Sage's Point OF View
The next morning dawned bright and early, sunlight streaming through the windows of my rented apartment above Sugar Rush.
I hadn't slept much, my mind racing with thoughts of Alyssa and plans for the bakery. But as I made my way downstairs, the smell of fresh coffee and baking bread energized me.
The bakery was already bustling, my staff hard at work preparing for the day. I paused in the doorway, taking in the scene. There was Marco, our head baker, his strong arms kneading dough with practiced ease.
His salt-and-pepper hair was dusted with flour, and his booming laugh filled the kitchen as he joked with the other bakers.
At the front counter, Maria was arranging a display of colorful macarons. Her bright pink hair was pulled back in a neat bun, and her fingers moved with delicate precision as she stacked the delicate cookies.
She had a talent for making even the simplest displays look like works of art.
And then there was Zoe walking out of the office with a stack of papers in her hand. As always, she looked impeccable – not a hair out of place in her sleek blonde bob, her tailored suit crisp and professional.
But there was a warmth in her green eyes as she surveyed the bakery, a pride that matched my own.
"Morning, everyone," I called out, making my way to the kitchen.
A chorus of greetings answered me, and I couldn't help but smile. This was what I'd dreamed of all those years ago – a bakery filled with passion, creativity, and the simple joy of making people happy through food.
Zoe approached me, a concerned look on her face. "Sage, we need to talk about the situation with Sweet Dreams."
I nodded, gesturing for her to follow me into the office. Once inside, I closed the door and turned to face her. "What's on your mind, Zoe?"
She sighed, running a hand through her hair – a rare display of frustration from my usually composed partner. "Sage, I'm worried. This rivalry with Sweet Dreams... it's getting out of hand. The whole town is talking, and not all of it is good for business."
I leaned against the desk, crossing my arms. "I know. Trust me, I know. But I've been thinking, and... I think I have a solution."
Zoe raised an eyebrow, curiosity replacing concern in her eyes. "Oh? Do tell."
I took a deep breath, steeling myself for her reaction. "I want to propose a collaboration with Sweet Dreams. A joint event, showcasing the best of both bakeries."
Zoe stared at me for a long moment, her expression unreadable. Then, slowly, a smile spread across her face. "Sage Holloway, you brilliant man. That's... that's actually a great idea."
I blinked, surprised by her enthusiasm. "Really? You're not worried about giving away our secrets or something?"
Zoe shook her head, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "Sage, don't you see? This is exactly what we need. It shows we're confident in our products, that we're not afraid of a little friendly competition. Plus, it'll be great PR for both bakeries."
I nodded, relief washing over me. "That's what I was hoping. And maybe... maybe it'll give me a chance to show Alyssa that I've changed. That I'm not here to run her out of business or steal her thunder."
Zoe's expression softened. "Ah, so that's what this is really about. You know, Sage, I've never seen you like this over anyone before."
I shrugged, feeling suddenly vulnerable. "Yeah, well... Alyssa's not just anyone."
Zoe nodded, a knowing look in her eyes. "Clearly. Alright, let's do this. I'll start working on a proposal for the event. You focus on creating some showstopper recipes that'll knock Sweet Dreams' socks off."
As Zoe left the office, her heels clicking against the tile floor, I felt a surge of determination. This was my chance to make things right, to show Alyssa and the whole town that Sugar Rush wasn't here to be the villain in this story.
I rolled up my sleeves and headed back into the kitchen. It was time to get to work.
---
The bell above the door chimed as I pushed it open, stepping into Sweet Dreams. The familiar scent of sugar and vanilla washed over me, bringing with it a flood of memories.
This place hadn't changed much in four years – same cheery yellow walls, same mismatched vintage furniture, same chalkboard menu covered in Alyssa's neat handwriting.
But the atmosphere was different. There was a tension in the air, a hushed excitement as customers whispered and pointed in my direction.
Great. Just what I needed – an audience for this potentially disastrous conversation.
I spotted Alyssa behind the counter, her honey-blonde hair pulled back in a messy bun, a smudge of flour on her cheek. She was laughing at something her assistant – Mia, I remembered – had said, her whole face lighting up with the sound.
God, she was beautiful. Even after all this time, the sight of her happy and in her element took my breath away.
Then she saw me, and the laughter died on her lips. Her eyes narrowed, and I could practically see the walls going up around her.
"Sage," she said, her voice cool and professional. "What can I do for you?"
I took a deep breath, steeling myself. "Can we talk? In private?"
Alyssa hesitated, glancing at the curious customers around us. Then she nodded curtly. "Fine. Back office. Five minutes."
I followed her through the swinging doors into the kitchen, the purple-haired Mia who was decorating cupcakes, and into a small office tucked away in the back.
Alyssa closed the door behind us and turned to face me, arms crossed. "Well? What's so important that you had to come barging into my bakery?"
I winced at her tone but pressed on. "I have a proposition for you."
She raised an eyebrow. "A proposition? Sage, if this is about last night-"
"It's not," I cut her off. "Well, not directly. It's about our bakeries. The competition between us."
Alyssa's posture stiffened. "What about it? Come to gloat about your fancy new equipment or your big-city recipes?"
I shook my head, frustration building. "No, Alyssa. I came to propose a truce. A collaboration, actually."
That got her attention. Her arms uncrossed, surprise replacing the hostility in her eyes. "A collaboration? What are you talking about?"
I nodded, taking a deep breath before continuing. "A joint event showcasing the best of both our bakeries. We could call it 'Sweet Harmony' or something like that. Each bakery would create special items for the event, and we'd sell them side by side."
Alyssa stared at me, her green eyes wide with disbelief. "You're serious about this?"
"Completely," I affirmed. "Look, Alyssa, this rivalry between us... it's not good for either of our businesses. The whole town is divided, and frankly, I'm tired of being seen as the villain who swooped in to steal your customers."
Alyssa snorted, a hint of her old humor breaking through. "Well, you have to admit, that's kind of what it looked like."
I ran a hand through my hair, frustrated. "I know, and I'm sorry. That was never my intention. I just... I wanted to come home. To make something of myself here, where it all began."
For a moment, Alyssa's expression softened, and I saw a glimmer of the girl I used to know. But then her walls went back up, her voice cool and professional. "And what exactly would this collaboration entail?"
I leaned against her desk, careful not to disturb the neat stacks of papers. "We'd each create, say, five special items for the event. Things that showcase our unique styles and strengths. We'd sell them together, split the profits equally. It would show the town that there's room for both of us here."
Alyssa was quiet for a long moment, her fingers absently playing with the charm bracelet on her wrist – the one I'd given her for our second anniversary, I realized with a pang.
Finally, she spoke. "And what's in it for you, Sage? Besides the good PR, I mean."
I met her gaze steadily, deciding to lay all my cards on the table. "Honestly? A chance to show you that I've changed. That I'm not here to compete against you, Alyssa. I want to compete alongside you, like we always dreamed of doing."
Alyssa's breath caught, a flicker of emotion crossing her face before she masked it. "Sage, I-"
Just then, the door burst open, and a whirlwind of teal hair and jangling bracelets swept in. "Alyssa, darling, you'll never guess what I- Oh."
Raine stopped short when she saw me. Her kohl-rimmed eyes narrowed, and she planted her hands on her hips, silver bangles clinking. "What's he doing here?"
Alyssa sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. "Raine, this isn't a good time."
But Raine was already advancing on me, righteous fury in every step. "Listen here, Sage Holloway. If you think you can just waltz back into town and mess with Alyssa's head again, you've got another thing coming. I don't care how cute you are or how fancy your big-city bakery is, I will end you if you hurt her again."
I held up my hands in surrender, trying not to smile at Raine's fierce protectiveness. Some things, at least, hadn't changed. "I promise, Raine, hurting Alyssa is the last thing I want to do."
Raine snorted, clearly unconvinced. "Yeah, well, forgive me if I don't take the word of the guy who broke her heart and left her to pick up the pieces."
"Raine!" Alyssa's sharp voice cut through the tension. "That's enough. Sage is here on business. He's proposing a collaboration between our bakeries."
Raine's eyebrows shot up, disappearing under her teal bangs. "A collaboration? Are you serious?"
I nodded, explaining the idea again. As I spoke, I watched Raine's expression change from skepticism to grudging interest.
"Huh," she said when I finished. "That's... actually not a terrible idea. But!" She whirled on Alyssa. "You don't have to do this if you don't want to, honey. Don't let those puppy dog eyes fool you."
Alyssa rolled her eyes, but I could see the affection in her gaze. "I'm a big girl, Raine. I can make my own decisions."
She turned back to me, her expression thoughtful. "The idea has merit, I'll give you that. But I need time to think about it. This isn't just about me – I have my staff to consider, my regulars..."
I nodded, hope blooming in my chest. It wasn't a yes, but it wasn't a no either. "Of course. Take all the time you need. Here," I pulled a business card out of my wallet, scribbling my personal number on the back. "Call me when you've made a decision."
Alyssa took the card, her fingers brushing mine for the briefest moment. A jolt of electricity shot through me at the contact, and from the way Alyssa's eyes widened, I knew she felt it too.
"I'll be in touch," she said softly.
As I turned to leave, Raine called out, "Hey, Sage?"
I looked back, bracing myself for another verbal lashing. But to my surprise, there was a glimmer of approval in her eyes.
"This collaboration thing? It's a good idea. Just... don't screw it up, okay?"
I nodded, a small smile tugging at my lips. "I'll do my best."
As I walked out of Sweet Dreams, the bell chiming behind me, I felt lighter than I had in years. It wasn't forgiveness, not by a long shot. But it was a start. A chance to show Alyssa – and myself – that I could be the man she deserved.
Now I just had to figure out how to create five mind-blowing desserts that would knock her socks off. No pressure.
I pulled out my phone, dialing a familiar number. "Hey, Ash? Remember those ideas we talked about last night? I think it's time to put them into action."
As I walked back to Sugar Rush, my mind was already whirling with possibilities. Alyssa had always loved fruit-based desserts, so maybe a reinvented peach cobbler? And she had a weakness for anything with salted caramel...
For the first time since coming back to Maple Grove, I felt truly excited about baking again. This collaboration could be the fresh start we both needed – a chance to remember why we fell in love with baking, and with each other, in the first place.
Now I just had to hope that Alyssa would give me – give us – that chance.