Sage's Point Of View
Bittersweet Homecoming
The familiar streets of Maple Grove rolled past my window as I guided my sleek black Audi through town. Four years away, and yet it felt like nothing had changed.
The same quaint storefronts, the same towering oak trees lining Main Street, the same feeling of everyone knowing everyone else's business.
I took a deep breath, trying to quell the anxiety bubbling in my chest. Coming back to Maple Grove wasn't supposed to feel this way. I was successful now, damn it.
I'd graduated top of my class from Le Cordon Bleu in Paris, worked under some of the most renowned pastry chefs in Europe, and was about to open my first Sugar Rush franchise. This homecoming should have felt triumphant.
So why did I feel like I was about to face a firing squad?
As I turned onto Willow Lane, my grip on the steering wheel tightened. I knew exactly why, and her name was Alyssa Bennett.
The image of her face flashed unbidden in my mind. Those sparkling green eyes that always seemed to see right through me.
That infectious laugh that could light up a room. The way her nose would scrunch up when she concentrated on a particularly tricky recipe.
I shook my head, banishing the memories. That was the past. We were different people now. I was different.
I pulled into the parking lot behind my new storefront, right next to Sweet Dreams Bakery. Alyssa's bakery. For a moment, I just sat there, staring at the cheery sign with its whimsical font and painted cupcakes.
A wave of guilt washed over me. I hadn't known she'd opened her own place when I'd signed the lease for Sugar Rush. By the time I found out, it was too late to back out.
"You gonna sit there all day, or are we actually going to do some work?"
I jumped at the voice, turning to see Ash leaning against my car, a bemused expression on his face. My best friend since childhood, Ash hadn't changed much in the years I'd been away.
He still had the same messy black hair and mischievous grin, though the sleeve of tattoos snaking up his left arm was new.
"Jesus, Ash," I grumbled, climbing out of the car. "Give a guy a heart attack, why don't you?"
Ash's grin widened. "Jumpy much? You act like you're expecting someone to jump out and ambush you."
I shot him a glare, but there was no real heat behind it. "Yeah, well, small town. Never know who might be lurking around corners, ready to drag you into a three-hour conversation about their cat's dietary habits."
Ash snorted. "Right. Because that's totally what you're worried about." He jerked his head towards Sweet Dreams. "It wouldn't have anything to do with a certain green-eyed baker next door, would it?"
I busied myself with unloading boxes from my trunk, avoiding Ash's knowing gaze. "I don't know what you're talking about."
"Uh-huh," Ash said, clearly unconvinced. He grabbed a box, following me towards the back entrance of my shop. "So you're telling me you haven't thought about Alyssa at all since you got back?"
I paused, my hand on the doorknob. "Of course I've thought about her," I admitted quietly. "How could I not? But that's in the past, Ash. We've both moved on."
Ash raised an eyebrow. "Have you?"
Before I could answer, the door swung open, revealing my interior designer, Zoe Chen. With her perfectly coiffed bob and immaculate white pantsuit, Zoe looked like she'd stepped straight off a New York runway rather than a small-town bakery.
"There you are!" she exclaimed, ushering us inside. "I was beginning to think you'd gotten cold feet. We have so much to do before the grand opening, and so little time!"
I forced a smile, grateful for the interruption. "No cold feet here, Zoe. Just running a bit behind schedule."
As Zoe launched into a detailed rundown of her vision for the space, I let my eyes wander. The interior of Sugar Rush was a far cry from the cozy, homey vibe of Sweet Dreams next door.
Everything was sleek and modern – polished concrete floors, minimalist white display cases, and a feature wall painted in Sugar Rush's signature hot pink.
It was exactly what I'd envisioned when I'd started planning this venture. So why did it suddenly feel so... impersonal?
"Sage? Are you listening?" Zoe's sharp voice cut through my thoughts.
I blinked, focusing back on her. "Sorry, what were you saying?"
Zoe sighed, clearly exasperated. "I was asking about the feature wall. I think we should add the neon sign here," she gestured to a blank space above where the register would go. "It'll really pop against the pink."
I nodded absently. "Sounds great, Zoe. I trust your judgment."
She beamed, immediately launching into another spiel about lighting fixtures. I tuned her out again, my gaze drifting to the window that looked out onto the street.
From here, I had a perfect view of Sweet Dreams' front entrance.
As if on cue, the door to Alyssa's shop opened, and she stepped out onto the sidewalk. My breath caught in my throat. She looked... exactly the same, and yet completely different.
Her honey-blonde hair was pulled back in a messy bun, wisps escaping to frame her face. She wore a flour-dusted apron over a simple sundress, and even from here, I could see the smudge of chocolate on her cheek.
She was beautiful.
As if feeling my gaze, Alyssa suddenly looked up. Our eyes met through the window, and for a moment, the world seemed to stand still. I saw a flicker of something in her eyes – surprise? Pain?
Before I could decipher it, her expression hardened, and she turned sharply on her heel, disappearing back into her shop.
"Earth to Sage!" Ash's voice snapped me back to reality. He was looking at me with a mixture of amusement and concern. "You okay, man? You look like you've seen a ghost."
In a way, I had. The ghost of a relationship I'd walked away from, of a future I'd once dreamed of. I cleared my throat. "I'm fine. Just... thinking about all we need to do before opening day."
Ash didn't look convinced, but he let it slide. "Speaking of which, when are you planning to talk to her?"
I didn't have to ask who he meant. "I'm not," I said firmly. "There's nothing to talk about. We're just two business owners who happen to be neighbors."
Ash snorted. "Right. Because it's totally normal to open a competing business right next door to your ex without so much as a heads up."
I winced. When he put it like that, it did sound pretty bad. "I didn't know this was her bakery when I signed the lease," I protested weakly. "By the time I found out, it was too late to back out."
"And you couldn't have, I don't know, called her? Sent an email? Carrier pigeon?"
I ran a hand through my hair, frustration building. "What was I supposed to say, Ash? 'Hey, remember me? The guy who broke your heart? Well, surprise! I'm back in town and about to become your direct competition. No hard feelings, right?'"
Ash's expression softened. "Look, I get it. It's a tough situation. But you can't avoid her forever, Sage. This town isn't big enough for that."
I knew he was right, but the thought of facing Alyssa, of seeing the hurt and anger in her eyes up close... it made my stomach churn.
"I'll talk to her," I said finally. "Just... not today. I need to focus on getting Sugar Rush ready."
Ash clapped me on the shoulder. "Alright, man. But don't wait too long. You know how fast gossip spreads in this town. Better she hears it from you than through the grapevine."
I nodded, grateful for his understanding. As Ash wandered off to help Zoe with some heavy lifting, I found myself drawn back to the window. Sweet Dreams looked quiet now, no sign of Alyssa.
A memory surfaced, unbidden. Alyssa and me, barely out of high school, dreaming about opening our own bakery someday. We'd spend hours coming up with menu ideas, debating the merits of different flavor combinations.
Back then, it had seemed so simple. We'd be partners in every sense of the word – in the kitchen and in life.
Now here we were, with competing bakeries and four years of silence between us.
I sighed, turning away from the window. I had work to do. Sugar Rush wasn't going to set itself up, and I couldn't afford to get lost in what-ifs and might-have-beens.
The next few hours passed in a blur of unpacking, organizing, and fielding what felt like a million questions from Zoe about every minute detail of the shop's decor.
By the time we called it a day, the sun was setting, casting long shadows across Main Street.
"Great progress today, team," I said, trying to inject some enthusiasm into my voice. "We'll pick up again tomorrow morning, bright and early."
As Zoe and Ash headed out, I lingered, ostensibly to double-check some paperwork. In reality, I was stalling, my eyes continually drawn to the warm glow emanating from Sweet Dreams' windows.
Before I could talk myself out of it, I found myself walking towards Alyssa's shop. My hand was on the door handle before I realized what I was doing.
Through the glass, I could see Alyssa at the counter, her back to the door as she wiped down the display case.
This was my chance. I could go in, clear the air. Maybe if we talked, we could find a way to coexist, to be civil neighbors if nothing else.
I took a deep breath and pushed the door open. The little bell above it chimed, and Alyssa turned.