“How come you don’t have a girlfriend?” I blurt out.
Davis raises his eyebrows, tilting his head to the side to look at me. “I don’t know. How come you don’t have a boyfriend?”
“Maybe I was waiting for a certain someone to ask me, and they never did,” I say, raising one of my eyebrows pointedly.
Davis studies me for a long minute before laughing me off. “Uh huh, sure you are.”
“I’m being serious Davis,” I say, putting my hands on my hips to look at him.
“Amelia, you are the girl who goes after what she wants. You don’t wait around hoping for some guy to catch a clue. No, if you wanted someone, I imagine you’d make a big show of it.”
“Whatever,” I huff, walking away from him.
“Oh come on, Amelia,” Davis grabs my hand to keep me from walking away. “We both know it’s true. You’re leaving town the minute you have your diploma. Pinehaven and whoever that guy is will be so far behind you that you won’t even remember them while you’re off making your dreams come true.”
What the hell is he talking about? Who said I was leaving Pinehaven? He’s the one who’s leaving. I don’t know whether to feel hurt or frustrated. To be honest, I feel both, as well as being confused as hell. I basically told him I was interested and he laughed at me. What did I do wrong?
Chapter One
Amelia “Millie” Price
Ever since I found out my best friend Chloe and Wade, the town sheriff, finally told each other how they felt, I’ve been in a bad mood. Of course, I’m happy for them. I want nothing but the best for the two love birds who haven’t been able to keep their hands to themselves for the past couple of weeks, but it also makes me realize I need to make some changes in my own life.
I need to start taking things a bit more serious. Ever since high school I’ve jumped from job to job goofing off. That is until the new to town Chloe hired me and made me the manager of Sweets Treats after a few weeks of working here. I never expected to like it as much as I do, and hell, I learned how to bake while using my book keeping experience I’d gained over the years at numerous jobs.
But I can’t keep going on like I’m happy, when I’m not, at least not completely happy. I love my job and my friends, but something is missing. Rather, someone is missing. Filling my nights with random first dates, followed by wine to drown my sorrows and painting to make me feel better just aren’t cutting it anymore. Not when what I’d really like to be doing is falling asleep in a certain someone’s arms, building a life together.
Ever since Chloe told me about her and Wade, I haven’t been on another meaningless date. What’s the point when they’ll never measure up to the man I really want? Last night I came to a decision though. I’m going to get my life straight, starting with coming clean with Davis once and for all. Well, maybe. It sounded good last night, but actually telling him seems terrifying.
I walk in through the back of the bakery and hang my purse up in the office. I’m ten minutes early, which is a first for me, but I have to admit not feeling guilty when I walk into work is a good feeling. I join Chloe out front where she’s turning the lights on and flipping the chairs over. “Good morning,” I call.
“Oh God, you scared the crap out of me.” She says holding her hand over her chest dramatically, staring at me with wide eyes.
“Did you forget I was coming in? I’m on the schedule, right?” I laugh, starting a pot of coffee.
She shrugs. “No, I just figured it’d be a while before you got here.”
Ouch. She’s right, I’m usually thirty minutes late if not more, but it still hurts. “Where’s Wade? He’s usually with you when I get here.”
Chloe bites her lip and blushes.
“What is it?” I laugh.
“I let him sleep in. We were up pretty late last night. Plus he’s going fishing with Davis today.”
“Really?” I ask, wiggling my eyebrows.
“Oh hush,” She laughs. “You know what it’s like.”
“No, actually I don’t.” I sigh.
Chloe freezes. “What do you mean you don’t? You date more than anyone I know. I just figured...”
I shrug and continue what I’m doing.
“Uh uh, nope. We’re talking about this.”
“Just because I go on a lot of dates doesn’t mean I’m having sex with them. I’m not some ho, Chloe. Hell, most of the time they don’t even get a kiss.”
“Hold on. Are you saying you’re a virgin?”
I cross my arms and look at my best friend trying to figure out how to tell her. Do I even need to tell her? It’s not like it’s her business whether or not I’ve let some guy fill my donut.
“Which is totally fine by the way,” she adds.
“Yes Chloe, I’m a virgin,” I say in a half-serious, half-mocking tone.
She gasps. “At thirty-two? Jesus Millie, you’re like a freaking golden unicorn.”
“Whatever. It’s not that big of a deal. I just never wanted to do it with any of the guys I’ve been out with. They’re all so...” I shake my head. “Not Davis,” I say under my breath and head for the back to turn the ovens on.
“What was that?” Chloe calls.
“Nothing,” I mumble coming back into the front.
“Look, you don’t have to explain it to me. It’s your choice when you choose to do it. I just want you to be happy, and you don’t seem happy.”
“I’m happy, for the most part. I just wish I was happier. You must think I’m weird or something. It’s not like I haven’t had offers.”
“Oh, honey. I don’t think that at all.” Chloe says softly and wraps me in her arms.
“I know it’s silly, but I’ve always had it in my head it was supposed to be something special. With someone special, you know, like the one.”
“That’s not silly at all,” she says pulling back to look at me.
“Yeah, well at this point, I feel like I’ve waited so long that I’m going to be that crazy lady with a hundred cats people always joke about. I’m going to die a virgin.”
Something falls to the ground behind me and Chloe’s eyes go wide. I turn around to find Wade and Davis standing there.
“Uh, hey Mills,” he says, walking toward Chloe. Davis on the other hand says nothing and stares at me like I have two heads.
“We just came in to grab some coffee,” Davis mumbles, reaching for the steel coffee thermos he must have dropped when he heard what I said.
“Oh God,” I mutter staring at the object of my affection. Of all people, he’d be the one to walk in and overhear I’m still a virgin.
“You two are early,” Chloe says looking amused. “There must be something in the water today.” She winks at me.
Davis tilts his head, studying me. “Oh yeah? You come in on time today Amelia?”
“Early. I came in early.” I clarify.
Davis, Wade, and Chloe all burst out laughing. Whatever, they can laugh all they want, at least I tried. “Give me that,” I growl, taking the thermos out of Davis’ hand and filling it up with coffee. I add cream and sugar, just the way he likes it.