Page 51 of Just Desserts

I heard the front door open and close and waited a minute to make sure his parents were gone. Once the coast was clear, I made my way down the steps. Jonathan was standing therefrozen, looking like a little boy who had dropped his ice cream.

My earlier embarrassment morphed, no longer was I ashamed of myself, but ashamed of this man I had thought so highly of. His entire life was falling apart, Isla was the only thing that had kept him together apparently.

We needed each other still, and neither of us liked it. I needed him to prove to Isla that I could keep him when she couldn't, I needed him to validate that I won. He needed me because he had nothing left. He too, was stuck in Isla's shadow now. They weren't good reasons, but they were enough to tie us together.

After some sharp words on my end, the fear of losing Jonathan greatly reduced. I skipped out of the house, assured that he would reach out to me soon enough. That night in bed I worked on a new plan. Step one was already done, I called out sick from work. Buying myself some time to regroup and recover.

Let Jonathan stew and deal with the aftermath of the confrontation without me. Early Monday morning, I decided to go for a drive, considering treating myself to a massage or manicure. I couldn't use the company card anymore though and that burned me. Not to mention, the cash from the pawn shop was already getting low.

Things definitely weren't going the way I had envisioned, but I was determined to still make this work out for me. I would still come out on top, succeed where Isla had failed. Speaking of, I hadn't heard from or seen Isla since I went to her new apartment. I decided to drive by her bakery, just to get my eyes on her.

I hoped she looked terrible, that the divorce is weighing on her, literally. I imagined her eating her feelings, all of those delicious treats people raved about just adding pounds andpounds to Isla's svelte frame.The idea made me absolutely giddy. I parked in the lot and peered out from the safety of my car. I couldn't see her anywhere upfront, and knew I couldn't step a foot inside.

I decided to turn the car off and stay there for a bit, sorting out my thoughts and trying to set up a new plan based on these latest discoveries. Jonathan was no longer my end game, he didn't have the resources to provide the lifestyle I deserved. I would keep him for as long as it helped me, but I needed to find someone new, someone with more power and wealth.

It was only up from here, I would claw my way. I didn't care who I had to stomp over to get there. A large shiny pick up truck pulled into the lot and stopped in front of the shop door. The driver's side door opened and an attractive man stepped out, his dark hair shining in the sun.

He rounded the car to the passengers side, opening the door and carefully depositing his companion to the ground. I caught a glimpse of white blonde hair and was stunned to realize it was Isla in his arms. Leaning forward I stared open mouthed at the scene in front of me.

The man helped Isla out of the car then escorted her into the shop. He swept her up in a deep kiss before exiting the shop with a laugh. I swear he looked right at my spot as he approached his car and I froze. I knew that face. It haunted my dreams.

As much as I had tried to repress it, memories of that night lived with me. The rejection, the disgust in Myles' face. His avoidance of me the following times I visited. I had a crush on Myles for years, I never told Isla about it. I worked hard to keep them apart, even going so far as putting laxatives in her food the night before the trip so she couldn't come. I never wanted their paths to cross, he was the one dream I had keptfor myself.

Yet here I sat, watching in living color as an older Myles, mature, put together and so achingly attractive, stood there looking at my cousin like she was his entire world. I heard a loud, high pitched noise surround me but I couldn't make myself care to find where it was coming from. It wasn't until it slowed down, the sound becoming more of a gravelly whine, that I realized it was my screams echoing around the chamber of my car.

Chapter 36

Isla

It had been almost a month since my dinner date with Myles after that awful scene with Jonathan’s parents. I considered that the official start of our relationship, since Myles insisted on claiming me in front of my employees when he dropped me off the following morning.

Carrie was manning the register and was openly staring at me. My two helpers, Shayna and Julie were standing behind her, equally as gobsmacked. With a sigh, I let myself behind the counter and gathered the girls in the back kitchen.

"I'm sorry I'm late, Carrie, thank you for opening for me." I said, as I faced down the three faces all looking at me with varying expressions of excitement and curiosity.

"Oh forget that, hurry up the lull is only gonna last a few minutes. Who was that hunk and why have you been holding out on us?" Carrie demanded, her face stern.

"He's so cute! Oh my gosh did you see him Julie? I nearly fainted! Ms. Isla, please! You've gotta tell us about him." Shayna asked excitedly.

I sighed and covered my face, sure I was the color of tomato. I hated my fair skin, I was like a walking mood ring.

"Okay, okay everyone relax. His name is Myles, he went to college with my cousin Wes. He got roped into helping mewith something, but since we met we've grown closer. He's a very good man, I really enjoy spending time with him." I said, watching their faces fall.

"So is he like your boyfriend?" Julie asked, tilting her head to the side.

"It's a little more complicated than that. He's important to me. Can we leave it at that please?" The three women sideyed each other before giving a shrug, knowing they weren't going to get much more out of me.

The rest of the day went by in a blur. By the time we closed at five I was exhausted. I let everyone leave early since I was late and spent the last hour closing up while I listened to music and tried to decompress. I was both excited and nervous about my date with Myles.

I guess we had been on a few already but this time it felt different. Nothing was exactly said, but I know my feelings had changed. Since I met him, Myles had imprinted himself on my life. It's almost hard to think about not seeing him or hanging out with him again. That in itself was terrifying. Was I growing too attached already?

All of a sudden I was overcome with nerves and doubt. What was I doing? Was I dating someone while still married? Was I even ready for that? I was with Jonathan for so long, I'd barely been on my own. It had only been a few months since I moved out of the house. I was panicking. I looked at the clock and saw it was almost time and inexplicably felt like crying. I didn't want to face Myles, but then the idea of not seeing him again made me feel equally worse.

I don't know how long I was frozen there but I felt paralyzed by my rioting thoughts and emotions. A knock at the door broke me out of my reverie and I saw Myles' dark headpopping out of the top window. I went to let him in and my hands were shaking. He came sweeping through and before I couldn't formulate my thoughts or words, Myles realized something was up. He pulled me into his arms and I hated how comforting that was.

"Hey, hey what's going on?" Myles asked, keeping me tucked into the warmth of his body.

"I'm scared." I said, unable to get much more out, it felt like I had a rock in my throat and I couldn't get any words out.

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