Текст книги "Seeing You "

Автор книги: Michelle Lynn

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Текущая страница: 10 (всего у книги 16 страниц)

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

Amelia

Davis and I breathe white puffs of air into the darkness as we climb down the steps of my parents’ house.

“That was nice. Thank you for inviting me.” Davis’s hand finds mine, and he links our fingers together.

A warm feeling takes residence in the pit of my stomach from his affection.

“I’m glad you enjoyed yourself. Four brothers aren’t exactly every guy’s cup of tea.”

“They weren’t bad. I’ve been through worse.”

I fight my curiosity even though I want to question how many meet-my-family dates he’s been through. With ten years between us, I assume he has truckloads of more experience than me. That’s not even taking into consideration the rumor I heard about his failed marriage last year.

“I think your celebrity status won you some extra credit.”

He squeezes my hand and I glance over to his smiling face, dimples and all.

“Not my winning personality?”

If I didn’t already know he was joking, he lets me know with a wink.

“That, too.” I nod.

He laughs the most boisterous and welcoming sound that makes me smile even wider.

“Let’s walk for a while. There’s something I’ve been meaning to talk to you about.” He leads me around a corner, the opposite way of the subway.

“Oh.” My stomach drops, and the elation I was feeling moments ago turns to worry.

Is this the time when he says he’s done? Maybe he has no time for me and is too consumed with his career to date. Ugh, and right after I introduce him to my family. Relax, Amelia.

“Hey.” He stops us under a streetlight.

My back presses against the black metal pole. My heart flutters.

“It’s nothing bad. You’ve let me in, and I want to do the same.”

My throat dries, and I choke out, “Okay.”

He only laughs again. I’m glad my insecurity is humorous to him.

He grips my hand tighter, and we wander down the street that’s quickly becoming desolate due to it being a late Sunday evening.

“I was married.”

“I know.” Crap. I spoke when I shouldn’t have. Damn it. Maybe I should fess up right now. Yes, I Googled you and saw the tabloid pictures of how horrible your divorce was.

His footsteps slow, but he never looks my way. “I figured.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be. That’s the thorn from being in this business. Everyone knows everything.”

His whole demeanor changes, and I immediately wish I had kept that as a secret between Tatiana and me.

“Still, I should have waited for you to tell me.”

I’m not going to stand next to this man, who’s setting off fireworks inside of me, and lie. He deserves better than that.

“I wish you had waited to hear my side without the influence of the papers and magazines. Damn, I think she even did a YouTube video, bashing me.”

This time, I stop, so he’ll see in my eyes that I believe him, not her. “No, Davis. I don’t believe the accusations she’s spouted.”

He tips his head down. “Thank you for that.” His lips curl up, and his perfect white teeth shine from the streetlight casting down on the sidewalk.

“You don’t have to tell me anything. It’s none of my business.”

Davis starts walking again, ignoring my comment. “We quickly dated and went right into marriage. I have a habit of getting serious fast. My friends warned me, said not to do it when I called them from the airport.”

Questions ping in my head. How long until you proposed? Did you even meet her parents? Was a prenup signed? But I keep them to myself because it’s none of my business.

“We were dating for two weeks before I proposed.”

“Wow.” My eyes widen, and I’m thankful it’s dark outside, so he can’t see my reaction even though I’m sure he heard my gasp. Seriously, I need some duct tape to shut my mouth.

“Yeah, it was one o’clock in the morning, and we were talking on the phone. I don’t know. Everything seemed so perfect at the time. I hopped on a buddy’s plane and popped the question on her doorstep in the middle of the night. I had no ring, and I picked up a bouquet of flowers from a street vendor. I should have realized when they died a day later that it was the wrong decision.”

He stops us by a bench and leads me to sit down. I stare out to the water in front of us, and he rests his arm on the back of my shoulders.

“That’s the problem when you have too much money. It enables you to make foolish decisions.”

I give him a small smile, and he draws me closer and kisses my temple.

“I don’t have that problem,” I say.

A chuckle vibrates from his lips. “Oh, Amelia. One day, you will. I promise.”

A couple passes us by without a second glance our way.

“We went to Cartier and bought her a ring. Then, we got married at the courthouse.”

“That’s romantic.”

He cocks his eyebrow to me.

“I’m serious. You loved her and didn’t worry about what others would say. You listened to your heart, Davis. That’s admirable.” I face him, tucking my leg under the other.

He shrugs. “In a way, and maybe if we had made it work, in fifty years, I would have thought the same.”

“You guys flew to Fiji for the honeymoon, right?” I could sit here and act dumb, but I don’t.

“Yeah. Two weeks of bliss, or so I thought. I didn’t worry about anything. As you can tell in the restaurant, I’m pretty OCD about what goes on. You could say I lost myself with her.”

I want to place my hand over my heart and sink into the wooden bench. He did exactly what I wish a guy would do for me someday. I wish I could make a guy that crazy in love that he’d forget everything, except for me. It’s too bad that I look nothing like his five-nine stunning blonde of an ex-wife.

Jealousy quickly tries to overtake my thoughts, but I push it back, remembering how his marriage shattered and died a quick death.

“You know what happened, though. She said she caught me in bed with another woman. Trashed my name anywhere that would give her the time of day.” The pain is evident in his stern lips and tense shoulders.

“Why?”

His palm lies on my leg, and he rubs it back and forth. “We got into a fight when I told her we had to move to New York. She said she had a career that was ready to take off in LA. My life was here, and I was egotistical enough to think she’d known that before she agreed to marry me.”

“Was she a model?”

“Aspiring actress.” He rolls his eyes.

“Oh.” I don’t like the way he said that. It reminds me too much of when my mother would use air quotes for the word artist when she refers to me.

“No, Amelia. She wasn’t even going on casting calls. She hung out with a bunch of friends who she worked with at a restaurant. If she were serious about her career, I would have respected it.”

“How did you meet her?” My curiosity is so far in the atmosphere that I can’t hold back the barrage of questions spilling out.

“She was the bottle girl at my buddy’s bachelor party in Vegas. She just happened to be moving to LA the next weekend.” He shakes his head, and his palm rubs down his face. “It all sounds so stupid now.”

“Just because you wanted her to move to New York, she said all those lies?”

“Before we got married, I was smart enough to have a lawyer put together a prenup, but if I were caught cheating, it would be voided.”

I nod, realizing the whole reason for her lie. “So, she doesn’t own half of everything you had?”

He smiles. “Nope.”

He didn’t cheat, and I knew he didn’t.

“She thought allegations would be enough.”

In the whole conversation, it’s the first time I’ve seen him pleased with himself.

“Still, I think you’re a true romantic, Davis Morgan.”

I slide closer, and his hands cup my head in them.

“Maybe. But I haven’t found my princess yet.”

“I’m sure she’s out there.”

“Or here.”

He bends down, and I know he’s about to kiss me. All I can do is let him as my eyes droop and I completely swoon over him.

He graces me with a gentle and patient kiss but ends it sooner than I would have preferred.

“There’s one more thing.”

Shit. I can’t take this anymore.

“I have to go to LA for a month. We’re filming a reality show, and it’s easier if I stay out there.”

What am I supposed to say? No? “Okay.”

“I’m going to try to come back, but last time, it just delayed everything. Plus, I’m working on this cookbook with a few other chefs.”

“Davis.” I place my hand on his leg. God, his thighs are rock hard. “You don’t owe me an explanation.”

“Hold on, I have one more thing for you.” He digs into his back pocket. “Here.”

I look at the folded piece of white paper and back up to him.

“Open it.” He pushes.

It’s a printed itinerary.

“I want you to come out to LA for a movie premiere I’m in. I’ll be finished with everything, and then you can join me for the weekend.”

That warm pit in my belly grows more for him. “I don’t know if I can get off work.” I bite the inside of my cheek.

He gradually eases me onto his lap and grabs my ass. “I think I can convince your boss.”

“You think? He’s kind of a stickler.”

“Stickler?”

“He’s handsy, too.”

“Really?” He slaps my ass.

“Yes.” I nod.

“You don’t like his hands on you?”

He squeezes my ass more, and I squeal.

“Well . . .” I scrunch my shoulders up.

“That’s what I thought. Now, kiss your very handsy stickler of a boss.”

“Nothing would please me more, sir.”

* * *

I walk through the door of my apartment after a long good-bye to Davis outside. I almost begged him to take me back to his apartment, but he never asked. It injured my ego slightly that I wasn’t that irresistible for him to claim me before he leaves for a month.

My back rests on the door.

Tatiana stares up to me from her computer screen. “What are you fawning over?”

“Who is more like it.” I reluctantly move my feet forward and collapse on the chair.

“Davis, right?”

“Do you even have to ask?” I swing my legs over the side and steal a chip from her plate.

“Well, I thought maybe someone else might be in the running.” Her fingers fly on the keyboard, and she shuts her computer screen. Relaxing on the couch with her legs outstretched on the coffee table, she chomps on a chip of her own.

“Who’s on the other end of those emails?” I raise my eyebrow and pop another chip into my mouth.

“Oh, no, you don’t. I want details.” She gets up, grabs the bag of chips from the counter, and flops back down.

“What? Are you waiting for a show?”

“Your life is about to turn into a movie.”

I tilt my head, not understanding what she means.

“You honestly don’t see it?”

“See what?”

“Todd?”

“I’ve seen all of Todd,” I joke.

She purses her lips. “You know what I’m talking about.” She places the bag of chips down on the coffee table and leans forward. “Davis sounds great, from what you’ve told me, but I’m certain Todd is going to step up soon.”

My body warms, and I can’t fight the smile that wants to shine through. “What? We’re friends.”

“I don’t want to burst your happy bubble.” She sits up straighter.

“You just popped it.” I bring my legs up to my chest and hug them to my body.

She buries her head in her hands. “I don’t want you to hate me.”

“I’d never hate you, Tati. What is it?”

Concern fills her eyes. “I know you really like Davis, and I know I haven’t met him. But . . .” She stops.

“Come on, Tati. You’re driving me crazy.”

“Okay, okay. I think Todd’s the one for you.” She bites her lip, but there’s a devilish smile begging to emerge.

“Tati, we’ve been over this.” More times than I can remember.

Todd doesn’t want anything serious with anyone, let alone his good friend.

“We’re friends,” I say.

“And I believed that—until Davis came into the picture. Haven’t you noticed how different Todd’s been acting? How he seems down and not his usual sarcastic self?”

She hands me the bag of chips, and I swipe it from her.

“Thought you’d need those,” she says.

“You don’t understand, Tati. I honestly thought you were right months ago. He’s firm that he doesn’t want anything with anyone. Seriously, why would he ask me to flirt with Davis if he were interested?”

“What? He did?” Her eyes glance down and her lips purse. “Maybe he didn’t realize it himself until he saw you with Davis. Yep, that’s it.” She has a smug look on her face, happy she was able to come up with something so fast.

I can’t deny that my interest in Todd has been there since he moved in. Every girl on this planet would be attracted to him, but he’s not at all what I stereotyped him to be. But I’m not naive enough to think I could change a guy, and Todd has been clear on the fact that he’s not looking for forever and always.

“Lia, you need to have a heart-to-heart with Todd. Get it out in the open.”

“I’m with Davis now, Tati. It’s over.” If only my heartbeat wouldn’t speed up with the hope that Todd actually has interest in more than friendship with me.

Her shoulder pops up. “Do what you want, but I’m telling you, he likes you.”

“Doubtful.”

Her cell phone dings, and she grabs it off the coffee table. She smiles wide.

“Go, Tati.” I shake my head.

She giggles. “You’re good, though, right?”

“Go!”

Tati leaves the room, and I pull my phone out of my pocket.

Me: Are you going to the gym tomorrow?

Todd: I’m doing a cycling class at nine.

Me: I’m game.

Todd: I’ll save you a bike.

Me: Thanks.

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

Todd

Davis stops me in the hallway. “I’m going to LA for at least a month.”

“Okay.” There isn’t much else to say, except for ’see ya’.

In the past few weeks, he’s been a thorn in my personal and work life. He refuses to take my suggestions about the menu. He spread the word to investors not to go into business with me. The topper was pulling the shit with Noodle. The fact that she believed his bullshit story goes to show how much she must like him. I’m grateful for the opportunities he’s given me over the past few years, but it’s time for me to move on.

“Can I talk to you?” He holds his office door open.

I follow him and stand in front of his desk, my arms crossed, waiting for his instructions.

“Sit down, Todd. I know we’ve had our differences, but I need you to help me out while I’m on this trip.”

This piques my interest because I’ll continue to use him to escalate my career. He would do the same if the roles were reversed.

“I’m handing CHOPs over to you for the next month. It’s yours. You decide what the specials are. You make the decisions on all the food. Shawn will still do bar and seating. We’ll talk every week and go over orders. I’ll stay out of your way.”

“That’s awfully nice of you.”

Davis has another trick up his sleeve. His determined eyes are a dead giveaway.

“What do you want?” I ask.

“When I return, George Hunt is opening a new restaurant. He’s been looking for a new chef to run it.”

Here’s the piece of meat he’ll dangle in front of my face. I’ve been in this exact chair twice since I started. I might have fallen for it the first time, like the lion he thinks I am, but not this time.

“Okay. For what price?”

“It can be yours. He trusts my recommendations because they’ve never failed him.”

There it is. Let’s hear this one. I know exactly who it has to do with.

“But?”

“You back away from Lia.”

Bingo, baby.

“We’re friends.” Sort of.

He doesn’t need to know that I’ve been waiting patiently for her to realize the dick that he is.

“Bullshit. You and I both know there’s more there.” Davis stands, rounds his elaborate desk and sits on the edge of his desk.

Is he trying to intimidate me?

“I won’t lie. There have been times when it’s crossed my mind.” I rise to my feet, so he can see I’m actually a few inches taller.

“If you want the head chef position and part equity in Hunt’s restaurant, you’ll find a way to distance yourself from her.” He crosses his arms.

I fight the urge to laugh in his face.

Even if I were out of Noodle’s life, how could he not feel like second choice?

“That easy, huh?”

“Yes. That easy.” He holds his hand out in front of me, like a handshake is worth something to him.

Davis is the kind of guy you need to nail down with a signature.

“For one month, I run the restaurant and distance myself from Lia, and then the position is mine,” I clarify, just in case the snake tries to change things around.

“Yes.”

Davis’s hand rests in front of me. I look down at it hanging in the air and back to him.

“Got it.” I shake his hand.

“Great. I’m glad we could agree, Todd. I’m going to be late for my flight. Talk to you at the end of the week.”

He grabs his bag and leaves out the door without me saying anything back. Once he’s gone, I lean back in his chair and place my feet on his desk.

I have one month to steal his girl—strike that, to claim my girl.

CHAPTER NINETEEN

Amelia

I run into the cycling class and find Todd in a heated discussion with another guy over a bike.

I patiently wait behind the guy, biting my lip. Todd’s annoyed eyes bore into mine, and I scrunch my shoulders. My innocent act has worn thin with him, I’m sure, but in my defense, the bus was late.

“I’m sorry.” I tap the guy on the shoulder.

His eyes give me a once-over before a huff escapes his throat.

“He was saving it for me. The bus was running late,” I say.

“Whatever.” He breezes past me with a knock into my shoulder.

“Hey, jackass!” Todd screams, moving to climb off his bike.

“Stop it. It’s fine.” I shake my head.

But Todd’s eyes follow the guy until he leaves the room. “I’d kick his ass for you.” The aggravation washes away from his face.

“I know, but I don’t want to visit the police station today.”

Todd locks his foot back into the pedal, and then his legs go way faster than I plan on doing at any point today. Out of the corner of my eyes, I watch his leg muscles constrict the faster he goes. I place my water bottle into the slot and drape my towel over the handlebars.

For some reason, my focus keeps wavering toward Todd and his body. Tatiana’s words from last night come to mind, and warmness puddles in the pit of my stomach.

Could he want more?

“Are you going to prepare to actually climb on the bike and work out?” he asks me.

My eyes snap up to his face. His head is cocked in my direction, and his lips curl at the ends. My heartbeat picks up with just the thought of us being wrapped together as one after a long marathon of sex.

“Yep.” I hurriedly climb onto the bike and lock my feet in. At least I still had the cycling shoes I bought the last time I was on my workout binge.

My legs burn from the small amount of circles, and I fear I might have bitten off more than I can chew with this class. Maybe I should have started with some aqua aerobics first.

Todd sits up, and his feet continue to move like he’s on a leisurely bike ride through a park. “So, I had a meeting this morning.”

“You did?”

“With Davis. How are you holding up?” His edged jaw clenches, and he concentrates on something in front of him.

“I’m fine. It’s a month.” I toss off the question, so he doesn’t think he can’t be honest with me later.

Shit, I’m a horrible person. The guy I’ve been dating left this morning, and now, I’m already looking at Todd differently. I blame Tatiana. If she hadn’t stuck these false thoughts in my head last night, then I wouldn’t be thinking these things.

“At least we can hang out more.” He winks.

“I can’t wait.”

I watch the instructor enter the room, and I prepare myself for the strenuous workout I’m in for. She’s cute and petite and everything I’ve compared myself to all these years.

“Lunch before work?” Todd asks.

I nod, thankful the gallery is closed on Mondays. I only have to work at CHOPs tonight.

“Definitely.”

The room quiets as the instructor presses Play on the stereo. She places her headset over her head, and I mentally prepare myself to finish out the class. I will not quit until it’s time to cool down.

The small blonde hops on her bike, and her legs fly as fast as Todd’s.

Isn’t this a warm-up?

“Let’s go people!” she yells.

The room explodes into cheers.

Todd glances over to me, and I narrow my eyes. I know what he’s thinking. I’m going to collapse on this bike in an hour. It’s been at least six months since I’ve worked out with him, but now, with Davis gone, something inside of me has spurred me on to shed a few of these extra pounds.

Midway through the class, my chest heaves, and I try to disguise my breathing to an even pace. Todd’s eyes have shifted my way too often, and I’m actually embarrassed at how out of shape I am. The one good part is my towel isn’t the only thing that is drenched. Todd has sweated out a full bucket, and it’s all soaked into the towels on the floor.

The instructor tells us to turn down our tension, and my ass sits down, happy we’re at the cool-down stage. I’m damn proud that I made it through the entire workout without moving the tension too far down from where I was six months ago.

“You made it. Way to go.” Todd’s hand rests on my shoulder.

“Thank you. It was close for a second.”

“Nah. You had it the whole time.” He faces forward.

I smile at his profile. He constantly believes in me.

* * *

The air is lighter the minute I walk into CHOPs. Shawn casually shuffles between the tables, situating the candle centerpieces and silverware.

“Hey, Lia,” he calls out, raising his hand in greeting.

“Hi, Shawn. I’ll be ready for the meeting in a second.” Once again, I’ve cut the time close to the start of our team meeting.

“No rush. I’ll be in the back room in five.”

He never even looks up to me, so I continue my way down the hallway.

It’s odd to find Davis’s light off and no sign of him being here. A sadness because I haven’t heard from him today weighs in my heart, but I know he’s busy.

The employee room bustles with laughter. Todd chats with another sous chef, but he nods to me. I wave over to him and make my way to my locker. Lucy is already dressed and sitting on the bench.

“Hey, lady.” I smile.

“I’m so excited. Did you hear? The boss is gone for a month.”

“Yeah, I heard.”

“Oh, I’m sorry. I guess it’s not great news for you.” She places a consoling hand on my shoulder.

Shocked, I take a step backward. “Why?” My eyes bulge out of my head.

“Lia.” She sighs.

My body tenses. “Does everyone know?” The heat of embarrassment rushes up my face.

She tilts her head to the side and gives me sorrow-filled eyes. “Most.”

“Shit. I thought we were discreet,” I whisper, opening up my locker.

“Heather saw you guys at Coney Island. Who cares? He’s hot and a great guy.”

My eyes automatically divert to Heather, and oddly enough, hers are on me. She raises her shoulders with a conniving look splashed across her face.

“Bitch,” I murmur. She could have come to me before spreading the gossip.

“Granted, everyone thought she was jealous at first. I mean, she’s had something for Davis from the moment she started. Some thought maybe he did for her, too. Then, you came, and he’s been focused entirely on you.” Lucy checks her cell phone one more time before tucking it in her locker.

“How come I never knew this?” I ask a question I know the answer to. I’m the one in the juicy gossip circle, so I let that one go and ask a more pertinent one. “Were they a couple?”

Lucy’s eyes cast down, and she shrugs. “I don’t know.”

“But?”

“I think so.” Again, those damn sorrow-filled eyes are pointed at me. I hate it when people pity me.

My vision moves to Todd across the room, and he meets my gaze. His smile turns down when he sees how upset I am, and concern crosses his face.

“I’m sorry, Lia.” She’s quiet, so no one else hears us.

I don’t even know why I’m upset. How did I think he’d tell me the truth that I was the first employee he’s ever crossed the line with? That’s an absurd thought in itself. I’ve had previous relationships, and he has, too, but I need this bad feeling in my gut to disintegrate before my mind flies out of control with assumptions.

My phone dings in my locker, and I pull it out. I smile, seeing Davis’s name, and the bad feeling lightens in my stomach.

Davis: Hey, babe. Thinking of you.

My fingers quickly move across the screen because I’m sure Shawn is going to come in soon.

Me: Hey! Missing you.

I place my phone in my locker and change into my shirt and apron. My body buzzes with anticipation of his next text, but as the minutes tick by, there’s no response.

Shawn enters the room and requests everyone’s presence in the kitchen. Although Shawn’s pet peeve is cell phones on the floor of the restaurant, I sneak mine into my pocket, not wanting to miss Davis’s text.

We all reach the kitchen, and Todd takes his position at the prepping station. My lips widen, seeing him in charge while Davis is away. He catches my eye, and we share a smile. I watch him wipe his hands down his pants, and I can already tell he’s nervous from his hands fidgeting with the ingredients.

“As you all know, Davis is gone for at least a month. Honestly, I figure he’ll be gone longer.”

My coworkers peer over to me. I act like I couldn’t care less, even though my insides are churning with the longer part Shawn threw in there.

The room remains quiet, so Shawn continues, “Todd is taking over as head chef in Davis’s absence.”

Everyone claps, and again, Todd’s eyes find mine.

I mouth, Congratulations.

He bows his head in appreciation. I’m soaring because he deserves this opportunity, and I’m truly happy for him.

Todd begins his preparation of tonight’s special and explains the ingredients while Shawn passes out the special menus to the wait staff. I feel like a beaming girlfriend from the permanent smile splashed across my face.

Curt, another sous chef, hands out samples of the prepared tilapia for everyone to try.

I rush over to Todd, wrapping my arms around his shoulders. “Congratulations,” I whisper, gripping him tight.

“Thank you.” He squeezes his arms around my waist.

“I’m so proud of you.” I let go of him.

He kisses the top of my head. “Thanks, Mom,” he jokes.

I slap him.

“Now, get to work before I fire you.” He shakes his head.

I rise to my tiptoes and kiss his cheek. “You deserve this.”

A pink flush fills his cheeks, and he swats my ass. “Go!”

“I’m going.” I touch my ass, as though his slap hurt. “Celebration drinks tonight,” I call out as I leave through the swinging doors.

I startle, finding Heather waiting for me.

“Don’t you think one chef is enough? I mean, leave some for the rest of us,” she sneers.

“Heather, I didn’t know you liked Davis—” I begin to make amends.

But she raises her hand. “Don’t play innocent, Amelia. You knew exactly what you were doing.” She spins around to walk away.

“Hea—”

She flips around, and I rear back from her closeness.

“And I’m not sure what you’ve heard, but that liking thing was on both sides between us”—she looks me up and down—“until you showed up. I’m not sure why he would want that”—her finger points up and down my body—“when he could have this.”

My fist clenches next to me, and I wish I had the nerve to punch her. “Well, I guess he started to have better taste.”

I raise my eyebrows at her, and she narrows hers.

“Whatever, Lia. Go eat a pie.”

She stalks off, and I laugh obnoxiously loud just to piss her off more.

Sneaking behind the bar, I pull my phone out and find nothing from Davis yet. There’s no doubt in my mind that he had an affair with Heather. Who knows how long it lasted? It could have been a one-night mistake for all I know.

The kitchen is actually buzzing with activity all night. Customers are raving about the tilapia dish Todd prepared for tonight’s special. I’m not surprised when Todd makes an appearance in the dining room.

Edith, an elderly woman who comes with her daughter every week, stands up and gives him a big hug. “Delicious,” she compliments.

She kisses his cheek and signals for him to sit down, and he does. The two women gush over him for fifteen minutes or so, and Todd’s beaming. Edith’s daughter digs into her purse and hands Todd a business card.

Intrigued, I’m leaning over the bar top as he passes me by to head into the kitchen.

“Looking for a cougar?” I joke.

He shoves the card in his pocket. He looks from side to side and leans in. “She wants to invest.”

“In what?”

She must be looking for a little tiger to take care of.

“Me. They want to give me a restaurant.”

“Oh, my God! Todd, this is huge.”

He pushes his hands down in the air, signaling for me to keep quiet.

“We’ll talk tonight.” He disappears through the kitchen.

My eyes shift to the two women who are intently staring at me. I lift my lips for a small smile, and they do the same.

Half an hour later, the restaurant is almost cleared out, but the two women are still seated, drinking coffee.

Shawn comes up to me. “Feel free to get going, Amelia.”

“Thanks.” I hand him the bag of money and receipts from my drawer. “Have a great night.”

“You, too.” He leans over the bar. “He’ll be back soon.”

What the fuck?

I give an uncomfortable smile and nod.

On my way down the hall, Heather emerges from the restroom. “Don’t worry. I’m sure Davis isn’t screwing any models while in LA,” she says to my back.

I roll my eyes and continue my path to the break room, ignoring her.

Scrambling, I change my clothes just to get away from Heather. Thankfully, Todd enters a minute later, and I sit down by him until we can leave.

“So, where do you want to celebrate?” I ask him.

“Edith and her daughter want to take me out.”

“Oh. Okay.” I’m a little disappointed, but this is a great opportunity for him.

“They want you to join us.”

I furrow my brows in confusion. “Why?”

He laughs. “They saw you were so happy, and when I came back, they asked about you. I explained you were my good friend, and they asked if you’d join us.” He sits down and places his hand on my knee. “You’ll come, right?”

It’s not exactly what I envisioned for tonight, but it’s important to Todd. “Wouldn’t miss it.”

“Great.”

I sit there quietly, watching him change, absorbing the fact that he’s finally going to get what he wants, a restaurant of his own.

Todd leads the way out of CHOPs with the spectators’—aka co-workers—eyes following our every move. When Todd opens the door for me, the rush of cold air hits my face, and my eyes water. Fall nights have always been my favorite, and I can’t lie; I was disappointed that Davis wasn’t going to be here during my favorite time of the year. I had imagined us holding hands through the city streets and warming up by a fire at night.

“We’re meeting them at Bentle’s.” Todd’s voice brings me out of my dreamland of Davis and to the present.

“Oh, great. I love their late-night snack menu.”

Bentle’s is a well-known place for the high society to go after-hours.