He can’t just buy me a car.
That isn’t what people do.
I’m his chef, not his…
I’m his chef. Period.
By the time I get to the store, I’m out of breath, and my cell is buzzing constantly in my purse.
I know it’s him. I know Melvin called him the second I walked away. I also know that I’m probably distracting him from what he should be doing right now, but I’m finding it hard to care.
How could he blindside me like that?
I grab a cart, but I don’t register the aisles or what I’m throwing in it as I march up and down. I’m so lost in my own thoughts that I startle when I crash my cart into someone else’s.
“Oh my gosh, I’m so sor—L-Levi?”
“Freya, hi,” he says, smiling at me as if we’re long-lost friends. We may have exchanged a few messages since our date, but that would be a bit of a stretch. “How are you?”
A mess.
“Great,” I say, forcing a smile on my face. “You?”
“Yeah, good. Just busy. Work has been crazy. I’m so sorry I haven’t been able to find time for a second date.”
“Oh, no. Don’t worry about it. I’m busy too, with my new job and all.”
An awkward silence settles between us. It wasn’t like this the last two times we were together, and I can only assume it’s because of my current situation.
“Did you catch the game the other night?” he asks, steering the conversation to safe ground. “It was a tight one, huh? For a moment there, I didn’t think they were going to do it.”
“Yeah, it was a great game.”
He glances at my cart, his eyes darting between the items I’ve collected so far. “I’m actually at a loose end for an hour or so. Did you want to finish up here and go and grab coffee or something?”
The people pleaser inside me wants to say yes. I hate turning people down or disappointing them. But right now, the last thing I want to do is go and have coffee.
“I’m really sorry, I’m not going to be able to. I’ve got to get this lot back and then I’ve got a full afternoon.”
I cringe at my own lies. The truth is, I have very little to do for this evening’s meal. But I am in no mood to socialize, especially while my cell continues to buzz.
“No problem. Always worth an ask.” His eyes drop to my purse hanging at my waist. “I think your cell is ringing.”
“Yeah, it’s my boss,” I explain.
“And you don’t think you should get it?”
“I absolutely should,” I say, opening my purse and pulling it out. I do my best to hide the screen. The last thing I need is for Levi to discover who my boss is. “It was great bumping into you. We’ll sort out a time for another drink,” I say quickly before I swipe the screen, reluctantly put the cell to my ear, and walk away.
“Don’t you have a job to do?” I hiss down the phone, keeping my voice quiet enough in the hope that Levi won’t hear.
32
COLE
My chin drops at the venom in her tone. It’s not something I’ve heard from her before. She’s always so quiet and unsure of herself.
Did I think she’d be happy about the car? No, not a chance.
