, hiccuppy guffaws. I shook my head, eyes streaming from laughing so hard.
“You okay?” he said. I shook my head again helplessly before I finally got myself under control.
“I’m good now. I needed that, actually. You brought the food, and I was so mixed up, so awkward because it was a friendly thing to do, and I’m not—I don’t have many friends anymore. It’s just been so long since anyone was considerate and caring to me that I choked up. I was honestly going to start crying because you were so nice. And I am very much not vegan,” I explained.
“I was so charming and heroic that you wanted to weep?” he said slyly.
“Yeah, something like that,” I chuckled.
“Well, you’ve had a rough go. Dinner was the least I could do.”
“Thank you,” I said. “Really. For everything, but especially this.”
I picked up an egg roll, bit down and I swear I saw stars and rainbows and unicorns, it was so delicious.
“That’s what I like to see,” he said.
“What’s that?” I asked carefully.
“People enjoying good food. I figured as a baker you like that too, watching people eat and enjoy. It’s not the same, since I didn’t make the food, but I’ll take credit for bringing it.”
“Yeah, I do. I like to eat, and I like people to appreciate my food.”
“I appreciated the hell out of those muffins. I don’t know if you put, like, crack in them or something addictive, but I can see this becoming a stop on my morning commute, meaning I would have to get up twenty minutes earlier. It’d be worth it too. Once you’re open.”
“I’m open, kind of,” I said. “I have a few orders I can’t afford to lose so I’m making those up at home, and I’m serving seven to nine a.m. only now. Just two kinds of muffins or a muffin and a scone and coffee. Nothing that uses the oven. But I don’t want to lose all my customers, so I’m just doing small batches in my apartment. If I shut down entirely, people will forget about the place and change their routine. All it takes is a shift to stopping at a different place for coffee and a muffin, then the next thing I know, I reopen to zero people waiting in line.”
“I get that fear. And you’re smart to do it how you’re doing it. Any luck with your landlord?”
I blew out a breath. “He finally called me back and said he wanted his own electrician to look at it and give him another quote and he’d think about it.”
Leo shook his head. “He’s going to try to cut corners.”
I nodded. “Most likely. I told him I would contact an attorney if he didn’t do what was right, but I think he knew I was bullshitting. I don’t have that kind of money.”
“Don’t worry, Madison, it’ll all work out,” Leo said kindly.
“How do you do that?” I asked him.
He looked perplexed. “Do what?”
“Make me feel better just by being here.”
He looked at me for a moment before answering. “I don’t know. I just want to see you happy.” His voice was low, and his gaze never wavered.
I cleared my throat to break the spell. Whatever was going on in my panties at the moment, I didn’t have the time to get involved with anyone right now. Leo was kind enough to help me out and bring me dinner. I needed to leave it at that.
“Thanks again for bringing dinner over,” I said, preparing to stand up.
Leo shook his head. “I didn’t just come here to bring you dinner. The guy I called who does salvage had something come in this week from a foreclosure. A top-of-the-line, multi-deck convection oven.”
“You’re kidding. That’s incredible. Tell me it’s a good price because it’s a foreclosure,” I said, bouncing in my chair.
“It retails for twenty thousand. I can get it for three.”
“Three? Oh my God. Yes! Please. Tell them I’ll take it.”
He nodded. “I told him I’d take it as soon as he sent me pics. Do you want to see?”