third floor ➳ post malone

six

As I cleaned a table off from the use of previous customers, I heard the bell on the door chime signaling someone else walking in. I looked up to find a smiling Alex who had his phone's GPS on.

"Hi, Alex! Welcome to The Grateful Bread," I gestured around to my heavily themed bakery that I was so very fond of.

"This.. is fucking epic," he laughed. There was only one other girl in here but she was studying at the corner table with her earbuds in. "So you run this all by yourself?"

"No, my best friend Ricky is the co-founder," I said, pointing behind me to the door that Ricky was walking through. Alex waved at Ricky with a smirk, Ricky waving back.

"Okay, he's cute," Alex whispered to me and I chuckled.

"Good luck, he's in love with my sister," I told him and then threw Ricky the rag that I wiped the table down with then looking back at Alex. "Can I get you anything? On the house."

"Whatcha got?" He asked, furrowing his eyebrows. I walked around to the back of the counter and pointed to my selection.

"Anything in here," I said to him, pointing across the glass case. "A couple of new items that aren't out here yet are our Whitesnakes which are white chocolate eclairs, Mickarons which are just macaroons but Mick Jagger ones, and our Poison cupcake which is apple flavored with caramel buttercream icing."

"Fuck that all sounds amazing," he shook his head. "Uh, Ricky? What's your favorite?"

"Mine?" Ricky chimed in. "Um, the Rolling Scones are my favorite. Peach particularly."

"I'll take two of those."

———————

I sat with Alex as he ate his scones that he apparently loved so much and we talked. I felt like we've been friends for years.

"My first boyfriend was like super into baking," Alex nodded as he spoke, dusting off his hands. "But he sucked at it. I've never actually been in a bakery. Yours is a great first."

"Well thank you," I said as I looked at my folded hands. "My mom always told me that my dad loved to bake as well. Which, I'm sure is something she just told me to keep me passionate."

"So you've never met your dad?" Alex asked. "Sorry if that's too forward."

"No, I haven't," I shook my head. "I've never really had the desire to but now that I'm doing this alone, I just really wish I had a parent to talk to about it. My mom is so busy all the time."

"I understand. So how was it growing up? With a mom that was always touring and stuff?" He asked me and I didn't know how to answer it.

"Normal, for me at least," I nodded, staring blankly. "We toured with her. My sisters and I had a teacher on the bus with us and it felt normal, until I made friends that weren't in school on a tour bus."

"I'm shocked that I've been obsessed with your mom for years and I didn't recognize you," He shook his head.

"She doesn't make us public like she used to," I laughed with him. "All of our social media is on private just because we want it to be for family and friends."

"Totally understandable," he nodded. "I'm so glad that we did this today. I know you and I are gonna click well."

"I think we already do," I smiled at him. "It's nice to know I'll have someone that likes me on our floor."

"Well, Mrs. Duncan likes you, right?" He asked and I nodded. "She loves everyone, but on to Austin. What's going on there?"

"I don't know," I sighed, shaking my head. "I'm the kind of person that feels the need to be liked by everyone. I know it's silly but the fact he doesn't really like me or even know my name bothers me."

"He doesn't know your name?" Alex scoffed. "This dumbass, I swear."

"He keeps calling me names that start with G or J, but never Georgia," I huffed and then let out a small chuckle.

"Maybe he's just doing it to be an ass," Alex rolled his eyes. "I've known Austin for a while and it seems like something he'd do to get under your skin."

"It's whatever," I shrugged. "I just never want to be called Glenda again."

"Glenda?" Alex laughed, slapping his leg. "That's horrid."

"I know, I know," I nodded with a laugh and then looked at him. "Well, I probably better go pick up my slack."

"Yeah, I was supposed to be at my salon like twenty minutes ago," he told me, standing up and I laughed. "I literally just get there when I want."

"Thank you so much for coming," I smiled, standing up as well. "Feel free to come over for dinner whenever you want."

"Same goes for you," he said, pulling me into a hug. "And let's try to get Ricky to have a crush on me."

"Will do," I chuckled as I hugged him back. "See you around."

"You, too, baker girl!" He smiled his wide smile as he walked outside, waving at me through the window.

I smiled and wiped my hands on my apron, walking back behind the counter.

"So, new friend?" Ricky asked me as he plated some cupcakes.

"Yeah," I nodded. "And seems like a good one."