Page 75 of The Baby Dragon Bakery
Just then, Aiden was passing by with a glass of water from the kitchen, and Lavinia waved at him. He had been hiding out all night to give them privacy, which he didn’t seem to have minded.
“Hey Aiden,” she said.
“Hey, Lavinia,” Aiden said, smiling. “Sorry about you and Cal.”
The girls froze.
And Lavinia burst into tears.
Saphira and Genevieve whirled on Aiden, Saphira with her hands up and Genevieve with daggers in her eyes.
“Aiden,” Saphira said. “I told you not to mention it!”
Genevieve was a little less delicate. “ARE YOU STUPID?” she cried.
Aiden’s eyes went wide, his face turning beet red. “I’m so sorry,” he said, hiding behind his glass of water while he made a run for it, disappearing back into their bedroom.
“I’m sorry, Lav,” Saphira said, frowning.
“Boys are stupid,” Genevieve added. They both gave her another hug, and Lavinia sniffled.
“It’s okay,” she said, hugging them back as she wiped her eyes.
“Do you want to talk about it?” Saphira asked, rubbing Lavinia’s back.
Lavinia pulled away, facing them. “It’s fine, I can’t get into it right now.”
What would she even say? I ruined a good thing by being in love with my best friend who doesn’t feel the same way? It was too embarrassing, and she didn’t want their pity.
“Okay.” Saphira gave Lavinia another hug. “Get home safe.”
“Text us when you get there,” Genevieve said, squeezing Lavinia’s arm.
“I will,” Lavinia said. She left, and as soon as Saphira shut the door behind her, Lavinia heard Saphira and Genevieve yelling at Aiden, which made her laugh a little bit, though she was still down about how things were.
Tears filled her eyes again, and she wiped them away, driving home.
The person she really wanted to talk to about all of this was Theo, but she hadn’t told him, and she didn’t plan to. He would want all the details, and she couldn’t hide the truth from him or he would worry.
So she said nothing.
Chapter 27
On Monday at the Animal Hospital, Dr. Quan pulled Lavinia aside after a patient meeting. She had been out of it all morning, so unlike her usual self, and even Dr. Quan had noticed.
“Are you feeling well?” he asked, eyes concerned.
Where Lavinia would usually automatically reply with a reassuring smile and an “Of course!”, today she hesitated. Dr. Quan nodded, understanding.
“Why don’t you take it easy and do some paperwork in the office?” Dr. Quan suggested.
“Mhm.” Head hanging, she went to the office and spent the rest of the day doing little tasks until the day was over. Then, she went to class, and most of the week passed in a dull gray.
She barely replied to Theo’s messages—just enough that he wouldn’t worry and ask her what was wrong. She did not answer his calls. She couldn’t hear his voice.
This was all his fault, in a way, but she couldn’t even blame him entirely when she knew, mostly, the fault was all her own.
Love wasn’t meant for her. She wouldn’t have what herparents had. She wouldn’t get the grand romance she’d always dreamed of. And there was an acute grief with that realization, the loss of that hope.
