His smile was softer, friendlier. “Of course.” Before I could walk away though, he added, “It was a good decision to fire Ashlynn. She’d been unhappy here for a long time. She might even thank you for it one day.”
A surprised laugh bubbled out of me. “Highly unlikely.”
He lifted a shoulder in a casual shrug. “Okay, you’re probably right. Still a good decision.”
“Thanks, Blaze.”
“See you later, Chef.”
I stopped a few others on my way out the door, feeling entirely too elated over hearing everyone call me Chef. By the time I reached my car, I was smiling like a loon and had the heady feeling I was leaving something that was actually mine.
Could I trust Blaze? Not yet. But I didn’t distrust him either. Which was probably exactly how he felt about me. At least we were on the same page.
Leading Bianca felt impossible at this point. Changing the menu felt like the biggest mountain to climb. Breathing life back into her and restoring her to her former glory was daunting to say the least. But it felt easier with a staff by my side that would stay loyal to me—stand up for me and work their hardest alongside me.
Only time would tell if I’d be able to manage all this.
In the meantime? I had a bridal brunch to get to.
* * *
I wasthirty minutes late by the time I got to the sweet little bistro for the bridal brunch. Molly and Kaya were already sipping mimosas and Vera had her water with cucumber in hand, a paper straw dangling from the corner of her mouth.
They’d grabbed a table outside on the patio, the sunshine warm and inviting. “Y’all look like a magazine ad,” I told them as I took in their big shades and sun hats. Kaya had a cute bandana wrapped around her shorter style, making her look like a pinup girl from the fifties.
They struck poses as I slid through the wrought-iron gate to join them.
“Spill it,” Vera demanded before I could sit down.
I blinked at my friends, hoping she wanted other information I could possibly have. Like Ezra’s childhood secrets. Or my social security number.
“What’s going on with my brother?”
Okay, so not my social security number then. “What do you mean?” Pretending to have no idea what she was talking about would work, right? Sure. We’ll go with that.
She leaned forward, slamming her water on the table. “Um, I mean that you were all over each other last night. And that he was looking at you with gaga eyes. I mean that you laughed at all his lame jokes. And when we came back from dancing, you were practically sitting in his lap.”
“Oh, that.”
She narrowed her eyes at me. “Yes, that.”
“Vere, babe,” I said in my most soothing voice, “let’s not bother talking about me today. This weekend is all about you.”
Kaya snorted. “That’s an interesting tactic.”
“Hey!” I glared at her. “You’re supposed to be on my side.”
Vera’s head snapped toward her. “Don’t back out now. We agreed this needed to be a three-pronged attack.”
“You’re attacking me?”
Kaya held up her hands in surrender. “Nobody’s attacking anyone! Also, this weekend is all about Vera. And right now, she wants to know what’s going on with you and her brother. I vote that you give her what she wants before she turns into bridezilla and bites your head off.”
“If only we’d brought the sash,” Molly added.
“Way to navigate those tricky waters,” I told Kaya, my words dripping with sarcasm. “You should go into politics with that kind of dodge and dive.”
Kaya smiled widely. “I know, right?”
