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*** Karis' POV***

"It is not the day for this. I have three orders to make sure land, on time. Please tell me you are not calling in on me." I plead with Stephanie. She says that she is sick. No, I am sick. I am fed up with the bogus stories she comes up with when we are already overwhelmed. Why is it so hard to find good help?

Slamming my hand onto my forehead, I nod into the phone. "Okay. Yeah, I get it. Emergency. Right." I hang up the phone without even saying goodbye.

I'm fucking exhausted. Everything is far more than I can handle today. I just want to crawl beneath my covers so that I may cry in pure silence.

Shaking my head, I let out an irritated growl. My phone rings. I want to throw it into the ocean. I don't want one more order, one more request or one more responsibility.

"Karis speaking." I groan out a greeting with no enthusiasm.

"Bad time love? Should I call later?" His voice is so deep and smooth. It instantly pushes me troubles to the side momentarily.

"No. You're good. Sorry." I walk through the kitchen to gather everything I will need to meet my first order. Placing it on the counters, I begin mixing the icing for the cupcakes. Stella is turning one. Who is Stella? Hell if I know. She likes unicorns. That's all I need to know.

"You sound stressed. What can I do?" I hear Vance's keys as he picks them up.

"Nothing. You have a job. I can handle mine. Fuck." I yell into my phone as the cream splashed out of the bowl after my hasty whisking. Thunking the bowl onto the counter, I grab a cloth to clean the mess before it gets out of hand.

"I did not ask you what my job is, or even if you could handle yours. I asked you what I can do. Please do not try to conquer the whole world. You are only human Karis. You're enough but, you are still just one person. Now, please tell me what happened." I place the phone on speaker while I attempt to correct the buttercream icing.

"It's my assistant. She bailed. I have three orders with more just flooding in. I don't know if I will meet my deadlines." I blow my hair off of my forehead while pushing the thick icing towards the middle of the bowl.

"Would three sets of hands help? The club is closed tonight. Rex and Finn will be more than happy to help. Of course, I will be there in ten more minutes." Vance swoops in to save me. I want to say no, that I have it. But, truth be told, I don't. I can't run this alone.

"Please. Thank you." I move the icing to the side as I begin separating eggs for the cupcakes.

"I will be there soon, love. Just stay calm." After telling me goodbye, Vance hands up. I turn my phone to my music list, raising the volume until my own worry is lost in the voice of Greyson Chance.

"Bad to myself. Bad. Bad to myself." I hum in between breaths as I repeat the words. Make good choices Karis.

Seemingly, I allow my inability to delegate to overwhelm me. I have to do better. Be better. I put so much on me that I find myself angry at the innocent people around me. I'm not angry at them really. It's just I hate to disappoint anyone.

I slide the cupcakes into the oven before pulling down cooling racks. I place each one on the counter. Setting the timer for the oven, I move on to Fondant. I roll the vibrant colored icing onto the wax paper. Four colors stare at me expectantly. Every single one must be cut into strips before being rolled to create Unicorn manes and horns.

"Have no fear darling, Rex is here." Rex cheerfully belts out his arrival. I look up, smiling at the flamboyant man. He is definitely a face I am happy to see.

"He practically jumped at the chance to come. I am glad you have something we can do. I cannot be stuck in the house with this man when he is bored." Finn kisses my cheek before moving me over so he can flatten out the icing.

"Good morning, doll face." Vance pulls my lips to his before pressing a coffee into my hands. He surely knows how to spoil a girl.

"What are we making, Chef Karis?" Rex ties his apron on after making sure Finn's is secure.

"Unicorn cupcakes. Forty-eight cupcakes that need to look like this." I turn my phone so that the men can see the intricate details on the picture.

"Girl has taste." Rex spins around before he takes the rolling knife across the silver Fondant. I smile as he falls into a steady pace that eases my burden.

"I think Rex can handle Finn and the birthday order. What is next?" Vance hovers over my shoulder while I pull out the Stetson order. Seven casseroles are no easy task when you have only two hands. However, Vance nods as he starts collecting the bacon, green onions, and other ingredients for loaded scalloped potatoes. I start on the macaroni bake while humming again to my playlist.

"You sing beautifully Karis. Maybe you should quit trying to hide that stunning voice." Vance smiles as I feel a blush creep up my neck. I'm okay. I'm not Whitney Houston or Mariah Carey.

I am baffled as I look across the kitchen. Rex and Finn work well together. The unicorn heads are quickly filling the platter as the cupcakes cool down. It's a miracle to have friends that are willing to sacrifice their day to come to my rescue.

My phone rings. I am in a much better mood. I answer sweetly, announcing myself along with my business name Karis' Kreations.

"Karis. I know you're still mad. I just wanted to apologize for the way things closed off the other night. Please, let me take you out once. I promise, you will see how much I have changed." Christopher's voice is much louder than I expect. It takes me a minute to realize that I have him on speaker.

When I turn to walk off, I do not miss the strange look coming from all three men in my kitchen. I wave them off as I step to the outside of the building. I breathe deeply before responding to my ex-husband.

"Christopher. Please stop calling. I am not changing my mind any more than you have changed. You can't expect me to think that suddenly you have had an epiphany. If you didn't change in seven years, why would you change now." I bite my nail while impatiently tapping my foot.

This gets old.

"You can't tell me who I am Karis. I have changed. That's your problem. You think you are smarter than fucking everybody. Guess what, sweetheart, you're not." I can hear his can open while I roll my eyes. He's drinking. Of course.

"I'm not going to answer your calls any longer. Let this go. Please, Christopher. Move on." I feel like I am beating a dead horse. I close my eyes, waiting for his parting message.

"This. This is why you will be alone forever. You have no faith. You look down on everyone around you. Karis, you are unrealistic. No one is coming to sweep you off of your feet. That's just for books. You will die alone. You will miss me soon enough but, I will have found someone to replace you." Christopher rambles on. It's like a record that you don't even want to be playing.

"Tell you what, you call her phone one more time. I swear on the Queen of England. I will find you. I will beat you until you forget your name." Rex shuts my phone off before handing it back to me. I stand there stunned into silence. I hadn't even heard him come outside.

"How long we're you listening?" I turn so that Rex can't see the embarrassment on my face.

"Long enough to see that you made a good choice in leaving him. No one should be spoken to like that. He is wrong. That isn't for fairytales. Your desire to be treated with respect is the bare minimum. Your ex does not love or respect you. You deserve better than a gaslighting narcissist." Rex takes me into his arms as he comforts me.

"Don't swear on the Queen's life." I giggle into Rex's chest.

"I wanted to swear on Baby Jesus but, I had to make my own good choices." Rex laughs as I swat him on his chest.

"Let's get back inside. Vance is about to put you out of business. He may be in the wrong field." Rex opens the door for me.

I smile widely when Vance winks at me. He stops filling the pan in front of him with the Seafood Stuffing so that he can take me into his arms.

"You are fast." I look over the four dishes that he has finished with a fifth that is almost complete.

"I have been called worse." Vance lifts a spoon to my mouth. I take a bite of whatever he hands me. It's delicious. The crab dip is phenomenal.

"That's not my recipe." I wonder what that unique flavor is.

"It is. I just added a smoked paprika to bring out the crab. Do you like?" Vance looks to me for confirmation that he has done a good job.

"I love it. Make a note in my recipe book." I take one last spoonful before moving to grab a glass of water. That seasoning makes the crab taste richer. It's more bold.

After hours in the industrial kitchen, I load the dishes into my delivery truck before advising Dillon to drive carefully. My delivery guy promises me as he goes over the schedule so that each order arrives on time.

I'm exhausted. It is no easy task to create perfection, even with three angels to lend me a helping hand.

"Thank you." I whisper softly among my friends.

"No sweat. That was fun." Finn unties his apron as he wipes down the very last counter.

Locking up, I turn off the last of the lights.

"How about we go out tonight. Nothing crazy. I'm in the mood for beer and wings." Finn offers kindly towards me.

"I need a shower. After that, I'm game." I accept the invitation. I need some time to relax. Beer sounds good.

"Meet you at Buckeye's in an hour." Rex kisses my cheek. Finn escorts his husband to the truck.

"I will see you at the bar." Vance walks me to my vehicle. I wrap my arms around him, melting into his strong frame.

"Are you better, love?" Vance combs my hair back with a sweep of his hand. I nod as I cradle my head into his large palm.

"I'm wonderful. Thank you so much. I could not have done that without you three." I lift up on my tip toes to kiss his lips softly. Vance doesn't try to deepen the kiss. Instead he lingers with just the lip kiss between us.

"Go. Be safe. I will be waiting for you." Vance kisses my forehead before turning towards his car. I get inside of my own vehicle. Turning the radio up, I smile.

The drive home isn't long. I have just enough time to listen to a few songs. The wind blows through my hair as my hand sways outside of the window.

I can't help but notice the distinguished differences between Christopher and Vance. Where Chris is constantly rude, condescending and generously cruel; Vance is kind, caring and genuinely invested in me as a person.

The thought of what was makes me sad. My relationship was once burning embers begging for life to be breathed into it. Now, the ashes have left scars behind.

The thought of where my life may be heading changes my perspective considerably. With so many people in my life that champion for my well-being, I may be able to see a glimmer of hope on the horizon.

Hope gives way to faith. Faith paves the road for happiness. That sounds like a journey I just might be able to make.