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Cap of Invisibility
Lexi
I did it. Holy moly, it’s done.
A week ago, when I had the idea of Bake, Rattle & Roll teaching baking classes, I didn’t really believe it was anything more than a cool thought. Yet, the next night, while Grant and I had been lazing on the couch after a heated makeout session, the insane urge to write out a plan overtook me. Before I could overthink it, I’d rushed to my room to grab the notebook that had my original jottings inside and climbed back into Grant’s lap. For the next hour, he’d silently held me while I thought about overhead costs and time commitments, additional income and class ideas.
Only when I’d gotten everything down and slumped in exhaustion into Grant, did he ask me what I was doing. Telling him my idea had been scary, my voice hesitant as I outlined what I was thinking of pitching to Cassidy and Harrison. I wasn’t surprised when he thought it was a great idea. Grant’s support meant a lot to me but I knew, even if he hated the idea, he would encourage me to keep dreaming. Nothing was gained if risk wasn’t involved.
And today I was going to take that risk.
My shift at the bakery didn’t start until mid-morning, so I had taken the time to transfer all my notes over to a proper digital document that I could send to Cass and Harrison after I talked to them. Nothing would be decided today but I know they would want time to look everything over without me snooping over their shoulders. Saving the document and closing my laptop, I push away from the kitchen table.
“I think that deserves a treat,” I say to myself as I swing open the fridge door. My hand is halfway to the leftover flourless brownies I had experimented with last night – a surprise treat for Grant that adhered to his silly eating plan – when my phone starts vibrating. With one hand clutching a crumbling brownie, I reach for my cell. A huge grin takes over my face as I accept Luna’s video call.
“I miss you!”
“Hey Lex. I miss you too!” Luna looks good. Her sun-kissed skin is radiant as she laughs with me, happiness coming off her in waves.
“How are things in that rink-a-dink town? You having fun?”
“I’m here for work, so it’s not all fun. But yeah, things have been good here. The beach is amazing.”
“Urg, that makes me jealous,” I tease.
“So,” she begins in a voice I know all too well. My guard instantly goes up. I’m not going to like what comes out of her mouth next. “What have you been up to? Or should I say who?”
“What the hell are you talking about?”
“I knew you wouldn’t have seen. You were pictured with Grant this past week. It’s all over entertainment sites online.”
Shit. Shit. Shit. “What? No.”
“Yeah, it looks like you’re coming out of a store and then jumping in his car. You look really good Lex. I love the lighter shade of purple.”
My head is shaking as I try to comprehend Luna’s words. There are pictures of us, ofme, on a gossip column? Crap on a cracker, this was not good. I wasn’t ready to be thrown into the public eye yet. I knew being with Grant would come with media attention, possibly, but I thought that was months away. Not until his season started at least.
Luna said we were coming out of a store, so the picture must have been taken last weekend. How did they discover us? We were both wearing….
“Oh crap. Am I wearing a baseball cap?” I ask instead of searching for the picture. I’m not ready to see what everyone is saying.
“Mmm, you’re holding one.”
I had taken my hat off briefly so I could kiss Grant and not have our brims getting in the way. He’d just agreed to grabbing tacos and my excitement had gotten the best of me.
“Doesn’t mention your name or anything but it’s a clear picture.”
Letting out a long breath, I sit on the arm of the sofa as I come to terms with all this. I was fine with my relationship with Grant getting out, that wasn’t the problem. The larger issue, one I hadn’t talked to Grant about yet, was taking up space in my chest. Pressing down and expanding, not liking being ignored. Luna was in the dark about this problem too. I have always protected her from the wrecking force that comes knocking on a whim. I know this time I won’t be able to sweep it under the rug.
Looking back at Luna on my phone’s screen, I run a hand down my face. “Damn, okay, I guess I should let Grant know.”
“Umm, I think he knows,” she sing-songs to me, twisting her phone so I can see a new picture on her laptop. “He has confirmed to the media that he is dating a local Toronto woman and it’s serious.”
“That cocky bastard.” He had time to confirm our relationship but not give me a heads up?
“Are you okay? You look both pale and pissed.”
Luna’s face is scrunched in concern. I need to tone it down and reassure her. I didn’t want her worrying about me. “I’m fine. Just going to give Grant a piece of my mind when I see him next. How could he not tell me?” There were so many ripple effects this one picture will cause.
