Always the Baker

Chapter 5

5

B illie

My phone buzzed, and my heart skipped when I saw Brax’s name. I’d been hoping he’d call, but I didn’t want to seem too eager. The night before replayed in my dreams and on my mind as soon as I woke up this morning. I couldn’t actually believe the night was real. I’d been smiling and humming all morning in disbelief. My first day here and I met the man of my dreams.

“Hello?” I answered.

“Hey, Billie, it’s Brax. I was wondering if you’d like to grab a drink tonight?”

“Sure, that sounds great. Where do you want to meet?”

“How about Mera’s Soul Food baking is. I love baking of all kinds but cakes, wedding cakes, is my specialty. If I could spend my days baking and my nights painting, that’s what I’d do.”

“You talking real nice to me now.” We both leaned forward more into the table. “I have a sweet tooth that’s out of this world. What’s your favorite dessert?”

“Hmm… You probably expect me to say cake but it’s sweet potato pie. I’d have that for breakfast, lunch, and dinner if I could. What about you?”

“Strawberry cake, no doubt. And chocolate. Those are like number one and one point five.”

With a giggle, I admitted, “Those are super easy to make.”

“What’s it gonna take for you to make me one… or two?” he asked, taking my hands in his on top of the table.

“You sure you trust me?”

His head tilted as a comfortable smile rested on his handsome face. Brax didn’t answer right away as he stared at me. Every time he did, I felt peace.

“Yeah, I do.”

“Then I got you.”

We talked for hours. The conversation flowed easily. Brax told me stories about life on tour, and I found myself laughing more than I had in months. This was exactly what I’d come here for. A part of me still couldn’t believe I was with him.

We enjoyed the sunset. He pulled me into his arms as we stood by the window to watch. Feeling his body pressed against mine felt like an anchor, a security, I hadn’t felt with a man ever. After the sun set, we went up to the rooftop. We drank, danced, and enjoyed each other’s company.

As the night went on, I relaxed and let myself enjoy the moment. Instead of operating in disbelief of it happening, I soaked in every second of it. Maybe this lie wasn’t such a bad thing if it led to nights like this. Even better, positioning myself for this lie, this life, to be real.

Brax leaned back in his chair, running a hand over the top of his head. “Billie, talking to you is like a breath of fresh air. I can admit I came here for a break, and I’m getting that with you. I’m really enjoying getting to know you.”

I raised an eyebrow. “Really? From what you post, it looks like you love the lifestyle. The parties and connections—”

He let out a dry laugh. “Sometimes. But mostly, it’s just exhausting. Everyone wants a piece of you, and I’m tired of that shit. It’s like being trapped in a fishbowl with people constantly tapping on the glass.”

I nodded. The visual was a perfect way to describe something the average person wouldn’t be able to feel. It gave me a sense of empathy toward him. I couldn’t imagine how tough it was to navigate his life… his fame.

“But you,” he continued as those rich brown eyes bore into mine, “you’re so normal. So real. Your energy is good. It’s refreshing.”

I swallowed hard. Guilt twisted in my gut. If only he knew how far from normal I really was. Or, at least, the version of myself that I’d shared with him. My personality was real but the life I portrayed having certainly was not.

“Tell me about your dreams,” he added. “Do you have any? Or are you content painting? Do you want more out of life?”

I hesitated, then tossed all caution to the wind. “Well, this mural is just the beginning. I want to have my work in galleries all over the world. Paris, New York, Tokyo. I want to create art that moves people.”

Even though the mural was a lie, that dream was the truth. It may have been Mom’s dream for me, but it had been imbedded in me for so long it was mine too. I told him about imaginary art shows and fictional commissions, painting a picture of the life I wished I had. Maybe if I did, my parents wouldn’t have to work so hard at the printing company to make ends meet. I could take care of us all and bake in my spare time whenever I wanted to. Because the more time I spent with Brax, the less Ian’s words affected me. I wouldn’t say I completely felt open to love again, but spending this time with a man of Brax’s caliber made me hopeful.

Brax listened intently, hanging on my every word. “That’s incredible, Billie. You’re so passionate about your art. I can see why you’re already making waves in the city.”

“What about you? What are your dreams? I feel like you’re already living them. Do you have more?”

He sighed, looking more vulnerable than I expected him to be. I loved being able to see this side of him and would cherish it forever. “Honestly? I just want to continue to make music that matters without all the hype. Lately I feel like I’m just churning out shit that can go viral. With TikTok on the rise, my label wants songs that will chart there and go viral, regardless of if the full song makes sense for my brand and will last over time. I want to create something real, something that touches people’s souls.”

I reached out and squeezed his hand. “You do. You’re my favorite artist. Your music touches people more than you know. It’s spiritual to me. I commend you for not wanting to lose your authentic voice. A lot of what’s being pushed now will fade, but the music you make… it’ll last forever.”

Brax smiled, and for a moment, I forgot about the lies. In that instant, it was just us, two dreamers wanting more, yearning for it under the moonlit sky.

The conversation flowed as easily as the drinks, and before I knew it, we were stumbling out of the bar, laughing at some ridiculous joke Brax had made about his last concert. He’d even shared details with me about his ex, and I had to stop myself from questioning what the hell he’d been giving her to make her go a little crazy. The cool night air hit my face, and I realized just how hungry I was.

“God, I’m starving,” I said. My stomach growled in agreement. We’d stayed past closing time and the kitchen had been closed for the last couple of hours.

Brax grabbed my hand, and I looked down at the connection. Every time he touched me, it sent a jolt of electricity through me. His hand was significantly larger than mine, and I loved how he enveloped me. He looked down at me with a comfortable smile.

“I know just the place. It has the best tacos in town, and they stay open until three AM. You down?”

I nodded enthusiastically, and he used my hand to lead me down the street. Our arms brushed against each other as he pulled me close. The warmth of his body against mine sent a chill through my body.

We rounded a corner, and there it was—a food truck painted in vibrant colors with stringed lights twinkling above it. The smell of spices and grilled meat made my mouth water. I loved a good taco. Food was one of my love languages.

The line was long, and I wasn’t sure if it was simply because the tacos were good or because of the late hour. It had to be after midnight. Crazy thing was, I hadn’t bothered to look at my phone for hours.

When it was finally our turn, Brax ordered. I didn’t even bother looking at the menu. That was another good thing about my day with him. My brain didn’t have to work fully unless it was to talk to him. He’d been ordering all night and leading me everywhere we went, which was refreshing. I was used to being the one to think and make plans. This felt nice.

“Let me get two of the birria plates with a side of queso dip.” Brax turned to me with a grin. “Trust me on this one. You’re gonna love it. Best birria tacos I’ve ever had.”

We grabbed a bench that was a few feet from the truck, and I took in my surroundings. I didn’t want to look too much like a tourist since I told him I was from here, but still… I wanted to take it all in. The parking lot was full of food trucks and people. There was a DJ booth off to the side playing a Kendrick Lamar song. Marijuana smoke mixed with the smoke coming from the trucks. It was like a block party outside of the neighborhood. I loved it.

Shortly after, our tacos were ready. I licked my lips as my mouth watered at the sight of them. They were steaming hot and fresh, and I couldn’t wait to dig in. After putting the onions and cilantro in the broth, I dipped my taco in it then the cheese dip, took a bite, and let out an embarrassingly loud moan. “Oh my God. This is amazing.”

Brax laughed as a bit of cheese dripped down his chin. Unable to resist, I wiped his chin with my thumb. I certainly wasn’t expecting him to clasp my hand and kiss my palm. Our eyes remained locked as he lowered my hand and gave it a gentle stroke with his thumb before releasing it. Everything about this man turned me on.

“Told you. This whole block is my guilty pleasure after touring. I come here and binge for like a week straight.”

As we devoured our tacos and people watched, I couldn’t remember the last time I’d felt so happy. So carefree.

It wasn’t until we both were done that Brax spoke. “I’ve got this private gig tomorrow night. Nothing fancy… Just me and my guitar. I wasn’t supposed to be working at all but…” He sighed and shook his head. “Would you like to come?”

My heart skipped a beat as I straightened in my seat. “Really? I mean, yeah, absolutely!”

He smiled, and I swear the whole street got brighter. “Great. I’ll text you the details. It’s going to be a pretty chill night. Have you ever been to a candlelight concert here?” My head shook. “Well, it’ll be like that. A room full of candles, low lighting, no stage. Just a few dozen of my most dedicated fans in a small venue. No crazy crowds or paparazzi.”

I nodded, trying to hide the fact that my heart was doing backflips. The times I’d gone to his concerts I was high up in the stands. From the sound of it, everyone would be close because of the intimate setting. “Sounds perfect. I’m not really into the whole wild party or big concert scene anyway.”

“Me neither, if I’m being honest. Don’t get me wrong, I love performing for big crowds. It’s an adrenaline rush and I feed off the energy, but sometimes it’s nice to strip it all back. Just me, my guitar, and people who really get the music.”

“Like those Tiny Desk concerts?”

“Exactly. That’s my favorite type of vibe.”

I could picture it—Brax on a small stage, his tattoos peeking out from under a simple T-shirt, that soulful voice filling a dimly lit room. The image made me smile before the reality of having him here with me brought me back to this moment.

As we sat there, I pushed away the nagging voice reminding me this was all built on lies. For now, I just wanted to enjoy this moment, this connection, this taste of the life I’d always dreamed of. He ushered me to his side of the bench, where we watched the random display of fireworks that started. The tacos sobered us both up, so when a man started making rounds with mixed drinks, we both declined. We ended up staying just a little while longer before deciding to call it a night.

“So,” he said, standing up and offering me his hand, “can I give you a ride home? It’s getting late.”

Panic flashed through me. Home. Right. The home I definitely had in this big city I lived in.

“Oh, um, that’s really sweet.” My mind raced as I tried to think of an excuse. “But I actually promised my roommate I’d meet her at the bar for girl talk.”

Brax nodded. If I wasn’t crazy, I’d swear he looked a little disappointed. “No problem. Raincheck on that ride, then? As you can see, I’m trying to spend every second I can with you.”

The low rumble of his chuckle made my nipples harden.

I hated myself for lying to him. Smiling, I twiddled my thumbs. “Definitely. I’ve really been enjoying my time with you.”

“Same.”

We walked back to Mera’s , which was close enough for me to walk to the hotel or get a cheap Uber. As we prepared to say our goodbyes, I couldn’t shake the feeling that I was digging myself deeper into a hole I might not be able to climb out of. But looking at Brax’s warm smile, I realized I wasn’t ready for this dream to end. Not yet.

With the boardwalk area of the beach being closed, I sat on a bench and ordered my Uber. Brax insisted on waiting until I left, which I appreciated. The cool night air hit my face as I stood up from the bench, and I missed the warmth I’d felt sitting next to Brax. My ride arrived quickly, and I slid into the back seat as my mind reeled.

I watched as Brax drove away in his fancy, expensive car that I didn’t even recognize the make of. Then, I was off to my cheap hotel. As we drove through the city streets, the neon signs and towering buildings blurred together. I couldn’t believe I’d just spent the evening with Brax fucking Adams.

The Uber pulled up to my hotel, and it was a far cry from the luxurious places I’m sure Brax was used to. I hurried inside.

Suddenly, the excitement of the vintage room wore off. It was no longer dark and big. It was old and outdated and a glaring visual of the distinct difference between me and Brax. Between who I was and who I wanted to be. I kicked off my shoes, slid out of my dress, and flopped onto the bed, staring at the ceiling.

“What am I doing?” I whispered to myself.

I grabbed my phone and opened my messages. My fingers flew across the screen as I typed out a text to Ember.

Me: you’re not going to believe this. I just spent the whole night talking to Brax Adams. THE Brax Adams. My God on today. He’s so cool. So kind. So sweet. So fine. So chill. I’m freaking out!

I hit send and waited. Though I sent a text because I wasn’t sure if she was awake or not, I knew when she saw it, she’d call me. A minute later, my phone vibrated.

Em: NO WAY!!! Spill everything right now! Send me a voice memmmooooo!

I grinned, settling back against the pillows as I recorded a voice memo with details about my evening with Brax. As I recounted our conversations, a nagging voice in the back of my head reminded me of all the lies I’d told. I pushed it away, focusing instead on the way Brax’s eyes crinkled when he laughed and how his fingers gripped mine. How he held me as we watched the sun set. The feel of his lips against my neck.

For one night, I’d gotten to live a fan fiction dream. Soon, I’d have to face reality. But for now, I let myself bask in the glow of an amazing evening. After sending the text, I hopped out of bed to shower.

By the time I was done brushing my teeth and washing my face after my shower, Ember replied. She was so happy for me, even though the foundation of my time with Brax was a lie.

I paced the room as my mind raced. Brax thought I was this cool, artsy girl working on some big mural project. In reality, I was just a small town nobody who’d be heading back to my mundane life in less than forty-eight hours.

“Maybe I should just come clean,” I said to myself, stopping in front of the mirror. My reflection stared back at me, looking lost and uncertain. “Tell him the truth before this gets any more complicated.”

But then I remembered the way Brax looked at me when I’d talked about my fictional art project. How his eyes had lit up with genuine interest. How he said he envied my normal life. I came here for an escape and was providing one for him.

I flopped back onto the bed, groaning. “Who am I kidding? I can’t tell him the truth now. He’d think I was a total loser. A lying little loser. I’ll just see it through. Things will end after I leave here anyway.”

My phone buzzed with a text from Brax, and instantly, I smiled.

Brax Fucking Adams: Wassup? Can’t wait to see you at the gig tomorrow night. You’re going to love it. Here are the details.

I bit my lip as my heart raced. One more night. That’s all it would be. One more chance to live out this fantasy before I had to go back to reality.

Me: Can’t wait to see you and hear you. It’s going to be a vibe.

“Just one more day,” I whispered, closing my eyes. “What could possibly go wrong?”