Page 10 of The Ex Effect
“Yeah. I heard the place is kind of a wreck, but the land is still pretty. And I don’t need a permit or have to worry about people getting in the way,” Frankie said. “And,selfishly, I wanted to capture the place while I’m here. Sounds like they’re going to be shutting down the farm and retiring.”
“Really?” My heart sank. Sure, I didn’t frequent the Christmas tree farm. For the last decade at least, I stuck a four-foot, pre-lit tree by my front window—which was more to not look like a bah-humbug to my neighbors, and less about my holiday spirit. But Pete and Patty’s place was a local tradition, even if it wasn’t what it used to be. “That’s too bad. But also…good for them. Keeping up a tree farm has got to be a ton of work.” I moved past the pride flag outside Zoey’s Bakery and reached for the door handle.
Inside, I stepped into a mushroom cloud of dough and sugar scents. I inhaled, filling my lungs.Yum.God, I was a sucker for sweets. Chocolate, raspberry, vanilla, I’d even tried a pickle cupcake a few weeks ago that was surprisingly delicious. I breathed in one more time, then went to the counter.
Zoey glanced up from tucking edges into a pastry box. “Heya, Morgan!” She wiped her hands on her pink apron and moved to the counter. “You haven’t been here for almost a month. Did we break up and I didn’t get the memo?”
“Nah. I’ll never leave your raspberry scones.” I grinned. “Sam sent me to pick up cupcakes.”
Although the queer community was small around here, it had been apparent from day one that Zoey and I would never be a match. Zoey was cute. Wavy dark hair, chunky glasses, bright blue eyes, a wide grin. I swear I’d befriend her properly if I had more time. But no spark ever existed. And even though I wouldn’t call myself a romantic, I relied heavily on sparks and tingles to indicate if someone was a good match. The brain might lie, but the body does not.
“Sam’s little guy has a soccer game, right? I got them ready for you right here.” Zoey dug out a pink box from under the counter. “Lisa called earlier and said you’d be by to grab them.”
Frankie leaned toward me. “Jesus, do you seriously know everyone in this town?”
Kind of, yes. I wanted to snark that Frankie would know everyone, too, if she didn’t bust out of here like Spring Harbors was a jail, but I refrained.
Zoey tapped on the screen, her gaze flashing between Frankie and me. “Are you two together?”
“Definitely not.” I stiffened, then softened when I looked at Frankie’s deadpan stare. “I mean, yes, we’re getting these cupcakes now… together.”But only out of sheer desperation to move the wedding-needle a fraction.
Zoey swiped the credit card I handed her in the machine and smiled at Frankie. “Are you new to the area? Tourist? I don’t think I’ve seen you around here.”
“Um, something like that.” Frankie’s dimples deepened with her smile.
Are they flirting?In front of me? God, that smile, though. Honestly, it was unfair. People who had smiles like that made other people melt. That smile hid what a terrible, awful, horrible person Frankie was, and hopefully Zoey could see through those deep-set dimples’ facade.
“Great place you’ve got here.” Frankie took a step back and cast a gaze across the space. “Love the pride décor.”
The tiniest swipe of blush crossed Zoey’s pale cheeks, enough that I wanted to stomp out of the store. The very last thing I needed to see was another victim succumb to Frankie’s famous charm. Christ, too many things hadn’t changed with Frankie. She always had this way about her… someone who could talk their way out of a ticket or convince a teacher to swap a grade, which I distinctly remember happening at least twice our senior year, which infuriated me because I had done the due diligence of studying my ass off, and she’d done the bare minimum by charming the teachers. I called out my thanks to Zoey and headed out the door, with Frankie at my heels.
Outside, I balanced both boxes and my coffee as I scurried across the street.
Frankie held out her arms. “Let me hold one of those.”
“I’mperfectlycapable.” I didn’t need some motorcycle-driving, knight-in-shiny-leather-armor coming in and doing chivalrous things. Although it was pretty cumbersome trying to dig out the keys from my purse while propping the boxes on my hip.
I wanted Frankie to ask me again, so I could hand her a box.
She didn’t.
Frankie tossed her drink into the sidewalk wastebasket. “Hey, why don’t you meet us up at Pete and Patty’s for the shoot?”
I sighed. I hadso muchto do. However, it was nearly impossible to get Olivia nailed down for longer than a few short emails. At least if I were in person with Olivia, I could strong-arm her into making a few decisions. “Okay, maybe I’ll try. Can you send me the details?” I opened the back door and slid the boxes on the backseat. “And, um, thanks.” Ugh, if those words didn’t feel like glass shards coming from my mouth.
In the car, I pinched the bridge of my nose and exhaled. The headache eased up, but the thought of spending the afternoon with Frankie kicked it back into high gear. I turned the ignition and…Oh no. Oh, no, no, no. A horrific sound like a metal fork scraping across something under my hood flooded the car. I pushed the back of my head into the seat.Not now.
A knuckle rapped on the window. “Need a ride?”
I stepped out of the car and pointed at the motorcycle. “On that death trap? Absolutely not.”
Frankie shrugged. “Cool.”
If she says that one more time, I swear to God… Frankie tugged on her helmet and flung a leg over the bike seat without so much as a second glance.Dammit.Sam would already be at the soccer game, and I sure as hell wasn’t going to call myworkaholic parents for a ride. I could Uber, but in this town, the rideshares weren’t plentiful. I may hate anything sports-related, but the last thing I could bear to think about was Henry’s disappointed cherub face when I didn’t make his game or bring the cupcakes.
Crap. I really didn’t want to do this. But… but I had no choice. “Frankie, wait!”
FOUR
