Bake Me Crazy

by Skylar Dawn

  I spent the rest of the day hiding behind the laptop and told Lou that I'd leave early. I didn't even say goodbye to Noah in the kitchen, I walked away.

  #

  I fixed my hair and took one last look at the mirror. For Brett it was more than enough. A basic black dress, heels and many crazy ideas that I wasn't sure of how I was going to pull it off. He was waiting for me at the Venetian, first because I wasn't going to let him know my address and then because I felt more confident going alone, without relying on anyone for anything, especially him.

  Part of my mind couldn't believe I was going out with that bastard again. Brett was the worst possible choice. I had to keep my focus all night and avoid every single invitation to small or empty places, like elevators, closets, bathrooms... and more important, his room.

  This last week had taught me that Noah didn't feel a thing for me. I even thought he was jealous when Brett decided to show up, but since his behavior was now back pretty much to normal, it was clear that with him it was only friendship. I had to get Noah out of my mind. Of course it wouldn't be with Brett, after all, I knew how this story would end anyway, but it was time to start paying attention to the male audience around me, and accept one of the thousand calls from Lou to go out enjoy the night. For now, my job was to figure out a way to treat Brett the same way he always treated me. I rehearsed possible dialogues, envisioned outcomes and felt somewhat prepared. It had to be perfect.

  The whole plan didn't make sense. Go out with Brett, get him comfortable and disappear. But I couldn't find that part inside of myself that cared. Did I want to get revenge this bad? And hanging out with him and leaving him alone was at least enough to be considered revenge? And there as I stared at the mirror, paying no attention to anything, Noah popped into my mind with full force. I didn't want to think about him, not now. I know we owed each other nothing, and there was no reason for me to feel so weird about this date. I was sure Noah had his dates too, not to mention Jesse. He still had her. Deep down inside there was something telling me I shouldn't go, but I crossed the living room and turned the doorknob determined to continue with all of this.

  Noah was pacing back and forth in front of my apartment, enraged, scratching his head hard.

  "I'm not going to let you go out on this stupid date," he shouted, but at the same minute he sighed and went back on his words. "You know what, do whatever you want. That idiot gets here and you act like a fifteen-year-old girl chasing after him. Don't you realize that he's not the right guy for-"

  "And who is?" I interrupted him, my blood boiling. "Does he even happen to exist? Because I've been here all along jumping from asshole to asshole and I haven't found that myth."

  His breath was erratic.

  "And that's enough reason for you to go out with him? So you're telling me that what he did doesn't count?

  "Of course it counts, and that's why I'm going. Have you forgotten about my plan?!"

  He leaned in my direction, his face was scarlet red.

  "If your plan is to jump into his bed, go ahead. Damn it Emma, I don't get you," his sad eyes found mine and he lowered his voice into almost a whisper, "why do you care so much about this guy? Since you moved here he barely called you. What do you think he's after now?!"

  I narrowed my eyes in anger.

  "Is that what you think? That because I'm going out with him I'll end up in his bed? Is that what you think of me Noah?"

  He shook his head and had a pained look in his eyes.

  "You don’t get it."

  "I don't get it? What is it that I don't get it? Because the only new thing here is your opinion of me."

  "I didn't mean it," he apologized.

  I crossed my arms over my chest, impatient. My lips trembled and I was trying hard to keep my tears from running down my face.

  "So what did you mean? What is it that I don't get it?" I pushed.

  "All the crap this guy did to you is irrelevant to your judgement? Has he ever treated you right? I bet he hasn’t.”

  Noah looked down and took a deep breath, then he added.

  "I mean, and... what I did, doesn't count? What about me? Don’t I mean anything to you?"

  My heart skipped a beat and a warm feeling took over my chest. There was only one thing left to do.

  "Shut up Noah," I shortened the distance between us, attracted to his warmth. "Just... kiss me."

  He pulled me by my waist and I our lips touched, accelerating my breath. A burning desire dominated me and I lost myself in his arms eager to taste his lips even more. My fingers entwined his shirt and he guided us into my apartment, without interrupting the kiss more and more urgent. I felt his hands on my body as I caressed the back of his neck. I interrupted the kiss for a moment, shifting my lips to his neck and I felt his body shudder.

  “Emma,” he whispered.

  The way he whispered my name made me crazy and when our clothes fell, the only resistance between the two of us was our underwear. I pulled him into the bedroom and we fell on my bed, feeling each other's skin. But the reality of it all freaked me out and I was taken by a sudden panic attack. I shouldn't be having the same behavior I've always had, of course I wanted to, but this time I had to be careful.

  "Noah, I can't, I'm sorry."

  I caressed his chest, wanting to feel him even more, but it had to be different this time. I needed things to slow down so I could absorb this burst of new sensations. This heat, this desire, that need that came from my very soul.

  "I understand," he whispered in my ear, "We don’t have to do anything, I'm not in a hurry. Lie here on my shoulder, I need to be close to you."

  I wanted to be near him more than ever.

  The fact that his breathing was so close already made my head spin and I lost my senses. I rested my head on his shoulder and he caressed my hair, inviting me to kiss him in the darkness of the my room. My breath slowed down and I felt my body relax, as if that was the safest place in the world. I didn't have to understand anything, I didn't want a word, and all I needed was right there in my arms. The smile that tightened his eyes, his dimples and his musky scent.

  CHAPTER twelve

  No Sin in Sin City

  After a wonderful weekend, getting back to work had a different feel to it. Now I was going to spend the whole day with my naked baker, fully dressed, of course. But without reservation, without animosity and without half words. I was feeling serene, as I hadn't felt for a long time.

  Noah and I got out of the car, and as we walked to Lou's door, he made sure to hold my hand. In fact he didn't let go until I took my place at the counter to take the pictures of the day and went to the kitchen, saying goodbye with a kiss.

  Lou made a funny face, ready to hear what had happened.

  "I didn't go to the date."

  He flashed me a malicious look.

  "I thought so. As soon as you left last Friday, your favorite baker went crazy."

  I put my hand on my waist and stared at Lou.

  "What did you tell him?"

  "Nothing!" His voice went up three octaves, like usual.

  Noah left the kitchen balancing two pies and a batch of hazelnut cookies.

  "He said," He placed a pie on the counter, gave me another one to hold, and organized the hazelnut cookies on the display, "that if I wanted you, I'd have to drop everything and run off that minute. I followed his advice."

  I handed him another pie.

  “I’m glad you did.”

  Lou clapped his hands together and ran to the door to open the Caffé. Noah went back into the kitchen and I had a lot to do on the computer, so I occupied one of the more distant tables.

  It wasn't long before the Caffé was packed. I don't know if it was all the fuss on the social media, but we were super busy even on Mondays. A group of women who had entered sat on one of the larger tables near the counter, and a handsome brunette walked over to Lou.

  "Does the naked baker work here?" She shook her long, dark hair and Lou glanced at me. I nod
ded.

  “Yes, he does.”

  Her face lit up.

  "Naked"?

  Lou was laughing his belly off.

  "Of course not. But I can assure you the sweets are incredible. He directed her back to the table and wrote down every order. On the way back he stopped at my table and whispered.

  “Naked Baker? What are you up to this time?” He laughed.

  I played one of the videos and showed it to him.

  "Saint Merlot, how delicious!" He laughed. "I meant the cake! The cake!"

  I gave him a malicious smile.

  “Both. Equally delicious."

  Lou got his orders ready, and Noah came out of kitchen carrying a huge box of macaroons. The women held their breath until one of them, the most shy, waved at him.

  "Naked baker," Noah looked at her surprised, "Would you take a picture with us?"

  He looked at me like he was asking for approval and I winked. It was fine. Except for the part where the brunette was squeezing his waist too hard and rubbing the side of her body into his, it was all right. If it was going to be like this from now on, I'd lock him in the kitchen or lock myself in and never come out.

  "You look beautiful when you’re jealous." He leaned over my table and stroked my face.

  "I'm fine, I lied."

  Noah burst into laughter.

  "Emma, your face is redder than your old rash."

  I couldn’t contain my laughter.

  "I can get used to it. It's nothing."

  He kissed me in front of all those women.

  "Good, because I've always had eyes only for you."

  I liked that. I'm not going to lie. My naked baker gave me a big kiss in front of those Victoria's Secret models to show who he had chosen and I felt like the cherry on top of the cake.

  They sighed, but ended up ordering a lot of things he did. One of them even decided to buy the entire honey and lavender naked cake. That's when Lou got excited.

  "Will we start having orders now?"

  "I hope so, then you can raise my salary."

  "Very funny," he laughed. "But if it happens, I will think about it."

  I decided to help out at the counter. I was tired of spending that much time on the computer, dealing with social media. I had my back to the door as I was preparing two coffees on the machine when I heard a familiar voice.

  "Hi, muppet." Brett's voice creeped me out.

  "Brett. How are you?" I didn't even turn around, focusing on what I was doing. Out of the corner of my eye I saw Lou with his mouth wide open. In panic.

  "I was very curious," his voice got closer, "to know why you didn't show up on our date."

  Lou interrupted him.

  "You can't come in here behind the counter, sir."

  Out of the corner of my eye I saw Brett nod to Lou.

  "I'll be quick," he stopped right by my side and put an arm around my waist, "but then I discovered a lot on the internet. So you decided to take revenge on me?"

  "Get your hands off me Brett."

  He squeezed even harder.

  "Would you dare to get back at me muppet?"

  Lou disappeared into the kitchen, leaving me alone with that madman.

  “Get off me, Brett.”

  I dropped the coffees and got out of his grip. He cornered me to the counter, squeezing my arm.

  "Let me go, Brett."

  Noah left the kitchen and stared at Brett. He narrowed his eyes.

  "Take your hands off her."

  Brett turned around with a mocking smile.

  "Well well well. Look who's here. The Naked Baker! What will you do? Hit me with a bag of flour?"

  Noah's mouth was trembling with rage, and Lou came out from inside the kitchen with a rolling pin taller than him.

  "Get the hell out of here," Noah glared at him.

  Brett went for Noah, but he dodged the punch. Lou dropped the rolling pin, scared, and hid behind Noah.

  “Stop that Brett!” I shouted.

  He turned to me and squeezed me on the counter again. Noah was going to go for him, but I signaled him to stop.

  "So that means you prefer this loser over me?"

  He shook my arm so hard that this time it hurt.

  "Let me go, Brett."

  "Why, what are you going to do? Your naked baker isn't going to do anything. He's too scared to move."

  I kept the signal so Noah wouldn't come. His face was locked in an expression of hate, but he respected my request. Brett was squeezing me harder and stronger and pushing me against the counter. But this time I had no doubt. I gathered all my strength and punched his face.

  Lou and Noah's eyes widened in surprise.

  "Get out of here, Brett!"

  He tried to come up to me, but Noah grabbed him by the collar of his shirt and carried him out of the Caffé. Lou ran to me.

  “Are you okay?” Lou hugged me as Noah came back running.

  I sat on the cashier stool, still shaking.

  “I'm fine. But his face was hard as a rock."

  Lou ran to the fridge to get ice for my hand. It was hurting like hell. Noah hugged me so tight and stroked my hair, whispering in my ear.

  “Are you okay? Did he hurt you?”

  I kissed him and caressed his face.

  "I'm fine Noah, it’s my hand that's kind of sore."

  He laughed.

  "It was quite a punch. Now if you had kicked him, it was going to be a knockout."

  Lou came back with ice and it was a relief. It was getting swollen.

  "Is it broken?" Lou lifted my hand and examined. "Can you move?"

  I opened and closed my fingers.

  "I don't think it's broken. It was only the impact."

  Noah hugged me one more time, finally relaxing.

  "I'm going to cook you dinner and dessert tonight."

  I loved that I punched Brett. I don't support violence, but I'm in favor of us not only knowing how to defend ourselves, but being brave enough to do it. I never would have imagined doing such a thing, but now that it was done, I was feeling incredible. The only one mad at me was Mrs. Dunn, not for defending myself, but for hurting my hand on the week of the audition. That meant I wasn't going to have enough strength for pole dancing, so I would have to improve a lot on my dancing.

  #

  I didn't told Noah or Lou about the audition. It was already a lot of pressure without anyone knowing and I wasn't going to handle the task managing other expectations. I was barely handling my own.

  When they asked me out for lunch I said I had to sort things out and I told them I wouldn't be back in the afternoon. I made up a story about going to the bank and that it would take too long to solve the issue. Of course, I felt bad about keeping this from Noah, but I also didn't want to treat him as an official boyfriend because I didn't even know what we were. It was a little early to tell.

  I arrived at the hotel earlier than the stipulated time and there were about twenty beautiful women before me, all of them magazine cover material. I would have to sweat my ass off to get a spot.

  A girl who looked like Mrs. Davis was giving instructions to a boy and another girl. They then ran from one side to the other, dividing all the women into smaller groups and called the first group into a room. I was in group three. I had gnawed all my nails, including those of the hand that was still swollen when they finally called us.

  It was a conventional dance room and a choreographer was waiting for us. The two people holding clipboards sat on a table in front of us.

  "Girls," he clapped his hands excited. "It's going to be simple. We're going to learn a quick choreography and then you're going to do it for real. All together. "

  I froze in place. No one said anything about learning new choreography. It took me weeks to memorize twenty seconds of music and I was going to have to conjure such a skill out of nowhere.

  The choreographer was doing one thing and I was doing another, completely different. Some of the girls were doing like him, others were a
s lost as I was. I tried to memorize as much as possible, but when it was time to do it for real, I improvised almost half of the routine. I wasn't going to give up, my choice was to die trying, using my impact face that Mrs. Dunn spent weeks teaching me.

  It ended quick. When I came to my senses, we were all in a conference room looking at each other nervously. I risked talking to some of the girls, but the nervousness was so high that the topics were all over the place.

  The clipboard duo gave a speech about female diversity, motivation, and dedication, but no one was paying attention one hundred percent. Then they started calling names and motioning to a door to the next room. Then at the end I heard. "Woods, Emma."

  I walked around the room trying not to trip over my own feet and crossed the door. There were eight other girls in there, just as nervous. It took fifteen minutes for the clipboard duo to meet us. Mrs. Davis younger clone brought a huge lunch table for us.

  "Congratulations girls," Mrs. Davis clone began a round of applause. "You were chosen to make up our entertainment team."

  My jaw dropped to the ground.

  "Can you repeat it?" A very thin woman asked from the corner of the room, her eyes wide with surprise.

  The girl laughed.

  "You are our choices. Welcome to the team." She walked to the table. "For now, enjoy your lunch and in the meantime my assistants here," she gestured to the clipboard duo, "will pass the initial information."

  I was incredulous. Besides, none of us were buying it. It had to be a prank. We were not the most beautiful or graceful women of the whole group. I would dare to say that we were the most normal. That didn't make any sense.

  Everyone relaxed and headed to the table for a snack. The chatter began, but I sat in the corner to absorb it. I passed the audition.

  The clipboard guy sat next to me.

  "Emma Woods, right? I'm Josh Hank. "

  I nodded my head.

  "It is necessary to confirm your acceptance until next week okay?" He handed me a form with a card attached to it. "Here is your welcome kit and a paper with all the payment values we are offering."