Sugar Rush by Rachel Astor

and Dulcie sent Ava home early. That girl had more than earned her paycheck over the past crazy days. Jess was hanging around in the back, keeping busy, and probably avoiding going out to the alley, while Lila kept Dulcie company, though it turned into a venting session about Lila’s horrible idea to even think about sending her down to How Sweet It Is.
    Lila rolled her eyes and smirked as much as humanly possible. “So, Nick had no problem with you being there?”
    “No, but you would not believe—”
    “Then I stick to my opinion,” she interrupted. “It was not a bad idea to go.”
    “How can you even say that?” Dulcie asked, her voice rising. “It was the most embarrassing thing. All those workers watching, and the customers, my God, you should have seen their faces.”
    Lila scrunched up her face. “Yeah, but it’s embarrassing for the crazy old man, not you.”
    “He was crazy because of me!”
    Lila giggled again.
    “Oh my God, you don’t get it,” Dulcie said, dropping her hands.
    “You’re right about that,” she said, popping a dark chocolate covered peppermint patty into her mouth. “I do not get it.”
    Dulcie was about to go turn the open sign to closed when the bells jingled above the front door.
    “I must speak with your grandmother. She has broken the code!” a voice said, his body darkened from the silhouette of the streetlight outside.
    As he stepped up to the counter, Dulcie’s stomach rolled.
    “Um, Mr. Sugarman?” Dulcie asked.
    “Where is she? I need to speak with her.”
    “Wait,” Lila said, seeming to enjoy her front-row seat. “Mr. Sugarman? Do not even tell me you’re the candy store guy…and your name is Sugarman?” She laughed heartily even though no one joined her.
    Or answered her, for that matter.
    “Do I need to go to the back and find her myself?” he asked, little beads of sweat shining on his bald head.
    “Um, she’s not here. She’s never here.”
    “What do you mean? This is her store; she must be here.”
    Dulcie shrugged. “Um, no. She hasn’t been here for months.”
    He looked confused then, as if he were trying to work out whether Dulcie was playing a trick on him.
    Finally, he looked up. “I do not believe you. That woman practically lived in this shop.”
    “Yeah, well, not anymore,” she said, her hand finding its way to her hip in a defiant stance.
    “But I must speak to her. She has broken the code!”
    “I guess you could go see her at home or something, but she’s usually pretty busy.”
    He narrowed his eyes. “Busy sending spies over to my shop.”
    Dulcie took a deep breath. “Sir, my grandmother has no idea I was even at your shop.”
    “That is ridiculous. Of course she sent you.”
    “What is this code anyway?” Lila asked, her eyes bright with amusement.
    “The code! The one we agreed upon,” he said, sitting down on a stool at the end of the counter, taking out a handkerchief and wiping his shiny head.
    “Who agreed upon?” Dulcie asked.
    “My family and your family. It was more than clear that in order for both of us to stay in this town and run our businesses, we would stay out of each other’s way. Our family would stay far away from your store, and your family would stay far away from ours.”
    “What is this? The candy mob?” Lila asked.
    Dulcie shot her a look, trying to get her to stay out of it.
    “Well, then I broke your precious code,” Dulcie said. “My grandmother had nothing to do with anything, since she really has very little to do with the shop anymore. Besides, if some rule says we can’t go near each other’s stores, then you might want to have a little chat with your son. He’s been in here several times.” She wanted to add that he came to Candy Land Confections often to sample their treats over the years, but she figured things were already about to get pretty bad between Nick and his dad, and that would only make things worse.
    Mr. Sugarman opened his mouth, then closed it. He