“I mean it, Alex. You’re not just my employee, you’re my friend. And you’re helping me every day whether you know it or not. I couldn’t be here without you.” He walks over and gives me a gentle hug. I wrap my arms around him and cuddle him right back.
“Ria’s an idiot,” I murmur.
Nate chuckles as he pulls back from me. “I’m going home, see you tomorrow?”
“Like clockwork. Have a good rest, Nate.”
He walks out of the studio, his security detail appearing out of thin air following him, and I exhale a loud sigh, wondering whythe fuck Ria’s letting a guy as fucking awesome as Nate walk out of her life. He loves her so much, and he’d be so good for her and the baby if she just told him the truth.Stubborn fucking woman!
Doing a quick once-over in the studio and a general tidy-up, I glance over at Robert, who’s cleaning the windows while casually whistling to himself. God knows how he finds shit to clean all day, but he manages.
“Hey Robert, you good to lock up?”
He peers over at me and nods, his mullet bobbing up and down, making me want to giggle, but I resist. “Sure thing, darlin’, you head on home. I’ll shut up shop.”
I give him a quick wink, grab my keys and cell, and head for my car. I feel like I need a little help, a little bit of guidance after my restless night and confusing day. So I head for the one place I know will make my mind a little clearer. To the one person who always makes me feel more at ease. He settles me without even having to try, and I love him for it.
Knowing he always works this shift, I pull up at the Japanese Teppanyaki restaurant and get out of the car. The sun is fast disappearing behind the skyline, bringing out the deep hues of twilight, and there’s a slight chill in the air as the night takes hold. Something is calming about this time of day, and I can’t help but love it.
Making my way inside the restaurant I know so well, I head straight to his iron griddle. I smile, taking in the bald Asian man dressed in a chef’s outfit. It’s a stark contrast to his usual orange monk attire, but hell, I’ve seen Whisper wearing many different things throughout the years. I take a seat at the table, which is currently only seating one other person.
Whisper spots me with a sly smile but continues his conversation with the man at the table. “So, you see, I do your taxes at end of financial year for you, too. My business card at end of table. White one, not black one. Black one for Fung Shui. Ido that for you, too. Green card for dog grooming. You have dog, you sexy boy?” Whisper asks.
The guy furrows his brows at Whisper, slowly stands, and walks away to another table.
I chuckle and shake my head, placing my hands together in front of me on the table.
Whisper sighs. “Ah, his ju-ju bad anyway. I no help him. His demons too large, too large. Alexandria, it so good to see you. It been a while. You look sad, though… demons come back?”
Placing my elbows on the table and my chin in my hands, I nod. “Yeah, Whisper, I’m thinking too much.”
He reaches out with his basting brush and slaps my hand, leaving some kind of greasy sauce all over my skin. It makes me feel lighter as I giggle instantly.
“You no think! Demons of past stay in past, Alex. Your parents, your gran, even Kyle, they bad memories. You need to let go before you move forward. You remember my mantra for when you feel demons coming?”
“Cool, calm, collected?” I ask.
“Yes. I tell my two new sexy boys this all the time. They get it now. I helping them with Fung Shui. They just like you, harbor demons. They both so sad. But oh, so sexy, sexy boys.”
I burst out laughing and then lick the sauce from my hand while he continues to cook up something on the hot plate. “Whisper, do you think I’ll ever be able to love someone again?”
He stops his movements and looks me right in the eyes. “Oh, Alex, my darling girl. The love you have is waiting for someone. Someone who need to be loved and doesn’t know who he looking for until you swoop in and surprise him. You are blessing, and he will figure it out. Patience needed for your man, Alex. I see friendship before love. But your love, it be unbreakable. Trust it… trust him… trust yourself. A love unwavering like the ocean tide, stronger than a thousand currents.”
I smirk. Whisper’s faith in love is always refreshing, but I’m not so sure whether it’s just something he says to make me feel better or whether he genuinely believes it. “Thanks, Whisper. We need to find you someone to love.”
“My time will come, Alex. It written in stars. I have patience. You should, too. You want chicken or beef?” he asks, completely changing the subject and flipping some protein over on the hotplate.
“Surprise me.”
Whisper winks as my cell beeps. I look down and notice a message from Logan. I half-smile, hoping it was from Matt, but I read the message anyway.
Logan:So my day sucked balls. My day did, not me, just to be clear, lol. How’d yours end up?
Whisper chuckles, saying, “The message from a man? See, your stars align already.”
I type back a reply while shaking my head. “Yeah… maybe.”
Me:I dunno, I bet you secretly love ball-sucking. It’s your nighttime hobby, right? ;) My day was okayish… busy, just having some dinner with a friend.
