“This is something else, Dillon,” Molly announced, her voice filled with awe. “This is the busiest I’ve ever seen Bianca!”
I looked around at the full tables and hot dishes being brought out of the kitchen. The bar was packed with people. Outside, clusters of waiting diners dotted the sidewalk in front of the patio.
“I’m so impressed,” Vera added. “You’ve done the most incredible thing with this place.”
“And the food…” Wyatt kissed his fingertips. “It’s like you had a really amazing mentor or something, because, Dillon, you’re killing it.”
My eyes misted with their thoughtfulness and super kind words, but I bossed the tears back. I didn’t want to scare off customers by breaking down into obnoxious sobs in the middle of Saturday morning breakfast. “You guys! Stop! Before this all goes to my head.”
Vann reached out and grabbed my hand, holding it gently in his. “It should go to your head, Baptiste. Be proud of what you’ve done. You’re wonderful.”
No, he was wonderful. And it was currently taking all my willpower not to jump on his lap and attack his mouth with my own.
“Do you want a tour?” I asked instead. I could attack him in private at least.
His eyebrows jumped. “You can do that?”
“Sure. It’s my restaurant.”
My brother leaned forward and butted in. “Technically it’s my restaurant.”
Obviously, I ignored him. “Come on,” I told Vann. “I’ll show you around.”
“Can we come?” Killian asked.
Tuning to the people around us, I couldn’t help but laugh. “You don’t need to come. You know what the inside of a kitchen looks like.”
“This kitchen, specifically,” Vera added. To the table, she said, “We’ve all helped here at one time or another.”
“Hey, thanks for stopping by,” I told them as Vann stood up next to me. “You can go ahead and tell me it was the best meal of your life. You’re supposed to lie to your friends.”
“It’s up there,” Kaya insisted. “Like for real. No lies necessary.”
My cheeks flushed at her compliment. Kaya wouldn’t lie to me, even if I asked her to. She was too much of a straight shooter. Besides, she’d want me to get better if I was doing something wrong and telling a chef exactly what they wanted wasn’t the way to do that.
“Y’all are seriously the best.” I felt the tears threatening again, so it was time to leave. “I’ll tell Chrissy this meal’s on me.”
“Not happening,” Killian ordered, his mouth full of a croissant.
Vera gave me an apologetic look. “We’re here to support you, friend. Which means we’re paying for this meal.”
Ezra’s face became a little less mottled. “That’s a good idea.”
Everyone ignored him.
“We should make Ezra get it,” Wyatt murmured as he took another sip of his water and avoided everyone’s eyes.
“That’s a great idea!” Molly agreed, slapping Ezra on the back. “We’ll take the check.”
The purple color was back, painting Ezra’s expression. I smiled at my big brother, so thankful for everything he’d done for me and all his support. He was seriously the most amazing person I knew. And he believed in me from the very beginning. I’d never had to prove myself to him. He just automatically thought I was the perfect person to help his restaurant.
Still, I couldn’t not tease him. What kind of little sister let her brother out of stuff like this?
“I’ll let Chrissy know. See you guys later.”
Vann and I left them to bicker over the check. I could hear them all the way to the kitchen, but it only made me smile.
This was my vision for Bianca—this right here. I wanted a loud, busy dining room. I wanted friends and family meeting here, celebrating, laughing, spending some of the the most important moments of their lives together here. I wanted first dates and anniversary dates and lunch dates. I wanted business meetings and girl nights out and small business pitches. I wanted this dining room to be a revolving door of the chaos of life.
