Ava couldn't shake off the feeling that Ethan's visit had left her with. She had been expecting a harsh critique, but instead, he had been kind and genuinely interested in her bakery. As she went about her day, preparing for the lunch rush, she found herself wondering what Ethan was like outside of his food critic persona.
Just as Ava was starting to get lost in her thoughts, the doorbell above the entrance to the bakery jingled, signaling the arrival of a customer. Ava's eyes lit up as she saw Lily, her best friend and confidant, walk into the bakery.
"Hey, girl!" Lily exclaimed, dropping into a chair at the small table by the window. "I'm so glad I caught you before the lunch rush. I need a coffee and a pastry fix ASAP."
Ava laughed as she expertly brewed a cup of coffee and handed Lily a warm croissant. "What's going on? You look like you've had a long morning."
Lily took a sip of her coffee and closed her eyes in rapture. "It's been a crazy morning. I had to deal with a difficult customer at the cafe, and then I spilled coffee all over my shirt."
Ava giggled. "Sounds like a typical morning for you."
Lily grinned. "Hey, at least I'm consistent. So, how's business been? Any new customers?"
Ava's eyes sparkled as she thought about Ethan's visit. "Actually, I had a visit from a food critic this morning."
Lily's eyes widened. "No way! What was he like?"
Ava leaned in, a conspiratorial look on her face. "He was actually really nice. He seemed genuinely interested in the bakery, and he even complimented my wedding cake."
Lily's eyes sparkled with excitement. "That's amazing! Do you think he'll write a good review?"
Ava shrugged. "I have no idea, but I'm trying not to think about it too much. I just want to focus on making the best pastries and cakes I can."
Lily nodded in agreement. "That's the right attitude. You're an amazing baker, Ava. I'm sure the review will be great."
As the two friends chatted, the doorbell above the entrance to the bakery jingled again, signaling the start of the lunch rush. Ava and Lily exchanged a look, and then Ava stood up, wiping her hands on her apron.
"Time to get to work," Ava said, smiling at Lily. "Thanks for the chat, Lil. You always know how to make me feel better."
Lily grinned. "Anytime, Ava. That's what friends are for."
As Ava hurried off to serve the growing line of customers, Lily watched her with a thoughtful expression. She had a feeling that Ava's life was about to get a whole lot more interesting.
Little did Ava know, Ethan was already working on his review, and it was going to be a game-changer for the bakery. But as Ethan sat at his desk, typing away on his laptop, he couldn't shake off the feeling that he had left something behind at the bakery. Something sweet.
As the day drew to a close, Ava locked up the bakery, feeling exhausted but satisfied with the day's work. She had no idea that her life was about to take a dramatic turn, one that would lead her to the sweetest thing of all – love.