Sure enough, Larissa andHarlow had joined forces and were making his wishes come true.
ChapterEight
Ava was used to being happy.
Baking.
Serving customers.
Christmas music.
Festive lights and tinsel.
All of it filled her with joy. Or at least it did before she thought of Smokey having an affair. No matter how hard she tried to come up with many different excuses, nothing worked.
Harlow had called in sick. Ava knew it was a lie. The fake cough and her constantly changing her voice when she forgot that she was sick were all telltale signs.
She had also noticed that some people kept looking at her and whispering behind their hands, which was a little disconcerting.
“Are you okay?”
Ava had beenso off in her own little world that she hadn’t even noticed Abriana stepping into her shop. Shaking her head, she forced a smile to her lips, but it was hard. “Abriana, hey.”
“Are you okay?” Abriana asked. “Do you need to go to the emergency room?”
“I’m fine. Trust me.”
“You didn’t even see me come in, or hear me say hi. I was talking to you, Ava.”
“I’m sorry. Is there anything I can get you?”
“You can tellme what is wrong.” Abriana frowned.
“It’s nothing. Trust me. I’m just, this is all nothing.” She wanted to sob, but she held the tears back. Tears didn’t accomplish anything.
Abriana frowned. “Ava, please, don’t lie to me.”
Ava stared at her friend, andshe didn’t know what set the waterworks off, but she couldn’t handle it anymore. She had kept the tears in all morning. Customers didn’t want to be served by a sobbing woman. Ava also didn’t want to ruin the reputation she had built up a second time after Smokey had nearly destroyed her. Her bakery had taken a huge hit, and once the Hell’s Bastards MC had made it clear to the town that she wasn’t the enemy, she’d slowly built up her clientele again.
Ava stepped away from the counter as the first wave of tears started to fall.
Umberto had been restless all morning, but he’d finally settled down for a nap, andhe was lying in her office, in his car seat.
She rushed to her office, pressing her palm against the far wall, trying to compose herself.
Abriana had followed her. She sensed the other woman in her office.
“I’ve locked the door,” Abriana said.
Ava hadn’t even thoughtabout the freaking door.
“Do you need me to get Smokey?”She was talking softly.
Ava sniffled. “No.”
She reached for some tissuesand took several, pressing them to her eyes in an attempt to stop the pain and tears. No matter how often she dabbed at her cheeks, they continued to fall. She hated crying so damn much.
Abriana stepped toward her. Ava closed her eyes hard as she put a hand on her shoulder.