Always the Baker

Chapter 17

Billie

I stood back, wiping sweat from my brow as I surveyed the mural I’d just finished on the side of a downtown coffee shop in The Hills. My arms ached from hours of painting, but a smile tugged at my lips. This piece felt different somehow—a little bolder, more alive.

“Oh wow. That’s incredible!”

I turned to see a guy in a sharp suit staring at my work. Great, another finance bro probably about to mansplain art to me. I braced myself.

“Thanks,” I said cautiously. “Just finished it actually.”

He blinked at me. “Wait, you’re the artist? Billie Hopkins?”

“Uh, yeah. That’s me.” I tucked a stray hair behind my ear, suddenly self-conscious of my paint-splattered overalls.

“I’m Marcus Chen, from the City Arts Commission. We’ve been looking for fresh talent for our Public Spaces Initiative.” He thrusted a business card at me. “How would you feel about painting a mural in Town Square?”

My jaw dropped. Town Square? That was prime real estate, seen by thousands daily. This had to be a joke.

“Are you fucking serious?” I blurted. Real smooth, Billie.

Marcus laughed. “Dead serious. Your work is exactly what we’re after. It’s vibrant, unique. It would brighten up that concrete eyesore. I know it’s known as our concrete jungle but it needs more color and life.”

My mind raced. This was the break I’d been dreaming of since I was a kid doodling on barn walls. But could I really pull it off?

“I, um… Wow. I mean, yes. Absolutely!”

As Marcus rattled off details, I felt a giddy lightness bubbling up inside me. I couldn’t believe I was going to paint a mural in the heart of the city.

Maybe I wasn’t such a nobody after all.

I clutched the business card like a lifeline as I paced around in Brax’s penthouse. My mind was a whirlwind of excitement and doubt. This was my shot, my big break, but the enormity of it was overwhelming. What if I screwed it up? What if everyone hated it?

My phone buzzed. Brax .

“Hey, pooh,” I answered, trying to keep my voice steady.

“Sweetheart! How’d your day go?” His deep voice filled my ear. It was warm and eager.

I took a deep breath. “I met a guy today. He wants me to paint a mural in Town Square.”

“Holy shit!” Brax whooped. “That’s incredible. I knew you could do it!”

“I don’t know, Brax,” I mumbled, twirling a paintbrush nervously. “It’s such a huge project. I mean, the mural I did in Jasper Lane was a big deal but nothing like this. What if I’m not good enough?”

“Hey, none of that,” he said firmly. “You’re amazing, Billie. Your art speaks to people. This is your dream, remember?”

I sighed. “Yeah, but…”

“No buts. You’ve got this. And I’ve got you. Whatever you need. Supplies, coffee runs, a cheering section? I’m there.”

A warmth spread through my chest. “You’d do that?”

“In a heartbeat,” he replied without hesitation. “This is your moment, Hopkins. Grab it with both hands.”

I looked at the blank canvas on my easel, imagining it blown up to mural size. Maybe, with Brax as my own personal cheerleader, I really could do this.

“Okay,” I said as a smile curved my lips. “Let’s do this.”

Two Weeks Later

I stood in front of a massive concrete wall in Town Square, paintbrush in hand. My sketch had been approved, my supplies were ready, and a small crowd of onlookers had gathered to watch. Since I figured that would be the case, I made blueberry and banana nut muffins for them, which led to a lot of people asking about my baking services. As much as I enjoyed it, I made it clear I was only available for wedding cakes… but I loved that they loved my treats.

“Deep breaths, Picasso.” I turned to see Brax grinning widely and holding two cups of coffee. Him and that gold diamond grill. My man, my man, my man ! “Thought you could use a boost.”

“My hero,” I said, gratefully accepting the cup. “I think I’m going to throw up.”

Brax laughed. “Nah, you’re going to demolish this.” He nodded toward my sketch. “That design is fire. The Hills won’t know what hit it.”

I took a sip of coffee, letting his confidence wash over me. “Thanks for being here.”

“Wouldn’t miss it,” he said, giving my shoulder a squeeze. “Now go make some art, Hopkins.”

With a deep breath, I dipped my brush in brown paint and made the first stroke. As I worked, I could hear Brax chatting with the crowd, hyping up my art like I was already famous. He went live on his socials, which led to me getting more followers and more people showing up. His enthusiasm was infectious, and soon I lost myself in the flow of creation. The wall slowly came to life under my hands.

Hours flew by. As the sun began to set, I stepped back, realizing I’d completed a good chunk of the mural’s base layer. My arms ached, my clothes were splattered with paint, but a fierce pride burned in my chest.

“Looking good, sweetheart!” Brax was seated on a nearby bench with his guitar. He’d been strumming quietly, providing a soothing soundtrack to my work.

I grinned, wiping sweat from my forehead. “Yeah?”

“Yeah,” he affirmed, setting his guitar aside and walking over. He studied the wall, then turned to me with a soft smile. “You’re incredible, you know that?”

At that moment, covered in paint and standing in front of my half-finished mural, I finally started to believe it.

I set my brush down and turned to face Brax. My heart swelled with emotion.

“This feels surreal,” I admitted, gesturing to the mural. “A few months ago, I was just a graphic designer with a sketchbook. Now look at me.”

Brax chuckled. “You were never ‘just’ anything, Bill. You’ve always been extraordinary. I’m just glad the rest of the world is finally catching up.”

I playfully swatted his arm, leaving a smear of blue paint. “Smooth talker. But seriously, I couldn’t have done this without you. You pushed me to take risks, to believe in myself.”

“Hey, I just gave you a nudge. You did all the hard work,” he said, wrapping an arm around my waist. “Remember that bar where we first met? You looked so out of place, cute, but definitely out of place. But there was this fire in your eyes when you talked about art. I knew then you were something special.”

I laughed, leaning into him. “God, I was so nervous that night. And you were so intimidating with your presence. Even with you being so open and kind, I was so nervous.”

“Baby, you had nothing to be nervous about. As soon as I saw you, I wanted you. I was going to do whatever it took to make you mine. But seeing you here, living your dream... It's amazing. You’ve come so far.”

Tears filled my eyes. “We both have. You’re not exactly the same guy who used to hide behind his guitar with posts on social media created by others. You’re actually living these days and sharing more than just music with the world. You’re sharing yourself too.”

He nodded with a hint of vulnerability in his smile. “Yeah, well, having you in my life... it’s changed everything.”

We stood there for a moment, just holding each other with the weight of our journey settling around us.

Suddenly, Brax straightened up. “Shit. I almost forgot. I’ve got a surprise for you. Close your eyes.”

“Brax, what—”

“Just trust me,” he insisted with his hands covering my eyes.

I felt him guiding me, careful not to let me trip. But I did, and as he laughed, he picked me up to carry me. After a minute, we stopped, and he set me on my feet.

“Okay, open your eyes.”

I blinked, adjusting to the light. We were in a small courtyard near the mural site with fairy lights strung up in the trees. In the center was a table set for two, complete with candles and a bottle of champagne.

“Brax, what is all this?”

He grinned, looking proud of himself. “Dinner. To celebrate your success. I thought you might be hungry after all that painting.”

I threw my arms around him, overwhelmed. “It’s perfect. But I’m a mess. I’m covered in paint!”

Brax laughed, pulling me close. “You’re beautiful. Now come on, let’s eat. I’m dying to hear all about your plans for the rest of the mural.”

As we sat down to eat, I couldn’t help but marvel at how far we’d come. From strangers in a bar to this moment, celebrating my dreams coming true. It wasn’t always easy, but with Brax by my side, I felt like I could conquer anything.

I gazed at Brax across the table, my heart swelling with emotion. The candlelight flickered across his face, highlighting those warm brown eyes that had captivated me the first time I saw them.

“I’ve never felt more like myself than when I’m with you.”

Brax raised an eyebrow. “Oh yeah?”

I laughed, remembering our first awkward date. “Yeah. You’ve seen me at my worst. I’ve been covered in paint, ugly crying over reruns of old shows, and that time I tried to cook you dinner and nearly burned down my apartment.”

“Ah, yes. The Great Fried Chicken Disaster. How could I forget? For someone who is an amazing baker, your cooking is—”

“Enough of that.” He chuckled, reaching across the table to take my hand. I squeezed his fingers, suddenly feeling vulnerable. “But seriously, Brax. You make me feel… I don’t know, brave? Like I can actually do this whole artist thing.”

“That’s all you, sweetheart. But I’ve got another surprise. You up for a little adventure?”

I eyed him suspiciously. “As long as it doesn’t involve karaoke. I’m still recovering from last time.”

“No karaoke, at all. Just trust me, aight?”

He led me out of the courtyard and down the street. As we walked, I couldn’t help but notice how at ease I felt. The city that had once seemed so overwhelming now felt like home.

“Okay, close your eyes,” Brax said as we approached a building.

“Again? You’re not planning to push me off a cliff, are you?”

“You got me. This whole relationship was just an elaborate setup for murder.”

I laughed but closed my eyes, letting him guide me. The whir of an elevator, a few more steps, and then a gust of cool air hit my face.

“Alright, open them.”

I blinked, taking in my surroundings. We were on a rooftop, the city skyline stretching out before us. It took me a moment to take it all in.

“What’s going on?”

Brax nodded with a soft smile on his face. “I have something important to do, Billie. Well, to ask really.”

I felt my heart skip a beat as I took in the glitzy nightlife in front of me. It had once been a dream to have this experience, now I was living it again. The city lights twinkled around us, creating a magical atmosphere. Brax pulled me closer to a table that had the cake I’d baked for an engagement. It was the first engagement cake I’d done, and I was so excited about it. To see it here made me believe Brax was about to propose to me, but as he wrapped his hands around my waist, that couldn’t have been the case.

“Billie… These past few months with you have been the best of my life.”

I raised an eyebrow. “Even when I spilled paint all over your favorite jeans?”

He chuckled. “Especially then. You make every moment an adventure.”

My stomach did a little flip as he took a deep breath. There went those eagles again.

“I never thought I’d find someone who could handle my crazy schedule, let alone make me want to slow down and enjoy life,” Brax continued. “But you? You’re everything I never knew I needed.”

I felt my cheeks flush. “Brax, I…”

Before I could finish, he dropped to one knee, pulling out a small velvet box. My breath caught in my throat.

“Oh shit. You made me make my own engagement cake? You’re about to propose?”

He laughed. “If you’ll shut up and let me.”

Nodding, I bounced from one foot to the other as my eyes watered.

“Billie Hopkins, you’ve turned my world upside down in the best way possible. I didn’t believe in love at first sight, but when I met you, my heart knew you were the one. I love you, and I can’t see my life without you. Will you marry me?”

“Yes,” I whispered, then louder, “Yes!”

Tears fell from my eyes as Brax slipped the ring onto my finger. It was perfect. Big, radiant cut, completely gaudy and not my style… but it was the perfect representation of him, which made it perfect for his proposal to me.

“I can’t believe this is happening,” I said. My voice was shaky with emotion. “Are you sure you want to tie yourself to a small town girl who smells like baked goods with paint-stained hands?”

Brax stood up, cupping my face. “I’ve never been surer of anything in my life.”

As I looked at him, my vision blurry with happy tears, I realized that for once, my insecurities were quiet. At that moment, I felt like I could conquer the world, and it was all because of this man.

I threw my arms around Brax’s neck, pulling him close. His spicy, warm scent enveloped me as our lips met. The kiss was electric, passionate, and tender all at once. I could feel his heart racing against mine.

When we finally broke apart, I couldn’t stop smiling.

“So, does this mean I get backstage passes to all your shows now?” I teased.

Brax laughed, and the sound rumbled through his chest. “Backstage? Sweetheart, you’ll be center stage with me if you want.”

As we stood there, wrapped in each other’s arms under the starry sky, I felt a surge of excitement for our future. Brax began to sing the latest song he’d written for me quietly into my ear, lulling me into a state of peace that made this moment even more perfect. He turned my back to his front, and we continued to sway as he sang. I glanced down at the ring on my finger. It was like a dream. All of this—painting, baking, loving… him . He was a dream that was now my reality, and my life was finally so perfect I never had to lie because of insecurities or lack confidence in who I was again.

The End