Page 37 of Leo and His Love Bunny

“No. I’m opening a cupcake and lunch shop across the street.” She gives a deliberate pause. “Directly across the street.”

I don’t gasp, but I definitely want to. She’d be in direct competition with me, of course. And that’s what she’s saying.

“My shop will be family-friendly, of course. And my cupcakes will not garner the wrong kind of attention. I had banners made yesterday, and they’re arriving by express delivery today.” Maybe I’m biased, but her smile was wicked. “My dad is on thecouncil, and he assured me they will streamline my application and approval. I’ll be up and running in a month, if not sooner.”

I feel faint. Whisker Hollow barely supports my shop. If she takes even a tenth of my business, I won’t be able to continue. I can hardly make ends meet as it is.

I want to be mean and catty. I want to tell her that her baking will kill people, and she never made anything that anyone ate on purpose. I also want to defend myself and my store. There’s no need for her to come in here just to be mean to me. It’s my store! I want to throw her out.

On her tongue is the law of kindness.

The snippet of a Bible verse comes to me as I’m getting ready to unleash on Sophia. Nothing I planned to say was the slightest bit kind.

“It sounds like you have a wonderful plan. I hope it works out for you.” I try to make the words true as I say them. I really want to want success for her. Truly. But mostly I want to grab her neck and squeeze the smirky smile off her face and tell her to start a business the town actually needs, like a breakfast shop...

I swallow. If she wanted to go into partnership with me, a breakfast shop would pair really well with my cupcakes and coffees.

I toss that idea into the trash where it belongs and barely listen as Sophia says something to the effect of “good, wholesome businesses will put nasty, R-rated businesses out of business in a small town with values and morals like Whisker Hollow” before she spins on her foot and starts for the door.

She pauses next to Leo, who is standing out of the way, sipping his coffee, his eyes narrowed.

“You’re looking at your biggest fan,” she says, stopping beside him.

He jerks his head, acknowledging her words without answering her.

“On behalf of Whisker Hollow, I just want to tell you how proud we all are of you. You’re the best thing that’s happened to us, ever.” She smiles and blinks at him, and I want to scratch her eyes out, although I’m not sure why. She’s saying really nice things to Leo, and he deserves all her praise and more. Why should that upset me?

“When I open my shop, I’m going to have a special day just for hockey players. You can come and do autographs and meet all your fans in town. Bring your teammates.” She lowers her voice. “I’ll cook all your favorite foods, and you and I can plan some special things of our own.” Her hand lands on his arm, and she squeezes. He drops his arm, and her hand falls off.

I think it’s seeing her touch him that does it for me. I step around the counter and am at Leo’s side before I know what I’m even doing. “I’m sorry. You need to stop accosting my customers.” I face Sophia. I do want to be kind. But I don’t have to stand in my shop and see her pawing all over Leo when he hasn’t asked for it. Still, I feel compelled to add, “I’m sure everyone in town, including me, will support your new shop. After becoming a small business owner myself, I am a lot more supportive and sympathetic to how difficult it is.”

Sophia blinks. I don’t know why she’s so surprised. I don’t recall ever being unkind to her in any way. Even back when we were kids. She usually delivered her insults and left before I had the wits to reply. My parents told me she was jealous, and they said I should feel bad for anyone who felt they needed to knock other people down in order to make themselves feel taller, since it was just an illusion.

She harrumphs, then gives Leo one last simpering look before striding out of the shop, the bell jingling cheerily overhead. I let out the breath I didn’t realize I was holding and start to turn. A touch on my arm stops me.

“I’m not supporting her shop over yours.”

His words touch all the tender places in my heart, and I want to throw my arms around him and thank him from my soul. That was exactly what I needed to hear. I don’t need words of undying love, and I don’t want to trash-talk Sophia.

Okay. I do. But I know I shouldn’t.

I just want to know that Leo is truly my friend and isn’t going to stab me in the back by supporting someone who is deliberately opening a shop with the express purpose of putting me out of business. I suppose I should wait until his actions back up his words before I express all the gratitude in my heart. After all, words are easy.

“Thank you.” The words come from a place deep inside of me.

“I think we should make your shop so successful, she doesn’t have a prayer of competing with you.”

I love that he is totally on my side. But I can’t allow him to think that my goal is the same as Sophia’s. I’m not out to hurt anyone, and I want to be kind.

“I thought I should ask her if she wanted to partner with me. People have been telling me for a long time that I should offer breakfast food to go with my coffee and cupcakes. Her idea seems like it would complement what I already have going really well. And my rent includes the entire first floor of this building. We have plenty of space to expand.”

Leo looks at me like he’s never seen me before, and I cringe inside. When a person tries to turn the other cheek, forgive, and live the command to be kind to their enemies, the world, even other Christians, tell them they’re being a doormat and that it’s okay to “stand up for themselves.” Kindness and love in the face of unkindness and hate is what Christians are called to do. I’m not that great at it, but my cringing is because somehow being kind is equated to being weak, and no one wants to be weak. Will Leo still want to be friends with me?

But the bell jingles and customers walk in, and if Leo was going to say something, I never find out what it is. He gives me a smile and a wave, and he and Cal leave while a line forms at the counter and the lull in the breakfast rush is officially over.

Chapter 16

Leo

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