24. Pipe Frosting

Maisie didn't know what the hell to do with her time.

The bakery was off limits as people walked in and out, removing all the broken cupboards and smashed tiles. Then people were in and out with rolls of wallpaper and new flooring. With the money that Maisie had begun to put away to redecorate the bakery and the addition of money that Tony and her mom had put together, they had finally been able to get the bakery done.

Maisie still saw it as a lost cause.

Things weren't going to go up. After a robbery, a better bakery around the corner and mediocre cooking appliances, it would be a miracle if anyone wanted to step foot in the bakery ever again.

The fact the boys weren't coming back was also making her lose faith, but she was never going to admit that.

Tony had told them all that because the bakery was shut for renovations, the guys had to finish their community service hours at the city hall. Their days were filled with cleaning every and anything they could find. Sometimes Maisie would see them briefly while they were working but otherwise they were too preoccupied.

Logan was too preoccupied.

She hadn't seen him in three days. Texts were sent back and forth but it wasn't the same. She would see them five days a week all the time but now it was as if someone snapped their fingers and everything was gone. And with the bakery being ripped up and glued back together, there was nothing around that could even remind Maisie of the time they spent together.

The flooring guys were in today and Maisie stopped by the door, watching them fix the tiles. One of the guys stood up and noticed Maisie. He smiled and walked over, wiping his forehead.

"Hey Maisie," he greeted.

"Hi Sam," Maisie said.

The two guys were brothers and only living a couple blocks over. Maisie used to babysit their little sister throughout high school for extra cash. Spending so much time hunched over school and then worried over her grandma's bakery made Maisie realize how much she had forgotten about the world outside the doors.

She was always close to the people in her neighbourhood, mostly because her grandma was. But lately she'd forgotten to do anything else but panic and worry and stress.

"How's Nikki?" Maisie asked.

"She's good, getting bigger every day," Sam smiled. "Missed you when you stopped babysitting her."

"I missed her too," Maisie admitted.

"How is college going by the way?" Josh, the second brother asked from where he was cementing a tile to the floor.

"It's not actually," Maisie said. "Dropped out, wasn't my thing."

Dropping out wasn't exactly a lie. If she hadn't been kicked out then after a week Maisie was sure to quit the whole thing altogether.

"Didn't think it would be," Sam said. "You never seemed like the psychology major kind of girl."

"Oh?" Maisie laughed. "And what kind of girl do I look like."

"Bakery owner," Josh called from the floor. "Suits you. Especially because everyone knows how much you love this place."

"Yeah," Sam nodded. "I guess the guys that robbed this place weren't from here. Of someone's got a target over your head," Sam laughed and Maisie huffed a quick one out before frowning.

There was definitely someone out there with a target over her head.

***

"You think Bud's trying to kill you?" Charity raised her eyebrows incredulously.

"No!" Maisie scoffed. "I think he's trying to sabotage my life, destroy my bakery and then take over the culinary world."

"Oh, so just the usual," Charity rolled her eyes and pulled into the parking lot of the burger joint.

"I'm serious here, Char," Maisie snapped. "Bud's evil and he's the one that robbed my bakery."

Charity cut the engine and looked at her best friend. "Okay," she started. "So let's say that you're right and Bud is trying to ruin your existence, what are we supposed to do? There is literally no evidence pointing to him. We'll look like sore little losers."

Maisie unfastened her seat belt. "No, I'll get him. One way or another I'll get the bitch."

Charity groaned and got out of the car. They walked inside the joint and scoped the booths and tables until they saw Ocean's giant bun bobbing side to side. They headed over and took up the booth seat opposite him. Ocean looked up and smiled, sipping on a fountain drink.

"Hey," he said and we greeted him back. "I didn't get any food yet."

"Good because I'm starving," Maisie sighed and they all ordered food when a woman came over.

Charity sipped her ice tea before pushing it aside.

"Maisie thinks Bud is trying to annihilate her," Charity said.

Ocean looked to Maisie in surprise. "Annihilate?"

"I think he robbed my bakery," Maisie said in a hushed voice.

"She's being paranoid," Charity muttered and Maisie shoved her shoulder as their food arrived.

Charity and Maisie immediately started to wolf down their burgers as Ocean tentatively started his chicken fingers.

"So," Maisie said. "What's up with you and Andrew?"

Ocean's eyes widened and he gulped.

"Nothing," he said quickly. "I mean I..."

"Wait, you and Andrew?" Charity asked. "I didn't know you liked him."

"I don't!" Ocean choked out. "I just..."

"You're not helping him cheat on Tom, are you?" Charity asked.

"No," Ocean sighed. "Trust me, it's all very one sided. When we were at Keith's burrito place, we danced and we got pretty close together and I don't know...guess I read it wrong. There I was with a raging crush only to find out he has a boyfriend."

"You can't know he doesn't like you," Maisie said.

"He's in love with Tom," Ocean whispered.

Maisie pinched one of his onion rings and gave him a soft smile. "You never know. Maybe one day."

***

Maisie smiled and put her phone on the table beside her bed. Tony and her mom had gone off for a spontaneous two day trip. They said it was so Tony could get some stress relief but Maisie knew it was so they could get it on and it made her want to throw up every time she thought about it.

Maisie heard the front door open almost exactly fifteen minutes later then close and lock before footsteps stomped up the stairs and stopped at her open door.

"You left the front door unlocked?" Logan asked.

"Maybe," Maisie shrugged sheepishly and Logan kicked his shoes off, rolling his eyes.

"If you die it's your fucking fault," he said and Maisie grinned.

"I guess that's acceptable."

Logan threw his jacket somewhere across the room and hopped onto Maisie's bed, pressing his face against the pillow.

"Your beds more comfy than mine," Logan admitted.

"Then stay here more," Maisie said and Logan smiled, grabbed her hand and sliding his fingers through hers.

"Your hands are cold," Logan commented.

"Always are," Maisie said. "Sorry but you've got a vampire for a girlfriend."

"Do you bite?"

"Only if you ask," Maisie pecked his cheek. "And say please. And grovel a bit."

Logan laughed. "Those are a lot of conditions."

Maisie turned over so her body was lined up beside his, arms and hips pressed together.

"I'm sure you'll manage," she said quietly and reached up, cupping the back of Logan's head and pulling him down for a kiss.

Logan's hands ran up her sides, wrapping around her hips and pulling her closer. The kiss became more intense as the air around them grew warmer.

Maisie felt warm all over, not uncomfortable, the complete opposite even. She always thought she would be nervous and worried anytime she was with a guy this closely. She thought she would screw up and make a fool of herself and that everything would be awkward.

Instead she'd never felt more comfortable or relaxed. There was no pressure, there was no force, there was no urgency.

She pushed Logan's shirt off and he smiled against her mouth. Her hands ran over the lean muscles of his back and when Logan reached for her shirt as well, Maisie let it happen.

There was no worry, fear or self-consciousness.

Just Logan.

- Ellie x