Page 32

“Kevin, you want to hire him so you can work with your friends.”

He beamed. “Is that such a bad thing?”

Jess shook her head, eyes back on Zach’s résumé. It was impressive—he’d finished his second year at the local community college, had experience in coffee shops and restaurant settings, and was willing to take a pay cut and work the crazy early hours required for a bakery. But asking someone to work for her felt like a whole different kind of commitment, especially the significant other of a friend she respected. It felt like a really, really big ask.

Soft fingers covered in silver rings brushed her hand, matching bracelets dangling from his wrist. Jess looked up at Zach, understanding etched on his face as he gave her a reassuring squeeze.

“If working for you is going to cause strain on your relationship with Blake, then let’s not do this,” Zach said. “I love him and I love this little family you all have. I don’t want to ruin anything. Scoops means so much to him.”

Her throat tightened. Even though the Scoopers were quite a bit younger than her, that place and those people meant everything to her, too. Scoops had been her little sanctuary away from her hell for so long. But she would never admit that to them. Jay certainly would never let her live it down. And Rory probably wouldn’t stop hugging her.

But Zach was perfect for the job, she couldn’t deny that.

She cleared her throat. “How about this. We’ll try this out for the summer and see how we’re feeling by Labor Day. We keep an open line of communication, and if absolutely anything comes up, talk to me. I’ve never managed someone before, and like you said, we don’t want to ruin any relationships. So let’s be honest with each other.”

Zach squeezed her hand again then sat back, a dimple appearing on his devastatingly handsome face. “Sounds perfectly reasonable.”

The tension in her chest eased. “How often are you willing to work? We’ll likely be open every day.”

Kevin scoffed. “Every day? No, that’s not happening.”

Jess frowned. “We have a shop to save.”

“But that doesn’t mean we have to work ourselves to the bone to do it. No, I’m the boss, I set the boundaries. We’re closed on Mondays.”

“Do you really think that’s wise with so much more on the line?” She waved an arm around the renovated shop and bakery.

“When else are we going to work through your list, Jessica?”

Zach raised a brow. “What list?”

“Nothing, ignore him.”

Kevin grinned. “Jessica has a summer bucket list that she must finish in order to keep from getting fired.”

“You won’t actually fire me,” she growled, tapping away on the new tablet courtesy of their silent investor. She hadn’t thought too much of it when Kevin set it up for her, claiming it was essential for taking orders and running the business. It’s not like he was wrong—her laptop wouldn’t be speedy enough for what they needed.

“Is that like…an employee requirement or something?” Zach teased.

Kevin barked out a laugh. “Do you want it to be?”

“My only goal this summer is to make sure Blake isn’t working at Scoops during Haverfest this year, buy him all the cotton candy he wants, and ride the Ferris wheel until he’s sick of it.”

“That is so cute I might scream,” Kevin replied.

“Please don’t,” Jess quipped.

“Speaking of…I know this is absurd to ask right after getting hired, but can I have that day off?” Zach asked.

She nodded. “If that’s really your only goal for the summer, then yes. Kevin and I can handle it that day.”

“Hmm, maybe we should do a booth on the street like everyone else and close down the storefront,” Kevin dreamed.

“That’s actually not a bad idea,” Jess mused.

“See, Jessica, this is why we make a good team,” he said, reaching up to boop her nose again. She slapped his finger away, which only made him laugh.

Zach leaned forward. “Just to be clear, do you go by Jess or Jessica?”