Lara stood in Sweet Haven's kitchen, the smell of vanilla and sugar filling the air as she rolled out dough for the wedding cupcakes. The bakery's cracked counters and flickering lights felt less heavy today—Ethan was there, his sleeves rolled up, a playful grin on his face as he helped her frost a batch. His tousled black hair fell into his green eyes, and Lara couldn't help but smile, her hazel eyes catching his every time he laughed.
"You're terrible at this," she teased, wiping a smear of frosting off his cheek with a napkin, her fingers brushing his skin. Her heart fluttered at the contact, the warmth of his smile making her forget the wedding stress for a moment.
Ethan chuckled, his voice soft. "I'm better with a camera than a piping bag. But I'm here for you, Lara." He held her gaze, his words carrying a weight that made her cheeks flush. They'd been practicing their fake relationship for a week now, but moments like this felt too real—too good.
They sat on the counter, sharing a cupcake, the chocolate frosting sticking to their fingers. Ethan told her about his photography dreams—a gallery exhibit of city life, capturing raw, unguarded moments. "I want to show the beauty in the mess," he said, his green eyes lighting up, his passion infectious.
Lara nodded, her curly brown hair falling into her face. "That's beautiful. My dream was this bakery—making people happy with every bite. But now…" She trailed off, her voice small, the weight of her failing business crashing back.
Ethan reached for her hand, his touch gentle, steady. "You'll save it, Lara. You've got heart—I can see it in everything you do." His thumb brushed her knuckles, and her heart raced, the line between fake and real blurring. She wanted to lean in, to close the gap between them, but fear held her back—fear of heartbreak, of losing herself again like she did with Jake.
The bakery door swung open, and Maya stepped in, her wedding binder in hand, her dark hair pinned up, her brown eyes narrowing as she caught them mid-laugh, hands still touching. "Lara, Ethan," she said, her tone sharp, suspicious. "You two seem… cozy. What's going on?"
Lara pulled her hand back, her face burning, the moment shattered. Maya knew her too well—she could spot a lie from a mile away, and Lara's fake relationship was about to be exposed before the wedding even started.
To be continued…