I sucked in a quick breath and opened the car door. “I love you, too, baby.”
“Wait.” Drew grabbed my wrist before I could step out of the car. “What did you just say?”
“I love you,” I scoffed, holding back an eye roll. “I’ve said it a few times now. This isn’t like . . . one of those big moments. We’ve had those already. Can I go get my train now?” I nodded to the empty track across the lot.
“You called mebaby.” He inched to the edge of the driver’s seat and slid his hand to the nape of my neck.
“So? I’ve called you baby before.”
“Eh.” A smirk curled his lips before he offered a shrug. “What you say when I’m between your legs doesn’t count.”
I laughed before I could help it. My head fell into my hands, my cheeks on fire. I’m sure I said a lot I didn’t remember pre and mid-orgasm.
I groaned, exasperated but still smiling. “You’re impossible.”
“Maybe.” His lips made a wet trail from my jaw to behind my ear. “Say it again.”
“I love you, baby.”
Drew growled in my ear, and my neck lolled to the side before I could stop myself. I shrugged Drew away and forced myself out of the car.
“What am I going to do with you?” I asked Drew before shutting the car door.
“I can think of a few things, but you can start by buying me dinner when you get this job. Which you totally will.” A slow smile curved his mouth, and as usual, my insides melted. The intensity of what Drew and I had together knocked the wind out of me at times. It wasn’t only the connection we had or the combustible attraction. He believed in me and truly cared about me. He was the one I ran to when I had good news and who I would seek out when I was upset.
“Hey,” he called out before I stepped into the station.
I turned with a wry half smile.
“I love you.” The heat that flashed in his gaze traveled all the way to my toes. All three words were drenched in sincerity and truth. It shocked me every time in the best way.
I shook my head and continued on. Right before I made my way through the door to the station, I craned my head to Drew, the smile still lingering on his beautiful face.
“I love you, too . . .baby.”
His head fell back as he mock clutched his chest. I laughed, exhaling a happy gust of air. This man was my everything.
It was wonderful and scary as fuck at the same time.
I rushed into the restaurant even though I was ten minutes early. Every time I came here, I obsessed over every single detail of my appearance. When I noticed a white stain on my black skirt the last time I was here, I was sure I’d fucked up any chances of making the impression I’d intended. I was acing all my classes at school and learned so much from Loretta at McQuaid’s. There was no doubt in my mind I’d be perfect for the assistant chef’s position, if only I could get my shit together.
There were other restaurants I’d applied to, but I had my heart set on Blystone. It was the eclectic but traditional restaurant I’d always dreamed of cooking in. Plus, they were still interested after I inquired about flexible hours. Sure, I shared parental responsibility now with Josh and Brianna and wouldn’t have to miss a day of work when Victoria wasn’t in school or couldn’t go to school. Part of the new life I wanted to give her was to be her hands-on mother again, especially after being away from her for so long.
“Sara, so nice to see you!” Aida, the head chef, came out of the kitchen to greet me. “I know it’s a trek from upstate.”
“No problem at all.” I shook her hand and then wiped my sweaty palm on my hip when she led me into the back office, too scared to bring my eyes down and see if I had another white stain. I was so close; it would be heartbreaking to screw it all up now.
I took a seat across from her, exhausted from hiding the shaking in my hands and fighting the urge to let my knee bob up and down. I knew better than to let myself want something—or at least, I used to. I had less than a minute before I screamed, “are you going to hire me or not?”Put me out of my damn misery already.
“Sorry, Sara. George wanted to be here, but his daughter was sick. You know how that is; they always get sick at the worst possible time.” Aida was a beautiful Hispanic woman, I guessed in her late 40s, with black hair slicked back into a low bun. The crinkles around her eyes when she smiled only enhanced her natural beauty. She had a commanding, yet maternal way about her. Blystone had reservations booked two months out, and while the decor was beautiful, food is what made customers come back to a restaurant. Even if the place is shitty and the workers were nasty, if the food was good it was surprising what customers were willing to tolerate. I’d waitressed in a few of those places. I was anxious to learn from her. Hell, I was anxious period. A drop of sweat dripped down the nape of my neck.
“I do; you can never plan for it.” A nervous laugh bubbled out of my chest.
“Luckily, George left all the forms for you to fill out.” Aida handed me a thick, manila envelope. “Don’t worry about finishing them here. You can take them with you and mail them back. Now, your graduation date is May twentieth, correct?”
“Um, yes, it is.”
She nodded, tapping her chin while studying the calendar on the wall. “That leads us to Memorial Day weekend. Would June first be a good start date?”
