Chapter 12: The Difference
838 Words
“Am I interrupting something?”
Daniel’s voice was calm.
Too calm.
The kind of calm that usually came before trouble.
Tamara resisted the urge to sigh.
She had spent the entire day dealing with customers, suppliers, and a mixer determined to ruin her life.
She did not have the energy for whatever this was.
“No.”
The answer came from Guy.
Not Tamara.
Not Mia.
Guy.
Daniel’s gaze shifted toward him.
For the first time, the two men properly looked at each other.
Measuring.
Evaluating.
Deciding.
Neither appeared impressed.
Good.
Tamara wasn’t impressed either.
⸻
Mia sensed entertainment.
Immediately.
The way sharks sensed blood.
Or Emily sensed gossip.
“Coffee?”
Emily whispered.
“What?”
“We need coffee.”
Mia nodded.
“Good point.”
This was absolutely becoming a situation.
⸻
Daniel turned back toward Tamara.
“I just wanted to talk.”
Mia rolled her eyes so hard it was almost audible.
Guy noticed.
The corner of his mouth twitched.
Briefly.
Daniel noticed that too.
And somehow disliked it.
A lot.
Tamara placed the cupcake box on the counter.
“About what?”
Daniel hesitated.
The problem was…
There were too many things to talk about.
Too many mistakes.
Too many regrets.
Too much damage.
“I was hoping we could have dinner.”
The bakery fell silent.
Emily froze.
Mia stopped chewing.
Even Tamara looked surprised.
Daniel immediately regretted saying it in front of an audience.
Unfortunately, it was too late now.
⸻
Guy looked away.
The conversation had nothing to do with him.
Nothing.
Absolutely nothing.
So why was he still standing there?
Excellent question.
One he preferred not to answer.
Tamara folded her arms.
“Daniel.”
The warning in her voice was clear.
He ignored it.
“I know things are difficult.”
“You don’t.”
“I do.”
“No.”
Her tone remained calm.
“You don’t.”
Daniel looked frustrated.
“I’ve been trying.”
“I know.”
Something hopeful flickered in his eyes.
Then Tamara continued.
“And that’s the problem.”
Hope disappeared.
Instantly.
“You’re trying now.”
The bakery became very quiet.
The kind of quiet that made everyone uncomfortable.
Except Tamara.
She looked exhausted.
Not angry.
Not emotional.
Just tired.
“As if what happened only started mattering when it affected you.”
Daniel flinched.
The words landed exactly where she intended.
⸻
For a moment, nobody spoke.
Then Mia quietly slid twenty dollars across the counter toward Emily.
Emily looked delighted.
“Thank you.”
Daniel frowned.
“What was that?”
Mia smiled.
“We had a bet.”
Tamara closed her eyes.
Of course they did.
“What bet?”
Emily happily pocketed the money.
“She said you’d ask Tamara to dinner before next week.”
“I said three days.”
“Technically it was two.”
“True.”
Daniel looked horrified.
Guy looked suspiciously amused.
Tamara considered moving to another country.
⸻
Eventually, Daniel left.
Not because he wanted to.
Because he finally realized he wasn’t getting anywhere.
The bell above the door chimed as it closed behind him.
Silence followed.
A much more pleasant silence.
Then Mia looked at Guy.
Guy looked at Mia.
Neither trusted the other.
Immediately.
“What?”
Guy asked.
Mia narrowed her eyes.
“What?”
“You keep looking at me.”
“You keep showing up.”
Emily slowly backed away.
Smart woman.
⸻
Tamara stepped between them.
“Nobody is fighting anyone.”
“I wasn’t going to fight him.”
Mia sounded offended.
“That’s progress.”
“It’s called growth.”
“No, it’s called witnesses.”
Emily nodded.
“That’s true.”
Mia pointed.
“See? Emily understands me.”
Nobody understood Mia.
Not even Mia.
⸻
A few minutes later, Guy finally prepared to leave.
Again.
As he reached the door, Tamara followed.
Mostly to make sure Mia didn’t interrogate him.
The evening air was cool.
Quiet.
Peaceful.
Unlike the bakery.
Guy glanced toward her.
“Your friends are unusual.”
Tamara laughed.
The sound came easier these days.
That realization caught her off guard.
“That’s one word for it.”
“What word would you use?”
“Exhausting.”
A pause.
Then—
“Loyal.”
Tamara looked at him.
Really looked at him.
The city lights reflected softly against the windows behind him.
For once, he didn’t look like a billionaire CEO.
Just a man.
A tired one.
Someone carrying more than he let people see.
The thought surprised her.
“So,” Guy said.
Breaking the moment.
“That guy.”
There it was.
Tamara almost smiled.
“Persistent?”
“Very.”
She looked down the street where Daniel had disappeared.
Then back at Guy.
“Some people struggle to accept consequences.”
Guy nodded once.
As though he understood exactly what she meant.
Maybe he did.
Maybe he didn’t.
Either way…
Neither noticed how much easier these conversations were becoming.
- Writer
