Savannah smiled.The restaurant didn’t do deliveries.It was more of an upscale kind of place.But there was one person for whom Taryn made an exception.“Harvey?”
“I need someone to deliver his dinner.Dom and Sadie are out with Damon and Jo tonight, so he’s home alone.I said I’d send him his favorite salmon when we were joking about not being invited along.”
“Oh, I bet he was thrilled with that.He loves the salmon.”
“And the sticky toffee pudding,” Taryn said with a smile.“You want to take it up there for me?”
“I’d love to, thanks.”
“It works well for everyone.I know he’ll be happy to see you – and you him.Julio should have it ready to go in a few.Want to hang here with me till it’s ready?”
Savannah chuckled.“You’re the boss.”
Taryn met her gaze.“I am, but it’s not an order.”
“Oh, sorry, I didn’t—”
“It’s okay.I just thought we could have a chat.You’ve been here a while now and you’re doing a great job, but we’ve never talked much.”
“No.”
“Stop looking so nervous.It’s not an interview or an interrogation.Well, maybe I’m being nosy – and you can tell me to butt out if you like.”
Savannah’s heart was pounding.She liked Taryn, but she hated it when people were nosy – they asked about her mom and her childhood and…
Taryn touched her arm.“I can tell by the look on your face that I shouldn’t even ask.It’s just that I’m close with Damon and Dom – they both worked here for a while.They’re friends.And Jake’s a good guy.”
Some of the tension left Savannah’s shoulders.
Taryn gave her an inquiring look.“You thought I was going to ask about something else, didn’t you?I thought you were all tense because I was sticking my nose into your love life.But you’re relieved that’s all I’m asking about, right?”
Savannah nodded – there was no point in denying it.
“Are you all right?Is there something going on that you need help with?”
That took her by surprise.“No; thanks, but I’m fine.”She met Taryn’s gaze.“Honestly, I thought you were going to ask about my background, and that’s not something I enjoy talking about, that’s all.Jake is a great guy.”
“He is, and just so we’re clear, you don’t ever have to worry about that – I’ll never ask.We all have pages in the stories of our lives that we don’t want anyone else to read.”She gave Savannah a wry smile.“I have entire chapters, so believe me, I get it.”Her smile faded.“But if you have any unfinished business that comes back around to bite you on the ass, just know that you’re not alone.You haven’t been here for long, and you don’t know me that well yet, but I consider you guys my family, okay?”
“Thanks, Taryn.I appreciate that.”
“Don’t just appreciate it – accept that it’s true and act on it if ever you need to.You strike me as someone who can do it all by herself – because you’ve always had to.”
Savannah let out a short laugh, and Taryn pointed at her.
“That laugh?That tells me everything I need to know.So remember, if you go struggling by yourself in the future, I’ll be mad at you.”She softened her words with a smile, but Savannah knew she meant them.
One of the runners came to them with two insulated bags over his arm.“Julio said this is the delivery order.”
Taryn smiled at Savannah.“You sure you’re good to take them?”
“It’ll be my pleasure.”
When she arrived at Sadie and Dom’s place, she put her window down to tap in the code for the gate.As it swung open, she realized that anyone else would have had to press the buzzer and ask Harvey to let them in.She knew the code because she came over here so often.
Tiffany had been right when she said that Harvey, Sadie, and Josh were like family to her.Josh had stuck up for her at school when they were small, and his mom, Sadie, had gotten involved after she came to visit the house – Savannah shuddered at the memory.
Her mom had been watching one of her horror movies on TV, drunk or high on a mix of her pills and the cheap booze she always drank.Sadie had come over, no doubt expecting to talk to just another mom from school.She’d been concerned about what Josh had told her – about the way Savannah was being bullied.
