Vanessa strutted out of her bedroom the next morning and sauntered towards the kitchen. She could smell that Daisy had already brewed a fresh pot of coffee. Vanessa poured herself a mug, and smiled at her memories of the previous night.

“You look awfully happy this morning,” Daisy commented. She had looked up from her newspaper and was eyeing her from their kitchen table.

“Not possible,” Vanessa grunted. “Haven't had my coffee yet.”

“Sorry, I must have misinterpreted that ridiculous smile on your face,” she winked. “By the way, Oliver’s coming over today.”

Vanessa groaned. “Will I ever go one day without seeing your fiance?” Oliver was nice enough, but she was beginning to feel like she had a third roommate. “We should start charging him rent with how often he hangs around here.”

Daisy tutted. “He likes you. He only talks to you because he wants to make a good impression.”

“He should know by now the best way to make a good impression is to leave me alone.”

As if on cue, there was a knock at the door. “I’ll get it,” Daisy said. She greeted her fiance with a kiss before welcoming him inside.

“Good morning, Vanessa!” He shot her a smile that should be illegal before 8 am. “How are you doing?”

“Oh, you know me. Always sunshine and lollipops here.”

“Glad to hear it!” Oliver said, oblivious to the sarcasm. He had moved into the front room, where Vanessa had left her easel from the night before. She needed her first layer of paint to dry so she could go back and add more detail. He cocked his head to the side while staring at the image. “Is that a flower?”

“Sure, why not,” Vanessa snorted.

“Well, I’d love to have something like that,” he beamed.

“I’m sure you would,” Vanessa tittered while Daisy smacked her arm. Be nice, she mouthed.

Vanessa rolled her eyes. “So what are you lovebirds up to today?”

“Sampling some cakes for the wedding. You should come with us!” Oliver offered.

Vanessa played with the idea for a moment before deciding she didn’t want to spend the day as a third wheel. “Pass. I should probably stay here to keep Virginia company. She’s been especially moody lately.”

“The cat will be fine. C’mon Vanessa. The baker is very cute,” Daisy insisted.

“And she's single!” Oliver added. That was something Vanessa liked about Oliver, he was progressive in all the right ways. Guess you had to be when you’re fiance was a bisexual SJW.

“I don’t need you lot setting me up on dates. M’not looking for a relationship anyways.”

“You don’t have to be. This is just a chance for you to get out of the house and score some free food. Please, for me?” She took off her glasses and shot her puppy dog eyes. “As my maid of honor, I think it’s your duty.”

Her guilt tripping was always effective. “Fine! But just to make sure you don’t pick a flavor like carrot.”

“I like carrot cake,” Oliver protested.

“Satan below, I guess I really do have to come along.”

Oliver drove them to the bakery in the ugliest car Vanessa had ever seen. Vanessa had a perfectly fine Chrysler she’d restored herself, but her driving style was ‘too unconventional’ for them, whatever that meant.

The samples were already made when they arrived. They were told to just sit down and enjoy themselves.

Oliver and Daisy had been right, the baker was cute. She was a tall brunette with a slim figure and cappuccino skin, but she was also painfully straight. She talked Vanessa’s ear off about her own dream wedding and dream man. It was fine, Vanessa wasn’t that interested in her anyways. The woman wasn’t really her type.

Of course, that begged the question: what was her type? Her thoughts kept drifting back to soft blonde hair, a kind smile, a gentle voice… No! AJ said she wouldn’t be coming back. You only like her because she left a big tip,  she kept telling herself, you would have had fun with any woman that walked through that door.

“Earth to Vanessa!” Daisy was waving a hand in front of her face.

“Hmmm?”

“I asked how you like the lemon curd icing.”

She gave a noncommittal shrug. “S’fine. Better than the vanilla bean.”

“I agree with you on that.” She took her fork, scooped up some icing, and brought it to Oliver’s lips in a disgustingly tender display of affection.

It was more than Vanessa’s cold, pining heart could take. “I think that’s enough food for me.”

“But you’ve hardly tried anything!”

“Well, I’ve got places to be. Azaleas are coming into season. Thought I would grab one for my studio.”

“Because you need even more plants for your forest?”

“Just giving you one more reason to move out with your dreamboat.” Even as Vanessa joked, she felt a pain in her stomach. As much as she needled Daisy, she would miss having her as a roommate. Her plants were never as sympathetic when she griped about a bad day at work.

“Do your best to buy only one plant this time.”

Vanessa waved at her vaguely and left. After picking up three plants and some cat treats for Virginia, she returned home.

She sat in her room and definitely did not think about AJ.