"Huh? Huh? Huh?" Ginny whacked me repeatedly with her towel, chasing me around the shop.

"Ginny, stop," I said, pushing her away from me.

She smirked in a way that scared the bejesus out of me. I slowly started backing away. "You think I'm going to let you off when you said one day and you've been gone one week? Get the fuck back here, you tramp!"

I squeaked and ducked behind the front counter. "Come on, Ginny, I'm sorry," I said, pouting at her.

"Don't give me that look. You didn't even call me!"

"I did, but you didn't answer." I slapped my hands on the counter and stood up slowly, staring at her.

Ginny raised her eyebrows and popped one hip sassily. "What?"

"Zachary answered your phone when I called. Tell me, Ginny. What's been going on with you two?"

She scoffed. "Nothing at all. Why would you expect anything more from the King of Being a Scared and Immature Brat?"

I sighed. Zach was an idiot. "Oh," I said. "Nothing at all?" I made a mental note to call Zach and ask him what was going on and figure out what stupid thing he'd done this time.

"Nothing at all. Don't go running off to him, either, Charlie. Maybe I had fancied him a little before, but I'm actually perfectly fine without him."

I smiled. "Really?"

Ginny smiled back, shoving the surprisingly stinging hand towel in her apron pocket. "Really, I swear. It's way different than your ooey-gooey, die-without-you thing you've got going with Lover Boy."

I ducked my head to hide how quickly my face turned red. "Stop it!" I laughed, covering my face with my hands.

"Aw, are you embarrassed?" she cooed. "Aww, don't worry Charlie, Benny-wenny wuvs you!"

Even though she was teasing me, her words made me beam. Ben loved me, he really did love me. There wasn't a thing in the world that could describe how I felt when I opened the fridge after Ben left and saw that adorable cake in its crushed cardboard box, just chilling there on the top shelf.

"Charlie, I hope this romantic business won't affect your work schedule, because God knows I am going to work you like the dog you are-"

"Dog?" I asked curiously.

Ginny rolled her eyes and threw up her arms. "You're a bitch, Charlie. Honestly, do I have to spell out everything for you?"

I shrugged and smiled. "I'm sorry, Ginny."

"But are you really?"

"I'm sorry for making you cover all my shifts," I said sincerely. "And for not calling you."

"Especially on your birthday," she muttered. "I tried to call you but it kept saying your phone was disconnected or some shit. And then what was I supposed to do? My best friend's birthday. Dammit."

"I did come back at seven," I tried, feeling really guilty when I saw how annoyed she was. "And you made the rest of my day amazing."

"Yeah?"

I grinned and ran around the counter to give her a big hug. "Yes, best friend!"

Ginny rolled her eyes, but hugged me back anyway. "I'll forgive you if you cover me now, I've got a date at half past twelve."

I giggled and let her go. Same old Ginny. "Okay! Just make sure you don't drink too much and get a taxi to bring you back! Also, if you're going to sleep over, call me!"

"Alright, Dad," she snapped. "Jesus, who needs annoying-ass parents when I've got you?"

"Thank you!" I sang out.

She just muttered, "Whatever," and disappeared into the back room. Meanwhile, the door tinkled, and I looked up and smiled at Clark, who was holding hands with Queenie.

Ginny stormed out from behind me and past Clark. He raised his eyebrows. "Ooh, someone's in a bad mood!"

"I'll kill you!" she shouted.

He laughed and walked up to me. "What did you do, Charlie?"

I shrugged. "Who knows? Hey there, Princess!"

"Charlie!" Queenie giggled, her curls bouncing everywhere in her excitement. "Do you have anything special for me?"

"Queenie," Clark scolded. She didn't seem the slightest bit abashed, which made me laugh.

"Where's Ben?" I asked curiously.

"Wow, sorry for disappointing you with my appearance," he said, raising his eyebrows.

"Oh, come off it!" I said teasingly, lightly smacking his arm.

Clark chuckled. "Don't worry, Lover Boy is on his way, he just had to grab some-"

Ben entered the bakery at that moment, a small bouquet of beautiful sunflowers in his hand. He wore his standard bored expression as he swaggered in, but don't think I didn't notice how his eyes crinkled happily.

"Hello!" I said cheerily, waving energetically.

"I'm offended, I didn't get that kind of greeting. I'm telling the manager," Clark joked.

I laughed, and nudged him. "Don't be sore, I'll give you a cupcake for free, okay?"

Ben shoved Clark. "Not on your life, he'll pay for it."

"I'm with child," Clark complained, picking up Queenie. "Don't abuse me, you brutes."

Ben rolled his eyes. "'With child' means you're pregnant, you ignoramus."

"Don't you have a girl to be wooing?" Clark grumbled.

Ben's cheeks flushed, and I had to cover my mouth with my hands to keep from laughing out loud. "Be quiet!" Ben said.

"It's not like she's blind. Who else are the flowers for? Me?"

"Honestly, Clark, you'd think you'd know not to pick on Ben," I said.

"I'm holding a child, what's he gonna do?"

Ben glared at Clark. "Queenie, come here, honey."

She giggled and jumped into his arms, and he put her and the sunflowers on the front counter. In the next two seconds, Clark's face was pressed into the floor, and Ben was knuckling his hair.

"Oh, do be careful! Don't hurt each other!" I said worriedly.

"Each other?" Clark choked out. "Yeah, poor Ben can hardly stand this beating I'm giving him!"

"Ben!" I exclaimed, clapping my hands over Queenie's eyes. He glanced at me, and upon seeing my expression, he rolled his eyes and got up.

"Get up, Clark," he told his friend, stretching his hand out. Clark allowed Ben to pull him up, but grumbled all the way.

"Don't you have something to ask your Lover Girl?" Clark mocked. I laughed at Ben's annoyance.

"Can we go somewhere...private?" he asked.

"Why?"

"He wants to shag," Clark said.

Ben smacked the back of his head. "Clark! Can you please?" I coughed and blinked in Queenie's direction.

She stared at us with wide, innocent eyes. "Like in Scooby Doo?"

"Exactly like that, baby," I said cheerily. "Clark?"

"Fine, I'll be on my way. Just give me two cupcakes for my effort."

"They're three pounds each," Ben said sternly.

"I know, I know. Jesus, calm down." He dug in his pocket and counted out six one pound notes. "One for beauty and one for the beast." I grinned when Clark flicked Queenie's nose, making her squirm.

I took out two of the double chocolate mint cupcakes and put them in a mini box. "Here you go, love."

"Cheers," Clark said, taking the box in one hand and Queenie in the other arm. Before he left, he met Ben's eyes, and they seemed to have some sort of exchange with their eyes.

It was quiet for a moment. "I'm going to lock up I think. It's my break."

Ben smiled slightly at me, and I drank in the sight of his cute dimples and sparkling eyes. "Alright. Need some help?"

I smiled happily and grabbed the keyring from inside the till. "Can you use this key to lock up front and turn the Open sign off? I'm going to clean up a bit in the back."

"Sure thing, babe." He chucked my chin and took the key from me. I went into the back room and started to clean up the used bowls and whisks, and then I realised that it was strangely cold.

I frowned and looked around. "Oh man, Ginny left the freezer room door open."

I walked inside the huge freezer room and started to check to make sure that nothing had defrosted.

"Lottie?"

"In here!" I called, my back to the door. I heard footsteps approaching, and then I remembered something, my eyes widening. "Wait, don't let the door clo-"

Ben stared at me, the sunflowers in his hand again. "Wait, why?"

I groaned. "It locks from the outside."

"Oh God, are we-"

"Locked in? Yeah."