Tuesday (Timeless Series #2) by E. L. Todd Page A

jealousy and lingering possessiveness, I knew I had to turn the other way and ignore it. Francesca had moved on like she was supposed to.
    This was what I wanted.
    I knew she would find someone that would treat her right and make her happy. He would have a normal family and lack all the serious issues I possessed. He would love her and never let her go.
    This was what I wanted.
    So I should be happy for her. I shouldn’t look at her like she was still mine. This day was going to come eventually, and I had to embrace it as much as possible. It didn’t matter what we had between us, as earth-shattering as it was.
    It simply wasn’t possible.
    When I went home that night, my shoulders were heavier than they’d ever been before. An invisible weight rested on them, and sometimes it was hard just to walk. An anvil lay against my chest, making it difficult to breathe.
    I sat on the couch and looked out the window. The city was at my feet, and I sat on my iron throne. I accomplished everything I dreamed of, but it felt oddly empty. My life had never been complete…since she left.
    The loneliness ate me alive most of the time. It was easy not to think about it when Francesca wasn’t in my life. But now that she reappeared, her presence was a constant reminder of what I’d lost. She emitted a small beacon of light, something no one else could see but me. It shined bright despite its dullness, and I could see it in the darkest places. Sometimes it was difficult to resist the pull. I wanted to go to her and feel safe again, feel loved again.
    But then I remembered she didn’t feel that way anymore.
    And she shouldn’t.
    I pulled out my phone and sent a message to one of my regulars. She was a model for Cosmo, and she had the figure of a swimsuit model. She was foreign and embarrassed of her poor English, so she didn’t talk much—which I preferred. Thinking of you.
    She responded immediately, like always. Yeah? Be more specific.
    Come over here and I’ll show you.

Plans
    Francesca
    Every day at The Muffin Girl was exactly the same. From morning until noon, it was chaotic, and there wasn’t time to even glance at the clock. Orders poured in, customers filed inside for the flavor of the day coffee, and I worked on my creations in the back. I spent most of my time making wedding cakes, something I hadn’t anticipated before I opened the shop. I assumed I would spend time baking new creations. I did do that, just not very often. But I couldn’t trust anyone else to do the cakes right.
    Liz walked by with flour smudged on her cheek. “Marie is here.”
    “Send her back.” I was adding the frosting to the cake, making sure it was exactly perfect.
    “Sure.” Liz grabbed a set of cookie boxes before she headed back to the front.
    “Liz?” I never took my eyes off the cake. “You got flour on your cheek.”
    “Oh.” She wiped it off with her forearm. “Thanks.” Then she disappeared to the front of the bakery.
    Marie came to the back a moment later, wearing a tight gray dress and a necklace with teal beads around her throat. “Another day in paradise?”
    I dipped the spatula in the bowl of water before I dabbed more frosting on it. “How many times do I have to tell you to come back here? You don’t need to ask permission every time.”
    “What if you’re hooking up with a guy?”
    I stopped working on the bottom tier and turned to her with a quizzical expression. “In the back of the bakery?”
    “Yeah.” Marie kept an innocent look on her face.
    “When it’s open?” Did she think I was an enormous slut?
    “Why not?” she asked seriously. “It’s your shop. Besides, baked goods gets everyone in the mood.”
    Sometimes I couldn’t tell if she was joking or not. “What’s up, Marie?” I grabbed the piping bag and started making the ivory beads along the bottom layer of the wedding cake.
    “I really liked Kyle the other night.” A smile was in her voice.
    “He’s a real hoot.” He was the cockiest