The One After [SHAWN MENDES]

Chapter 35

"Can I help you?" Mary, who was working the bakery counter, asked Shawn. She was in her late sixties and had no idea that she was talking to a celebrity.

"I'd like a cupcake," he said as he bent over the case to get a closer view. "The spiders look incredible."

"Lucy just decorated them," Mary smiled as she nodded in my direction.

"She did?" he asked. "Then I'll take two."

"Both spiders? Or would you like a pumpkin? She made those, too."

"Mmmm....tough decision. One of each, please."

Several customers entered the store together, so I turned to Mary. "Why don't you help that group since their order might be bigger, and I'll get this gentleman his cupcakes."

She went down to the other end of the display case to find out what they wanted while I took out a box and placed one of each cupcake in it. "Who are these for?" I asked as I set it on the counter. I also wanted to ask what he thought my email, since the fact that he was standing in front of me was proof he'd read it, but I figured I should let him bring that up.

"They're for me. What do I owe you?"

I waved a hand dismissively. "They're on the house, but you do know that they are full of gluten, butter, and eggs, right?"

"No meat, eh? I was hoping to smash all of my dietary restrictions at once." I could tell he was grinning behind his mask by the way his eyes crinkled adorably.

"Hold on," I said as I went to the kitchen. I returned a second later with a piece of candied bacon, which my dad used in a couple different recipes including his famous maple doughnuts. I wrapped it up and placed it in the box beside the two cupcakes. "There you go. You don't get any meatier than bacon."

"Thanks. Any chance you're off soon? I'm eager to try your masterpieces with you. I might even share."

"I'm not supposed to be here today, so I can leave whenever," I told him.

"Want to go get coffee together?"

"In public?"

He shrugged. "Why not?"

I pulled off my apron and took it to the kitchen where my dad was taking French baguettes out of the oven. "I'm heading out."

"Thanks for coming in, sweetheart. Let me know if you want to give out candy with me tomorrow."

"Will do. Love you."

Shawn was standing near the door and opened it as I approached. "Where to? You know this neighborhood better than I do."

"There's a small coffee place around the corner. Mrs. Beisel won't mind if you eat in there since my dad makes all the food she sells."

"Lead the way."

We each ordered a coffee and took them to a small table in the back. I was pretty sure someone sniped a pic of us, but Shawn had to know this was a possibility, and if he didn't care, I needed to relax.

"I don't remember ever telling you the name of my dad's bakery," I remarked. "How'd you find me?"

"I searched Toronto bakeries and visited three before I realized how stupid my method was. It's a good thing I got help, since I was going alphabetically. I would have spent the entire day looking for you."

The bakery was named The Wilson Avenue Bakery after the street it was on, so he definitely would have been in trouble if he'd kept going down an alpha list. "Who helped you?"

"I called up your uncle's pizza shop and asked the person who answered if they knew the name of Ollie's brother's bakery since I was looking for you. Apparently it was one of your cousins, because he chewed me out for breaking your heart before he gave me the name and address.