"How's it going, Dani?"

"Same as when you asked me two minutes ago. And two minutes before that." She tosses me a dry look and I wince in apology.

"Sorry. You're sure you don't need help?"

"We've survived the whole day, Ser," Harper calls from the front. "I think we can manage five minutes before closing."

Dani elbows my rib cage. "You know, the point of asking for help around the bakery is actually letting us help."

"I know," I relent. "I've just been managing it on my own for the past seven months and it's weird to hand the reins over."

"What reins? You've been bossing our asses since we stepped in here."

That is so, totally true. Though it can't be helped. It's been a tough month since I went viral and there's a lot I've had to face these past few weeks.

My Instagram blew up once again, both in a good and bad way. A lot of my posts had wonderful comments about how far I've come and how my hard work in inspiring. Most of the comments were less than stellar, specifically under the posts of me with my baked goods where I was told "this is exactly why you were obese" and "at this point she's just asking to be made fun of."

I contemplated deleting my account but that wouldn't have done me any good. No matter what happens I have to choose myself, and my bakery is the biggest part of myself. So I'll take whatever shit-storm people have ready and I have been.

Coming back to work was equally tough. The stares and whispers were obvious. Some were pity. Some were thinly-veiled laughter. But at the end of the day I was getting customers. That's all that mattered. I had to constantly remind myself that months ago I would stare at the door and beg someone to walk in, and most of the time they wouldn't. Now I have customers from opening to closing and it might be hard to face all these strangers but I do what I can.

I was prescribed anxiety meds and they've been helping some. Lately I feel like I'm up to my head in work so today I asked Harper and Dani if they could come and help. They showed up at six a.m. no questions asked. Dani has been helping me make the batches of batter after my brief crash course in baking and Harper has been serving customers, being the people person she is. How'd I get so lucky?

When the last of the customers walk out and Harper switches the sign to closed, all three of us plop down in a booth.

"My arms are so fucking sore," Dani groans. "No wonder you have muscles."

She pokes my mediocre biceps and I snort. "Hardly. But yeah, baking is one hell of a workout."

Harper groans. "So is standing and serving customers all day. I'm so glad I'll be sitting my way through work tomorrow."

At the mention, I chew my lips and debate saying anything. I've been wanting to all day and I don't think I can hold back anymore. So I go for it. "Was...um...was Holden okay with giving you the day off?"

Though I'm playing with the strings of my apron, I can feel Harper and Dani staring at me. I've managed not to say anything about him for a month, so they're probably surprised.

"Yeah, he didn't mind." Harper sounds tentative. "I actually told him I was taking the day off to help you."

So Harper mentioned me to him. My heart kick-starts. "Did he say anything?"

"He asked if you were okay and I told him yes."

I nod. It's a fair answer. I guess I have been okay. Mostly I'm pouring myself into the bakery and it's helped a lot. Not only is it a distraction from everything else but it genuinely makes me happy and I need happy now more than ever.

"Have you tried talking to him?" Dani asks softly.

"Once," I admit, whispering. "It didn't go so well."

It was earlier this week. We happened to step out of our doors at the same time and we'd both stilled when we saw each other. Even now, I can feel my chest constrict at the memory of seeing him, standing tall and neat and perfect. He was back to his put-together self and part of me felt remorse that he was able to move on and be okay so fast, especially when I was still a mess.

"Hey," I'd greeted hesitantly.

His hand on the doorknob tightened before he looked away, jaw locked. "Hey."

He wasn't happy to see me and I couldn't blame him. I'd broken up with him and he probably hated me for it. I would have felt the same if the roles were reversed.

Sensing that he wasn't up for conversation, I ducked my head and walked to the elevator. I still felt his stare behind me, on me, and prayed I didn't look like a praying mantis in heels. I hated when you were too aware of your walk and suddenly you had no idea how the heck to walk anymore. Was I walking too fast? Did my ass look weird? I don't know.

It was even worse that he chose to stand behind me while we waited for the elevator. I was going out of my mind wondering what he was thinking or if he was going to say something or if I should have said something. The elevator was taking particularly long that day too and the longer we stood there, the weirder it felt. All I knew was I had to work up the nerve to say something. There's no way I could stay quiet, right?

The elevator opened then and the thought of being stuck in such a small space with him caused my gut to trash. I had to clear the air. I just had to.

"I'm sor—"

"I'll get the next one."

Oh.

It felt like the world fell out underneath me. At least I'd said my half-apology to the wall or I'd be looking at his face in utter humiliation. My face pulled tight with impending tears, and I couldn't do anything but nod and haul ass into the elevator. I glanced up into the mirror and our eyes clashed in the reflection briefly. His face was passive but I swear for a moment something like longing flashed across his eyes. It's all I saw until the elevator doors closed and left me feeling beyond pathetic. So much for that.

"Maybe you should try again," Harper offers. "The storm has mostly passed. You can put this behind you and try moving forward."

"I don't know if I can." My throat pulls in with the urge to cry. "What if by some miracle we get back together and all he'll think about are the things everyone said about me? What if he's realized they're true?"

"They're not," Dani argues. "People on the internet are jack-asses. They'll have the most to say about people they don't know and they'll make you believe you're someone you're not. Holden knows you. You know yourself. That's all that matters."

I pull some more at my apron strings, avoiding their eyes. "But that's the thing—maybe I don't know who I am anymore. I've had millions of people give their two cents about me. I've read most of the things they've said. I see the way they all look at me now. Somehow my opinion about myself got lost in there. Now I don't know if all these thoughts are what I think about myself or what everyone has said about me. I can't tell them apart anymore."

"I get that." Dani leans back against the booth and crosses her arms, a faraway look in her eyes. "I'm the first gay person in my family. Only one who's open about it, anyway. When I came out it was like no one could see past that fact anymore. Suddenly if I wanted to cut my hair short, it was because I wanted to be more masculine. If I was checking out a girl's shoes, I was really checking her out. If I called one of my friends beautiful, then I'm hitting on them or want them. I mean, what in the fuck? There are bigger parts to me but that's all they saw anymore. Somehow every single decision I made was because I was gay. That's all I know how to do, apparently. Be gay."

"I come from a long line of lawyers," Harper adds. "In my family, there's no such thing as choosing another profession or, God forbid, thinking for yourself. I love my parents but they're super materialistic and snobby. So when I told them I took a job as a personal assistant, I might as well have been the shit underneath their shoes. Lesser work, they called it. Not flashy enough or acceptable where we come from. They dwindled it down to me not being smart enough or driven or hard-working. Anytime they introduce me to their friends I'm always, Harper, not our brightest one but what can you do? And sometimes I believe them. I can't help it."

"I had no idea," I tell the both of them honestly. These two are the best friends I've had in a long time but there's still so much I have to learn about them.

Dani throws an arm around me. "Look, babe. The world will always try to tell you who you are. And nobody can fault you for believing them because we've all been there. When everyone has something to say then their words are all you hear. But you have to close your eyes and find the silence because that silence is who you are."

"A bat-shit crazy, uncoordinated piece of work." Harper nods solemnly.

Dani sighs. "It's a miracle we put up with you this long."

"We're totally using you for free food."

"There isn't a single thing about you we actually like."

"Shut up," I say through my laughter. "You guys love me."

"See?" Dani points. "You didn't take a single thing we said to heart because you know us and how we feel about you. That's the kind of confidence you need to have in yourself."

Harper smacks the table. "Burn, Dan!"

"Wasn't it?"

"Truly momentous. I'm starstruck."

I shake my head at them, a small smile tugging at my lips. I can't say they have't gotten through to me because they have. "Point made. You're right, okay? But what if it's too late to fix everything?"

"She's talking about Holden."

"That was implied, Harps."

"Is it a criminal offence to clarify—"

"Guys."

"His birthday party is next week," Harper reminds me, as if I was ever able to forget. I sober up again.

"I know. I was supposed to make the cake."

"So make it." Dani throws her hands in the air. "Make the damn cake, show up to the damn party, and get the damn guy back."

"What if he doesn't want me back?"

"Then he's stupid! You were the one being freaking attacked by the world. You needed some space. Big fucking whoop. He needs to pull up his big girl panties and understand how hard it must have been for you to let him go on top of it all."

"And he does want you back." Harper's expression turns pained. "He thinks you hate him. That's why he's avoiding you. He thinks it's his fault and he feels so guilty he can't even be around you. He's just been working behind the scenes and making sure nobody says anything else."

Now I'm gaping. Is that true? Does that mean he doesn't hate me? "Harper! Why didn't you say anything?"

"He told me not to! He didn't want you to forgive him out of pity. He wanted you to come back on your own terms."

"This is why I go for women," Dani mutters and I have to admit, she has a point. I could strangle Holden right about now.

"So?" Harper prompts.

I look between the two of them. "I guess we have a party to crash."

_________________________

A/N

We love a moment of clarity that leads to the happiness of both characters. We also love a wonderful friendship and women supporting women! Seriously, I can't tell if I love Holden and Sierra or Sierra/Harper/Dani more. There's just too much awesomeness.

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Happy Reading :)