It's the least I can do after all the support I've had from the team, but damn, today is really not the day for this.
"Excuse me. Hey, bar person.” I turn to the jackass, who thinks he's better than us, and give him my best smile.
"Yes, sir. How may I help?"
"You can help by making sure I'm getting the wine I've paid for. I asked for a large glass of red Merlot, and that girl over there only filled it halfway."
I know Molly didn't underfill the glass because that's not something I've ever seen her do, but I don't want him to make a scene and upset her, so I take the bottle and fill up the glass to what it was before he drank some of it.
"Now that's better. I don't understand why someone would hire a female bartender at a gay bar. Now, you…” he drawls. "I'd stare at fifty of you all day long."
I don't want to be rude, but this guy is escalating fast, and I'm not sure I can contain myself.
Tanner appears next to me as if I called Beetlejuice three times in my head.
"Good evening, sir. Is everything okay with your drink?" he asks.
The guy looks Tanner up and down, focusing on his tattooed arm. Tanner is gorgeous and has this whole broody thing going on, but he's in a committed relationship, and I can tell by the tick in his jaw that he's not enjoying being appreciated.
"I was saying to your colleague here that I think—"
Tanner stares the man down. "I heard what you said. To answer your question: this isn't a gay bar, this is an inclusive bar. We welcome everyone regardless of their gender, sexual orientation, or identity, but we do draw the line at creepy assholes, so I guess maybe we're not that inclusive after all. Drink your wine, and don't make me have to walk you out."
Both the man and I are in shock but for different reasons. Tanner taps my elbow and gestures for me to follow him to the back.
"Everything okay?" he asks.
"You're askingmethat?" I laugh, and he shrugs.
"Thanks for staying on tonight. It's busy out there, and I know you probably want to head home since you missed Skyler earlier."
What?Sky was here?When?
"Um, thanks, Tanner. It's not a problem, and thanks for that.” I tilt my head toward where the man was sitting. “He was upsetting Molly."
He nods and leaves to go clear tables.
After working with so many chefs and restaurant managers who didn't lift a finger outside of their responsibilities, it's refreshing to see Tanner working with us and not just overseeing things.
By the time I make my way to the cabin, it's too late for Sky to be up, but the thought that I can just cuddle up to him and without waking up he'll pull me to his chest almost makes me want to break speed laws.
On the drive, I think about my conversation with Pierre. I want to put all of that behind me before I start my life with Sky.
I still can't believe Pierre came all the way to Vermont to convince me to go back to Paris.
"But, darling, we were such a great team," he’d said.
"From where I stood at the door to our bedroom the night you were supposedly sick with the flu, you had found yourself a new teammate," I’d bit back, but his reaction showed little if no remorse.
I hadn't wanted to discuss his betrayal because I was past it and starting to consider that me catching him, as much as it hurt at the time, was for the best. I hadn't been in love with him.
I'd been in love with my restaurant and my career because I didn't have anything else.
And that was the deciding factor.
The only place in the world that I belong is wherever Sky is, and I am no longer tied to my warped concepts of belonging, achievement, or even love.
In the end, Pierre accepted that he'd wasted the trip because I wasn't going to go back to Paris with him. He emailed his accountant right there and then to request the release of the funds and to transfer the full ownership of the restaurant to him.
