“Okay?” she said. “So you’re, like... friends?”
“No,” Avery said, immediately amending, “well, maybe. Sort of. She also—you know how Molly called in sick Monday and it was a bit of a disaster?” She went on without waiting for Emma to respond. “I was late to the game, and I guess Jo asked Dylan why and he said bakery emergency and—I don’t know. I’m sure she heard us bickering about it all game. So she came to Floured Up in the morning and made me an offer.”
Jo came in late Tuesday. She hadn’t explained why.
“An offer?” Emma asked.
“She wanted to cover the salary of a worker or two,” Avery said. “To help. We worked it out so she’s just covering the difference between what Icanpay a new pastry chef and what Ishouldbe paying them.”
Avery was watching Emma, like maybe she thought Emma was going to bolt. Emma pointed her toes again, shrugged at her sister.
“Okay.”
Avery furrowed her eyebrows. “Okay?”
“Yeah.”
“Just okay?”
“I don’t know, Avery, what else do you want me to say?”
“I don’t know. How you feel about it? Is it okay? Do you forgive me for not telling you?”
“I mean, of course it’s fine you’re friends with Jo,” Emma said. “Or business partners or whatever. I don’t know why that wouldn’t be fine. It’s none of my business.”
“Emma.”
Emma didn’t say anything.
“Of course it’s your business,” Avery said. “I’m your sister and you’re her—she’s your—” Emma didn’t like the way Avery paused. “She’s your boss. It’s weird. I mean I feel weird about it.”
“About which part? The being friends with her without ever telling me, or her supporting your business?” It came out snappier than Emma intended.
“All of it,” Avery said. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you sooner.”
“It’s fine,” Emma said dismissively.
It was. Avery didn’t have to tell her everything. And if she had gone to a game, she would’ve found out. Maybe Avery was right and it would have been funny. It was good that Jo was helping with the bakery. Avery was successful enough to need to hire another person, and Jo’s help allowed that to happen. That was better than fine.
Except Emma also inexplicably felt like she was going to cry.
“Em.”
“Seriously, Avery.” Emma laughed. It came out fake. “I’m really excited you’re hiring a new person. I’m so glad the bakery is doing that well.”
Avery’s smile came slowly, but it was sincere. “Yeah. It’s kind of great.”
Emma hopped off her stool and went around the island to hug her sister from behind. Avery let her, for a moment, before turning around in Emma’s arms to squeeze her back. Emma sank into it.
“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you sooner,” Avery murmured. “I thought I’d convince you to come to a game and it’d be a funny surprise, but it got out of hand. I didn’t mean to hurt you and I won’t do it again.”
Emma had never been good at holding grudges against her sister.
“Thank you,” she said.
“I’m sure it got out of hand for Jo, too,” Avery said. “She probably didn’t know how to tell you.”
That Emma didn’t believe as easily. She closed her eyes andpretended water wasn’t welling in them. A deep breath, then she pulled away from Avery’s embrace.