Page 18 of Always the Baker

Brax listened intently, hanging on my every word. “That’s incredible, Billie. You’re so passionate about your art. I can see why you’re already making waves in the city.”

“What about you? What are your dreams? I feel like you’re already living them. Do you have more?”

He sighed, looking more vulnerable than I expected him to be. I loved being able to see this side of him and would cherish it forever. “Honestly? I just want to continue to make music that matters without all the hype. Lately I feel like I’m just churning out shit that can go viral. With TikTok on the rise, my label wants songs that will chart there and go viral, regardless of if the full song makes sense for my brand and will last over time. I want to create something real, something that touches people’s souls.”

I reached out and squeezed his hand. “You do. You’re my favorite artist. Your music touches people more than you know. It’s spiritual to me. I commend you for not wanting to lose your authentic voice. A lot of what’s being pushed now will fade, but the music you make… it’ll last forever.”

Brax smiled, and for a moment, I forgot about the lies. In that instant, it was just us, two dreamers wanting more, yearning for it under the moonlit sky.

The conversation flowed as easily as the drinks, and before I knew it, we were stumbling out of the bar, laughing at some ridiculous joke Brax had made about his last concert. He’d even shared details with me about his ex, and I had to stop myself from questioning what the hell he’d been giving her to make her go a little crazy. The cool night air hit my face, and I realized just how hungry I was.

“God, I’m starving,” I said. My stomach growled in agreement. We’d stayed past closing time and the kitchen had been closed for the last couple of hours.

Brax grabbed my hand, and I looked down at the connection. Every time he touched me, it sent a jolt of electricity through me. His hand was significantly larger than mine, and I loved how he enveloped me. He looked down at me with a comfortable smile.

“I know just the place. It has the best tacos in town, and they stay open until three AM. You down?”

I nodded enthusiastically, and he used my hand to lead me down the street. Our arms brushed against each other as he pulled me close. The warmth of his body against mine sent a chill through my body.

We rounded a corner, and there it was—a food truck painted in vibrant colors with stringed lights twinkling above it. The smell of spices and grilled meat made my mouth water. I loved a good taco. Food was one of my love languages.

The line was long, and I wasn’t sure if it was simply because the tacos were good or because of the late hour. It had to be after midnight. Crazy thing was, I hadn’t bothered to look at my phone for hours.

When it was finally our turn, Brax ordered. I didn’t even bother looking at the menu. That was another good thing about my day with him. My brain didn’t have to work fully unless it was to talk to him. He’d been ordering all night and leading me everywhere we went, which was refreshing. I was used to being the one to think and make plans. This felt nice.

“Let me get two of the birria plates with a side of queso dip.” Brax turned to me with a grin. “Trust me on this one. You’re gonna love it. Best birria tacos I’ve ever had.”

We grabbed a bench that was a few feet from the truck, and I took in my surroundings. I didn’t want to look too much like a tourist since I told him I was from here, but still… I wanted to take it all in. The parking lot was full of food trucks and people. There was a DJ booth off to the side playing a Kendrick Lamar song. Marijuana smoke mixed with the smoke coming from the trucks. It was like a block party outside of the neighborhood. I loved it.

Shortly after, our tacos were ready. I licked my lips as my mouth watered at the sight of them. They were steaming hot and fresh, and I couldn’t wait to dig in. After putting the onions and cilantro in the broth, I dipped my taco in it then the cheese dip,took a bite, and let out an embarrassingly loud moan. “Oh my God. This is amazing.”

Brax laughed as a bit of cheese dripped down his chin. Unable to resist, I wiped his chin with my thumb. I certainly wasn’t expecting him to clasp my hand and kiss my palm. Our eyes remained locked as he lowered my hand and gave it a gentle stroke with his thumb before releasing it. Everything about this man turned me on.

“Told you. This whole block is my guilty pleasure after touring. I come here and binge for like a week straight.”

As we devoured our tacos and people watched, I couldn’t remember the last time I’d felt so happy. So carefree.

It wasn’t until we both were done that Brax spoke. “I’ve got this private gig tomorrow night. Nothing fancy… Just me and my guitar. I wasn’t supposed to be working at all but…” He sighed and shook his head. “Would you like to come?”

My heart skipped a beat as I straightened in my seat. “Really? I mean, yeah, absolutely!”

He smiled, and I swear the whole street got brighter. “Great. I’ll text you the details. It’s going to be a pretty chill night. Have you ever been to a candlelight concert here?” My head shook. “Well, it’ll be like that. A room full of candles, low lighting, no stage. Just a few dozen of my most dedicated fans in a small venue. No crazy crowds or paparazzi.”

I nodded, trying to hide the fact that my heart was doing backflips. The times I’d gone to his concerts I was high up in the stands. From the sound of it, everyone would be close because of the intimate setting. “Sounds perfect. I’m not really into the whole wild party or big concert scene anyway.”

“Me neither, if I’m being honest. Don’t get me wrong, I love performing for big crowds. It’s an adrenaline rush and I feed off the energy, but sometimes it’s nice to strip it all back. Just me, my guitar, and people who really get the music.”

“Like those Tiny Desk concerts?”

“Exactly. That’s my favorite type of vibe.”

I could picture it—Brax on a small stage, his tattoos peeking out from under a simple T-shirt, that soulful voice filling a dimly lit room. The image made me smile before the reality of having him here with me brought me back to this moment.

As we sat there, I pushed away the nagging voice reminding me this was all built on lies. For now, I just wanted to enjoy this moment, this connection, this taste of the life I’d always dreamed of. He ushered me to his side of the bench, where we watched the random display of fireworks that started. The tacos sobered us both up, so when a man started making rounds with mixed drinks, we both declined. We ended up staying just a little while longer before deciding to call it a night.

“So,” he said, standing up and offering me his hand, “can I give you a ride home? It’s getting late.”

Panic flashed through me. Home. Right. The home I definitely had in this big city I lived in.

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