Inhale, Exhale - By Sarah M. Ross Page 0,54

that.” He slung an arm around my shoulder. “He’s just in a shitty mood ‘cause his hours got cut because we’re not selling enough. Ignore him.”

“Okaayyy.”

“Here. I want to give you the first of not one, not two, but three birthday presents I got you. You’re gonna love it, Jill. “

He ran behind the counter and reached under it before pulling out a small box and handing it to me. It was wrapped in one piece of tissue paper and about three feet of tape. I smiled despite myself.

“Thank you. It’s lovely.”

“You haven’t even opened it yet!”

I tore an edge of the tissue paper and pulled, revealing the contents. I giggled when I saw what was inside. “Red Velvet with cream cheese icing? My favorite!” I opened the plastic lid and pulled the single, giant cupcake out, swiping my finger along the edge to sneak a taste of the icing. “It’s delicious!”

“I got it from that little European bakery in town you always go on and on about. I figure you earned a little dessert before lunch.”

“That sounds like a great idea to me!” I peeled the paper back and took a big bite. I savored the rich, chocolaty taste and sweet, creamy icing goodness. It was, by far, the best cupcake I’d ever eaten. But it also reminded me too much of Grant, and I couldn’t stomach any more.

When I had finished half I held out the rest for Christian. “You know what they say, sharing is caring.”

He inhaled it in one swift bite, oozing icing from the corner of his mouth. I laughed, using my thumb to swipe the extra icing before I licked it off myself. I handed Christian a napkin, taking one for myself. After wiping his hands, he balled it up and tossed it into the trash.

“Okay, now it’s time for phase two of your birthday surprises.”

“Oh yeah? What’s that?”

He swiped his keys from his back pocket and dangled them in front of me. “None other than your favorite—an olives and mushroom calzone from Mezzaluna.”

My stomach practically growled and the mention. “But they don’t deliver.”

“Which is why I have to go pick it up.”

I grabbed my purse. “Well, what are we waiting for? Delicious calzones await.”

Christian slid my purse from my hands and set it back on the counter. “You gotta stay here, babe. I have your third present in the car, and I don’t want to spoil it. I’ll be back in like, ten minutes. Just lock the door behind me and put the ‘Closed for lunch’ sign out. No one will bother you. You can check your Facebook page or something. You know you probably have a billion people wishing you happy birthday today.”

I was bummed he didn’t want me to go with him, but I understood. Besides, he was right. It would take me longer to say thank you to each of the messages than it would for him to pick up lunch.

“All right. And get me a Pepsi while you’re there, too. The fountain kind, not a can.”

“You got it.”

I followed him to the door and locked it behind him before returning to the computer behind the desk. I had logged onto my Facebook page when there was a knock at the door. I ignored it, assuming it was a customer who didn’t see the sign, but the knocking turned into pounding.

“Hey, Christian. C’mon, man. I know you’re in there. Open up. It’s me, Carl.”

I slid from my seat and walked to the front door. Through the window, I could see a guy about the same age as Christian with long, greasy hair pulled back in a low ponytail that went to his shoulders. He wore a Whitesnake T-shirt that looked like it needed a good washing. Or thrown out. Whitesnake? Really? What year was this guy living in?

I didn’t open the door but called through it instead. “I’m sorry, he’s out getting lunch. Can you come back in like twenty minutes?”

“Who are you?” He eyed me through the window.

“I’m his girlfriend, Jillian. But like I said, he’s not here.”

“Ohhh, he’s told me about you, sugar. Listen, I have a package he’s supposed to get. And I gotta run all the way to the other side of town, so this is the only time I can deliver it.” He smiled, revealing crooked teeth that were half rotted. He spit a wad of chew out on the ground and held up a plain cardboard box, shaking it a little for me to