Page 45 of Along Came Summer

“No, the previous tenant did, it seems.”

I know everyone in the building, and most have dogs or budgies. “Which apartment did you move into, if you don’t mind me asking?” I ask curiously as I pipe out ‘Happy Birthday, Princess Sienna’ on the plate in decadent chocolate.

“5F.”

I let out a laugh when I remember sweet old Ethel Peterson. She didn't leave her apartment very often, but she loved her five cats like they were her own children. “Oh yes, that was Mrs. Peterson's place. She had five cats.”

Jack rolls his eyes, chuckling amusedly, “That would explain the smell in the second bedroom and the fur carpet. God, leave it to me to pick the apartment that belonged to a cat lady.”

My eyes catch Nessa wiping down a table behind Jack while she watches us having a conversation. “He’s so hot.” She mouths, looking him over appreciatively. Shaking my head, I veer my gaze from hers and focus on decorating the cupcake for Sienna.

“Not a fan of cats I take it?”

“On the contrary,” he responds, “I love all animals; dogs, cats, you name it. But owning five of them at once? That might be too much for me.” I nod in understanding as I prepare the ground coffee and push the button to brew it. “What about you? Any pets?”

I grin and shake my head, pouring milk into the metal jug to steam it. “I would love to have a cat or dog, but my busy work schedule would make it impossible to take care of them properly. It would be unfair to leave a poor animal cooped up inside all day while I'm busy working. The bakery takes up a lot of my time, but hey, who knows, maybe in the future I’ll have an apartment full of fur babies myself.” Jack chuckles, his eyes scanning the bakery.

“It’s a great little place you’ve got here. It has a warm, homely feel to it. I like that,” he asserts, catching my eye and holding my gaze as he speaks. “And if your coffee tastes as good as it smells, you’re going to have a tough time getting rid of me.”

Do not blush, Summer.

“Trust me, I’m not just saying this because it’s my bakery but everything in here tastes even better than it smells,” I reply coquettishly and set his steaming cup of latte on the counter, gently sliding it toward him. “One sip, and you'll be hooked.”

Jack's brows furrow in amusement, and his smile grows wider at my comment. Hmm, is it just me, or is there more than just coffee brewing between us?

“I have no doubt,” Jack replies with a smirk and lifts the latte to his lips to take a sip. “Mm,” he nods, lowering his eyes to the cup of coffee, licking his lips appreciatively. “Oh wow, that is the smoothest cup of coffee I have ever had. What roast are the beans you use?”

“I use magic beans that are carefully roasted by tiny coffee fairies.” I joke, and he laughs, taking another sip of his beverage. “I warned you; one sip and you'll be hooked. And just wait until winter when we start serving our indulgent hot chocolate.” The bakery door swings open, and a couple enters. I peek over Jack's shoulder to greet them. “Hi there! Welcome to Lovey's Sugar Shack. I'll be right with you.”

“Let me move out of your way,” Jack says with a polite smile, stepping away from the counter to find a table for himself and Sienna.

“I'll bring your order over shortly,” I assure him as he nods in thanks. The couple steps over to the counter, and I smile, looking between them. “What can I get you?”

“Uh.” The pretty brunette hesitates before speaking, lifting her sparkling eyes to who I’m assuming is her boyfriend. They share a loving smile, and something about her triggers a sense of recognition in me. “I’m Mira Evans, and this is my fiancé, Devin King. We’re having a baby and getting married in 9 weeks, and we… I say we, but it’s me, actually.” She laughs softly, and her fiancé chuckles, shaking his head. “I was hoping—well, praying—that you would bake our wedding cake and the confectionaries for our wedding?” she requests, her brows bunching together with apprehension. “I appreciate that it’s short notice and you’re likely booked up, but I have a very unhealthy obsession with your red velvet cake, and I really, really would love it to be my wedding cake.”

King.

Red velvet cake.

Suddenly, everything clicks into place, and I remember why this woman seems so familiar to me. It's her; the one Levi was with, the one who broke his heart and drove him to my bakery, moping over a slice of red velvet cake after she broke things off with him, went off and slept with his brother.

I maintain a smile on my face while my left hand automatically moves to rest on my stomach behind the counter.

Well, shucks, if this isn’t awkward.

“I’m pregnant.”

I almost choke on the mouthful of water mid-sip when Mira suddenly blurts out those two words. It’s foolish, but in those brief seconds, a very small part of me hoped the baby was mine. I sift through every interaction we had over the last few months, desperately looking for any evidence that could prove me as the father. How could I be, though? Mira and I haven’t slept together in over a year, and the things we did get up to wouldn’t conceive a baby.

How messed up am I to be thinking such things? To ever want to rob my brother of such a monumental blessing. I’m nowhere near ready to be a father.

Damn, I had a feeling they gathered us here for a reason, but that… that was not it and fuck did it sting. I assumed they were announcing that they’re moving to Singapore or something, not that they’re expecting a baby. A baby they likely conceived while they were in Rome when Mira and I were supposed to be seeing each other.

Bollocks.

I should be happy, right? My brother is having a baby. He’s having a baby with the woman who, until recently, I’d spent the better half of my life secretly loving and dreaming up a life and future with inside my head. I should have been jumping for joy, hugging my brother, and congratulating him endlessly on his impending fatherhood. Instead, I’m staring at them looking lovingly at one another, and I feel as though someone just gut-punched me.

I’m going to be an uncle.

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