She puts a bear claw on a plate and slams it in front of me.
“And a cup of your light roast too, please.”
If fumes could come out of her head, I think they would be right now.
“Unbelievable,” she says.
My dad is chuckling when we sit at the corner table.
“Why do you have to pick on that girl?” he says. “She’s like family to us, and she has idolized you since the day you met.”
I frown. “Juju.You’re talking about Juliana? You’re mistaken. We are like fire and ice. She hates me.”
“Ah, son, for someone so smart, you sure can be dumb sometimes. Besides that, this little attitude you have when she’s around, it’s like you’re a different person. As Goldie says, you’re the nice one in the family.”
I chuckle. “I don’t know where Goldie gets that.”
“She gets that because until she met Milo, she was also the sweet one, but he seemed to bring out the worst in her, the way Juju brings out the worst in you. I wonder what that’s about. And look at where Goldie and Milo ended up.” His grin widens.
“Don’t start,” I groan. “I haven’t been in Windy Harbor a month and you’re already matchmaking. You and Mom always had so much to say about me and Juju.”
We both smile wistfully, thinking about my mom. I miss her every damn day.
I clear my throat. “Juju and I are not gonna happen. Did you see the way she flung that bear claw at me? She wished it was my balls on that plate.”
I hear a gasp next to us, and Beverly and Carol are staring at us with wide eyes.
“Pardon my language,” I say apologetically.
Beverly titters, and my dad is trying not to laugh when I look at him again.
“See what I mean?” he says under his breath. “Tully and Dylan…and even Noah, wouldn’t have apologized.”
I laugh. “Just because they’re assholes doesn’t make me the nice one.”
He just looks at me likeCome on now, and I grin as I enjoy my bear claw.
It’s a fucking spectacular bear claw.
Before we leave, I tap on the counter, and Juju jumps. Her expression quickly turns from pleasant to volcanic.
“Please be on time with the desserts, Juliana. Today’s a big day for me.”
“I run my own business, Camden. I know how to be a professional.”
I tilt my head and smile. “Great. Shouldn’t be a problem then.”
A few hours later, everything is in place. The tables are set. The sauces are ready. Everything is primed, and the staff are all in place. There’s a level of high anticipation in the air.
But I’m waiting on one thing.
Or rather, one person.
Juliana fucking Fair.
“She was supposed to be here half an hour ago,” I mutter, stalking past the kitchen doors. “I should’ve known she’d try to sabotage this.”
Bobby, my new sous chef, looks at me in surprise. “Sabotage? Like she’d want to bring you down?”
