The Sweet Spot

17

The bakery's kitchen was filled with the comforting smell of fresh-baked bread, but my mind was far from comforted. Sam's confession had rattled me to my core, and now, with the weight of his return, I felt like I was balancing on a knife's edge. Every decision seemed too important, every wrong step potentially catastrophic.

I had spent the past few days in a haze of confusion, trying to focus on the bakery and on Elliot, but it was impossible to ignore the fact that everything had changed. Sam wanted to be back in our lives, and now, I was left with the impossible task of deciding whether to let him in.

Oliver had been there through it all, silently supporting me. He hadn't asked for details after I told him about Sam's past, and for that, I was grateful. But his presence was a reminder of the other complications in my life—the ones I hadn't fully confronted yet.

The attraction between Oliver and me had been simmering for weeks, growing stronger with each passing day. And now, with the chaos of Sam's return, the unspoken feelings between us were harder to ignore than ever.

That afternoon, as I worked on a batch of cupcakes for a special order, I found myself glancing over at Oliver, who was busy in the back prepping for the next day. His presence was steady, solid, and for the first time in what felt like forever, I allowed myself to really think about him—not just as my partner in the bakery, but as something more.

He had been there for me in ways I hadn't expected. He had supported me, challenged me, and pushed me to be better. And somewhere along the way, I had started to rely on him. More than I had ever intended to.

But the reality of my situation was complicated. With Sam back in the picture, the last thing I needed was more confusion. Yet, here I was, my heart torn between the past and whatever it was that had been growing between Oliver and me.

I was pulled from my thoughts by the sound of the bell above the door jingling. Glancing up, I saw Sam standing in the doorway, looking more hesitant than I had ever seen him. My heart dropped into my stomach.

I set down the piping bag and wiped my hands on my apron, bracing myself for whatever this conversation was about to bring.

"Sam," I said, forcing a smile. "What are you doing here?"

He took a step forward, his expression conflicted. "I just... I wanted to see how you were doing. After our talk the other day, I thought... maybe we could figure this out together."

I bit my lip, glancing toward the back where Oliver was. The last thing I wanted was to have this conversation in front of him, but Sam had a way of pushing himself into moments I wasn't ready for.

"Sam, this isn't really a good time," I said, trying to keep my voice steady.

Sam's gaze softened, and for a moment, I saw the man I had once loved—the man who had been Elliot's father before everything fell apart. "I know I made mistakes, Charlotte. And I know it's going to take time for you to trust me again. But I'm here now. I want to be here for you and Elliot."

My chest tightened, the weight of his words pressing down on me. This was exactly what I had feared—Sam wasn't just trying to reconnect with Elliot. He wanted to rebuild something with me, too.

"I need time," I said, my voice barely above a whisper.

Sam nodded, his expression somber. "I understand. I'm not rushing you. But I just... I don't want to lose the chance to be a family again."

Before I could respond, I heard the sound of footsteps behind me, and I knew without turning around that it was Oliver. The air in the room seemed to shift, thick with tension as Oliver stepped forward, his eyes locked on Sam.

"You should leave, Sam," Oliver said, his voice calm but firm.

Sam stiffened, his gaze flicking between Oliver and me. "This isn't your business, Steele."

Oliver's jaw tightened, but he didn't back down. "Charlotte asked you for time. Respect that."

I could feel the tension rising between them, and panic bubbled up in my chest. This was exactly what I didn't want—Oliver and Sam clashing, caught in the mess of my life. I stepped between them, placing a hand on Oliver's arm, trying to defuse the situation before it escalated.

"Sam, please," I said softly. "I'll talk to you later. But right now, I need you to go."

For a moment, Sam hesitated, his eyes searching mine for something I couldn't give him. Then, with a resigned nod, he turned and left, the door closing softly behind him.

The moment he was gone, I let out a breath I hadn't realized I'd been holding. The bakery was suddenly too quiet, the weight of everything pressing down on me.

Oliver stood there, his body still tense, his eyes filled with an emotion I couldn't quite place. Anger? Frustration? Or something deeper?

"You didn't have to step in like that," I said, my voice shaky.

Oliver shook his head, his jaw still tight. "I'm not going to stand by while he makes things harder for you, Charlotte. You deserve better than that."

I swallowed hard, my heart pounding in my chest. "Oliver, this isn't your fight."

His eyes darkened, his frustration clear. "Maybe it isn't. But I care about you. And I care about Elliot. I'm not going to pretend that I don't."

The air between us was thick with unspoken words, the tension that had been building for weeks finally coming to a head. My heart raced as I stared up at him, feeling the weight of everything that had been left unsaid between us.

"I don't know what to do," I whispered, my voice barely audible.

Oliver stepped closer, his expression softening. "You don't have to figure it all out right now. But you need to know something, Charlotte. I'm not going anywhere. I'm here. For you, and for Elliot."

His words sent a shiver through me, and for the first time, I allowed myself to fully acknowledge what had been growing between us. It wasn't just about the bakery anymore. It wasn't just about working together. It was about something deeper, something real.

"I'm scared," I admitted, my voice breaking.

Oliver reached out, gently brushing a strand of hair behind my ear. "I know. But you're not alone in this."

The tenderness in his voice, the warmth of his touch—it was too much. The walls I had built around myself, the ones that had been holding everything in, were starting to crumble.

Before I could stop myself, I took a step closer, closing the distance between us. My heart pounded in my chest as I looked up at him, the air between us charged with the weight of everything we had been holding back.

And then, without thinking, I leaned in.

The kiss was soft, tentative, but it carried with it the weight of weeks of unspoken feelings. Oliver's arms wrapped around me, pulling me closer, and for a moment, the world around us disappeared. It was just him, just us, and the chaos of everything else faded into the background.

When we finally pulled apart, my heart was racing, my cheeks flushed. I stared up at Oliver, breathless, and for the first time in a long time, I felt something other than fear. I felt hope.

Oliver's eyes searched mine, his expression serious but filled with warmth. "I'm here, Charlotte," he said again, his voice low. "Whatever happens, I'm here."

Tears stung my eyes, but I nodded, a small smile tugging at the corners of my lips. "I know."

We stood there in the quiet of the bakery, the storm of emotions finally settling into something calmer, something real. There was still so much to figure out—so many decisions to make about Sam, about Elliot, about the future. But for the first time, I wasn't afraid to face it.

Because I wasn't facing it alone.