Now that look of curiosity turns to pure concern. “I came to pick up my order.”

“Shit. Yes.” I scrub a hand over my face and grimace. I never miss an order—especially not for Josie who was my first and only customer for a while. “I—it’s been a crazy few days. I just lost track of—”

“Apparently.” She takes a step closer and waves her hand. “The order doesn’t matter. Skip it for all I care but, Hendrix, honey, you never forget things when it comes to your bakery. Are you sure—”

“Yes. I’m all right. I’m fine.” I chuckle and point to my cell. “I just got off the phone with my mother who asked me the same thing like twenty times. I’m just tired. I stayed up all night working on the dog party designs—I’m presenting them to the client for approval tomorrow—and somehow an entire day slipped away from me.” I laugh to cover up my embarrassment. “How about I run them over to you at the café in about an hour?”

She eyes me again. “You sure?”

“About the cookies or about being okay? How about yes, I’m sure to both?”

Josie reaches out and squeezes my forearm. “Today. Tomorrow. I don’t care when you deliver the cookies.” She smiles. “But I do care about you.”

“I know. And I appreciate it.”

And I do. This life I created here with Paul has only ever included his friends, his work acquaintances, his everything . . . save for Josie. And I lost all those friends of his when we broke up. Not one of them has reached out since.

Yet Josie is here every day like clockwork. Checking in on me. Making me laugh. Commiserating with me about owning a small business. Caring about me.

That’s a lot in the City of Angels where everyone is from somewhere else and most can’t see beyond their own ambition to give a shit.

I don’t have a huge army of people in my corner for support, but she’s been there since the first day I moved in and it’s just how it’s been. Her, me, our businesses, and our gossip.

And now she’s standing before me with squinted eyes as she studies me. “I’m letting you off the hook right now, but I know there’s more you’re not telling me. We’ll revisit this again.”

I let the comment be. It might serve me well once I show up married to Jase as a justification as to why I’m flustered.

After more small talk and non-answers on my part, Josie heads to the café while I slink down into a chair and draw in a deep breath.