Wyattwrapped his arms around my middle and squeezed. His chin rested on my shoulderand filled in the blanks. “It’s not a surprise party. If you stop guessing Ican tell you why we’re here.”
Ipressed my lips together. I wanted to call him a liar for telling me he wasn’tproposing to me when obviously he was, but he was right. It would helpeverything if I just shut up.
Ezrastepped out of the crowd and somebody turned the lights all the way up. Sarita.Oh, my god, we were inside Sarita.
“Welcomehome, chef,” Ezra greeted, reaching out to shake my hand.
“Noway!” I squeaked while my friends and family cheered loudly. Wyatt squeezed metighter and I had the suspicion it was because he thought I was going to toppleover in surprise. “No way!”
Ezratook my hand, which currently felt like a limp noodle, and shook it firmly. “Ihope you don’t mind the crowd,” he murmured. “Wyatt thought it would be a funsurprise.”
“I’mgoing to kill him,” I told Ezra. Wyatt’s dark chuckle in my ear told me he didn’tbelieve me.
“No,I can’t lose another chef,” Ezra groaned. “I finally have two I can count on.”He winked at me, letting me know I was one that he meant.
Me.
Iwas one of his chefs.
Ohmy God!
Asmile broke free on my face so big and wide and bright I felt like it was goingsplit my head in two. “Okay, fine. He can stick around.”
Wyatthugged me tighter. “Congratulations, chef,” he murmured in my ear.
Ishivered at the heat in his voice and the way he said chef. I finally got theappeal. And good lord, I was going to need to hear it just like that again andagain.
Myfamily approached. “We’re so proud of you, Kay-bug!” Wyatt let go of me, so mydad could pull me into a hug. “Always knew you’d make something of yourself,”he preened. “Wait till I tell all the guys at the club, my girl’s such a bigdeal in Durham.”
Ismiled against his barrel of a chest and savored the praise. “Thanks, Daddy.”
Mysisters were next. Cameron first because she was like an excited puppy thatcouldn’t be contained. “Yay!” she cheered. “You’re so cool, Ky. Like thecoolest. I want to be just like you when I grow up!”
Clairewas next. She hugged me tightly, tighter than she’d ever hugged me before.“Congrats,” she said sweetly. “I’m so happy for you.”
“Thanks,”I told them both. Cameron beamed, but Claire looked different for some reason.There was something off with her. “Hey, are you okay?” I asked.
Sheshrugged and smiled, but it was forced, vacant. “I’m fine.”
Butshe wasn’t. My heart pinched with concern for her and all I cared about wasmaking her feel better. “Hey, Mom and Dad mentioned that you wanted to comespend some time with me this summer. Is that for real?”
Herchin wobbled, but she caught it quickly. “I need a break, you know? Would thatbe okay? I’ll try to impose as little on your life as possible.”
“I’mbusy,” I told her honestly. “You could move in with me permanently and I wouldhardly notice. I’d love for you to come stay with me. For as long as you’dlike.” The best part was, I meant it.
“Okay,”she whispered. “Thank you.”
Ihad no idea what that was about, but I didn’t have time to figure it out rightnow because my friends descended on me and pulled me into a hug all at once.Dillon, Molly, and Vera surrounded me with their congratulations, jumping upand down and screaming in my ear all at once.
“Itold you!” Molly beamed.
“You’rewelcome,” Vera teased.
“Youdid it!” Dillon laughed. “Oh my God, you actually did it. Kaya, you’re myhero.”
Laughingand crying and sniffling all at once I just looked at them. They had eachplayed a part in this success. I couldn’t have done this without them.
Mollyhad been my friend for a while now. And she had always encouraged me, alwaysput up with me, even when I was snarly. I had no doubt she’d also whisperedhigh praise into Ezra’s ear. Because that’s how she was. So giving andgenerous.
