The silence shattered as the front door swung open, the small bell chiming loudly.
Claire walked in carrying a heavy crate of fresh baking flour, only to freeze dead in her tracks.
Her eyes widened as she took in the scene behind the counter:
Damon standing surprisingly close, and her younger sister pressed against the pastry rack, clutching a metal baking tray like a shield.
“What…
what is going on here?” She asked, setting the crate down on a nearby table with a loud thud.
Damon took a step back, his expression completely calm.
There was no panic in his eyes, only a faint trace of amusement at the situation.
“Claire!
He came behind the counter and grabbed me from behind!” The girl blurted out, still clutching the tray.
“I thought someone had broken into the shop!”
Claire looked between the two of them, her mind racing before a realization hit her.
“Wait…
Lily, you were wearing my spare cardigan.
And your hair is styled just like mine today…”
She turned to Damon, her cheeks warming with mild embarrassment.
“Damon…
did you think she was me?”
“The silhouette was remarkably similar,”
He replied smoothly, his tone unbothered.
“And the shop was dark.”
Claire cleared her throat, stepping between them.
“Lily, this is…
well, this is Damon.
Damon, this is my younger sister, Lily.
She came in early to help me set up the display cases today.”
He studied the younger girl openly.
Lily was nineteen, only a year younger than Claire, but the two sisters couldn’t have felt more different.
Claire was gentle and cautious, while Lily seemed to have endless energy and absolutely no problem saying whatever came to mind.
Her eyes were bright, her posture relaxed now that the confusion was cleared, and a playful smirk was already replacing her initial shock.
A younger sister.
He studied her for another moment.
Interesting.
He didn’t need to make a move now.
There was plenty of time to learn more about her.
Lily crossed her arms, tilting her head as her eyes darted between Claire and Damon.
She caught the subtle shift in Claire’s posture, the way her older sister’s eyes lingered on Damon, her nervous fidgeting, and the faint, unmistakable flush on her neck.
“Wait a second…” Lily’s lips curled into a wide, teasing grin.
“You two really know each other?
Like…
know each other?”
Claire’s face immediately changed.
Lily’s grin widened.
“Oh my God.
You do.”
Claire stiffened, her breath catching in her throat.
She looked at Damon, whose expression remained calm, offering her no assistance whatsoever.
Under her sister’s sharp stare, Claire panicked slightly.
Her mind raced.
She didn’t know why the first answer that came to her was so embarrassing.
“He’s…”
She glanced at Damon.
“…my boyfriend.”
“He’s…
he’s my boyfriend,” Claire blurted out.
Damon’s eyebrows twitched slightly.
For a fraction of a second, a genuine flash of surprise crossed his features.
He hadn’t expected her to claim him so openly, especially not in front of family.
His eyes widened subtly before his usual smirk returned.
Boyfriend?
He raised an eyebrow.
He hadn’t expected that.
Maybe the corruption was only making feelings she already had harder to ignore.
Lily stared at her sister in disbelief.
“Your what?!”
“Boyfriend,” Claire repeated weakly.
She practically bounced over, pointing an accusing finger at Claire.
“Claire!
You have a boyfriend?
Since when?!
You haven’t mentioned a single guy in three years, and suddenly you bring in some guy and claim he’s your boyfriend?!”
Claire’s entire face turned bright red.
“Lily!
Keep your voice down, the shop isn’t open yet!”
“I will not keep my voice down!” Lily laughed, clapping her hands together.
“This is huge news!
Mom is going to pass out when she hears this.”
“Don’t you dare tell Mom!” Claire pleaded, ducking her head behind the counter.
Damon watched the sibling banter with quiet amusement.
The warmth and normal, everyday atmosphere of the bakery was a stark contrast to his damp apartment,
but he didn’t mind it – especially considering his stomach was currently growling.
The initial awkwardness eventually faded.
Claire returned to setting up the bakery, while Lily continued throwing questions at both of them until Damon finally found himself sitting at the small table near the back of the shop.
In front of Damon sat a plate piled high with fresh, warm cinnamon rolls and a large glass of milk.
He didn’t hesitate and started eating.
He finished the first roll almost immediately and reached for another.
Lily sat across from him, resting her chin in her hands as she looked him over with obvious curiosity.
“So, Damon,” Lily started, her tone bubbling with mischief.
“Where did you two meet?
Claire never goes anywhere except work and home.”
“At an intersection,” He replied smoothly between bites.
“She rescued me.”
Lily burst out laughing.
“Rescued you?
Oh man, that is so Claire.
She probably saw a stray cat look and couldn’t resist.”
“Lily!” Claire hissed, slapping a napkin onto the table, though her face was still burning.
“What?
It’s true!” Lily teased, standing up from her chair.
She stretched her arms over her head and gave Damon a playful look.
“Well, as much as I’d love to stay and interrogate my sister’s mysterious new man, I actually have a class at nine.”
She picked up her backpack, sliding it over her shoulder.
As she passed Claire, she leaned down and whispered loudly enough for Damon to hear,
“He’s cute, sis.
Don’t screw this up.”
Claire buried her face in her hands, letting out a soft groan.
Lily winked at Damon near the door.
“See ya around, Damon!
Don’t let her bully you!”
The front door chimed shut, leaving the bakery in solitude once again.
Claire stayed motionless for a moment before slowly lifting her head.
She looked across the table at Damon, who was wiping his hands with a napkin, completely relaxed.
“I’m…
I’m sorry about her,” She muttered, her voice dropping to a whisper.
“She doesn’t have a filter.”
“She’s lively,” He said as he leaned back in his chair, resting his chin on his palm as his eyes locked onto hers.
“Though I’m more interested in what you said before she started teasing you.”
Her pulse skipped a beat.
“What…
what do you mean?”
His lips curved into a mischievous smile.
“Why are you here, Damon?” she asked softly, trying to steer her beating heart back under control.
“Did you…
did you come looking for me?”
He tilted his head slightly, his gaze holding hers like magnet.
“Why wouldn’t a boyfriend come to his girlfriend’s place?”