Derrek could make the paper all hewanted; I just hoped he wasn’t dating anyone new.
Not for my sake.
But for hers.
****
That afternoon, after I had dropped Dadoff and made sure Vann would be by later to check on him, I headed to thetruck. I had about ten thousand things to do for the weekend, especially afterthe chicken and waffle flop. I needed to up my game. I couldn’t have any moretrain wrecks like that.
I’d learned so much in the fewmonths that I’d been opened, but business could be better. My business managementskills could be better. My food could be better. Basically, every single thingcould be better.
I hadn’t heard back from any of thebakeries I’d stopped by, and I still hadn’t found a produce vendor I was happywith. So far I’d managed with the closest organic grocery store, but it wasgouging my budget. I needed a place with fresh fruits and vegetables withoutbreaking the bank.
All in all, though, I’d learned aton since I’d opened. Nothing had been smooth or easy or natural, but I wasgetting the hang of it. Mostly.
I opened the windows and propped thedoor open. The truck hummed with electricity while the fans whirred to life. Istepped in front of one and tried to cool down.
Vann’s bike shop buzzed withactivity around me. Cyclists from all over the city had shown up for a weeklygroup ride. There was a little Mexican restaurant outside the city where theywent to celebrate Taco Tuesday. I’d told Vann I would serve tacos to them, sothey didn’t have to go all the way to Mama Bonita, but Vann said that defeatedthe purpose. Clearly, cyclists were crazy.
Enough of them stopped by to see ifI sold power drinks or energy bars though that I seriously contemplatedstocking them for the future. I offered them cans of soda, but they looked atme like I had lost my damn mind.
When someone knocked on the door, Iassumed it was another one of them. “I don’t have anything made by Gatorade.I’m not even open.”
“No, I, uh, I wasn’t looking foranything. I just saw you were here.”
I spun around. Killian stood in thedoorframe. His arms were braced on either side, but he had yet to step inside.
“I thought you were one of them.” Ipointed to the human-size bumble bees behind him— because of all the yellow andblack spandex. “They want me to whip them up some go bars and energysqueezies.”
He wrinkled his nose, as unimpressedas I had been. “That’s disgusting.”
“My brother is one of them, and I cansafely say they don’t know the difference between cardboard and what they keepin their refrigerators. If it’s not tasteless and full of protein, they don’twant it.”
He nodded, but didn’t say anythingelse on the subject. Instead, he seemed to watch me for a minute, thinkingsomething over. When he finally spoke again, he said the very last thing I everexpected him to say. “I’ve never asked, and it’s kind of silly to do so now,but Igottaknow,Delane.Do you have a boyfriend?”
My heart stuttered, tripping overuneven beats and panic. Derrek’s article flashed in my head, and I worried thatKillian knew. How did he find out I’d dated Derrek? Had he seen the article? DidKillian know Derrek? Did he know what Derrek was really like? Or did Killianrespect him like the rest of the industry?
I inhaled slowly and answered asevenly as I could. “I don’t have a boyfriend.” I looked down at the knife in myhand and swallowed thickly. I sounded nervous, unsteady. And apparently,Killian thought so too because he just stood there staring at me. His eyebrowssquished together over his nose and I could feel the concern bubbling up insidehim. I rushed to rescue the conversation and cover my jittery behavior. “Unlessyou count the truck. Then things are new, but we took out a loan together so Iguess I’m stuck with him.” I tried for sarcastic, but my voice sounded brittleand unconvinced. I hiccupped an awkward laugh and then just started spittingout words in an anti-effort to salvage my dignity. “And thank God for that,because I honestly don’t want a boyfriend. The only thing I’m capable ofcommitting to right now is food.” Oh, God. The words just wouldn’t stop. “Imean, clearly I’m a walking disaster. A guy would have to be insane to date me.Or be one of those guys that likes crazy girls. And what does that say aboutthem? Besides how hypocritical is our culture that a girl that’s high dramagets labeled as crazy, but a guy that enjoys high drama is what? Nothing?Applauded for putting up with her? It’s such a double standard.”
Killian stared at me for a minute,not saying anything and not doing anything. I turned back to the counter andput the knife away. Talking about boyfriends made mestabby.I didn’t want to be responsible for what happened to Killian if he pried anyfurther.
Not that he pried.
He just asked a question, and Iverbally vomited all over him.
After a long, uncomfortable silence,he said, “Uh, I came over to ask if you wanted to go out with some of us fromthe restaurant tonight? It’s Wyatt’s birthday.”
Surprised by his offer, I turnedaround and leaned against the counter. If I was honest, I was surprised that hewas still here. He hadn’t fled. He’d witnessed some of my crazy and hadn’tabandoned me. He stood there as calm and patient as always.
Something warm and bubbly burstthrough me. I crossed my arms, trying to ward off the sensation, but I couldn’tmanage to banish it. I tried to convince myself that it was just nice to beincluded with the staff atLilou, but even mystubborn heart saw through the lie. It had nothing to do with Wyatt or hisbirthday and everything to do with the cocky, self-absorbed chef standing in mydoorway. “Where are you going?”
Killian inclined his head toward theother side of the plaza. “Probably Verve or Greenlight. It could be cool.”
“Yeah, it could be.”
Half his mouth lifted in a coaxingsmile, partly hidden behind his beard. “You don’t sound convinced.”
“No, it’s not that. I mean, Wyatt’scool. And I should probably get him a gift for all he’s put up with from meanyway. I just don’t know anybody except you and the birthday boy.”
