Page 25 of Obsessed Fox

I would even go as far as saying Atlas's murder was premeditated. Even if I hadn’t gone to his house that night with the intention of stabbing him in the neck.

I was still forming a plan when it happened, but like everything else in my life at the time, I did things withoutthinking. My parents used to call me a hothead. My brother joked that I was “spirited” and not afraid to express myself. The night of Atlas's murder, I was sure my parents had been correct because I let my anger dictate my actions before I had a plan in place.

Matty never judged me. He took control and helped me leave so I wouldn't do any jail time. And now Nolen and Hendrix wanted to make him out to be the bad guy?

Fuck no. Over my dead body.

I slipped in through the back door of the bakery and headed straight for the fridge to grab one of the many doughs I had chilling. Most of my cookie recipes required the dough to chill in the fridge for twenty-four hours so I always had extra batches prepared and waiting to be used.

I was glad for that forethought at the moment because I needed to do something before I made a decision that got me in trouble. Baking calmed me. Prepping for my customers helped me focus. It gave me purpose, something I desperately needed at the moment.

"Oh . . . I didn't realize you came back." Janie came to an abrupt halt after stepping through the swinging door. "I figured you were taking the rest of the day off."

I rolled out the sugar cookie dough much harder than I normally would. I was going to ruin it if I didn't ease up a bit. "I needed to keep busy. One day off was enough. Anything more and I would be bored out of my mind." I didn't look up from the dough I was mutilating.

"Everything okay? I'm not sure what that sugar cookie did to you, but if you press any harder, it's going to become one with the table."

I let go of the rolling pin and placed my palms flat against the cool stainless steel. Janie was right. The dough was so thin, it was practically see-through.

"Hendrix got on my nerves," I huffed.

Not a complete lie. I was aggravated with him for his contribution in the Matty discussion.

"I should've known." Janie walked over and set both of her elbows on the table. With her fingers laced together like a tabletop, she set her chin down on them and continued to talk. "I only ever see you like this when he comes around."

My first reaction was to deny, deny, deny.

"That's not true."

Janie giggled. Yes, giggled because a preppy woman like her had a very girlie laugh. Unlike my strange one that sometimes ended in a snort.

"Oh, come on. That man has had you in knots for months. He has only to walk into the shop and you get flustered."

I crossed my arms over my chest. "I have no idea what you're talking about."

"If you say so," Janie singsonged.

Thankfully, the bell letting us know there was a customer in the shop rang and got me out of whatever else Janie was about to say.

"I better go do my job before my boss finds an excuse not to leave me alone again. Oh, and try not to ruin any more cookies. Those knife-shaped sugar cookies have been selling like hot cakes since you stabbed a man."

I dropped my chin to my chest with a groan. The knife cutouts were a staple because of my logo. Now they were getting recognition for a completely different reason and I wasn't sure if that was a good thing or not.

Damn small towns.

Everyone was nosy and wanted in on the action. Thankfully it meant higher sales, but I would be happy when things slowed down and the heat was off me. I didn't need anyone—like say,the mysterious town journalist—finding out about my past. That would really screw things up for me.

I spent the rest of the afternoon stocking the cases and prepping dough for the next few days. After my talk with Janie, I was able to calm myself down enough to be of use. I only had to throw one small portion of the dough away since I over-rolled it; a small reminder that I couldn't let my anger rule my life. I had a good thing going with Wickedly Delicious and I would be damned if I let anyone screw that up by messing with my head.

By the time Janie said goodbye, I was mentally done for the day. I was ready to take a shower and crawl into my bed. Hendrix could go pound sand. He wasn't in charge of me, and now that I knew I wasn't going to be arrested, I could go back to life as I knew it, in my own apartment far away from the man who made me feel things I didn't want to feel.

I locked up the bakery and stepped outside to head up the stairs. My apartment was above the bakery but there was no way to access the apartment from inside the shop. There were only the steps on the side of the building and an emergency fire escape on the back of the building that had seen better days. I wasn't sure if there was ever a fire, I would risk going out that way. With my luck I would plummet to my death before safely making it down the rusty metal.

I had just gotten the door locked and my shoes off when the banging started.

"Maisie, open up!"

Seriously? What, had he been waiting outside for me? I mean, thankfully he allowed me to get inside and lock up before harassing me.

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