Viv is a great friend, and I’d be lying if I said this doesn’t make it easier for me to do the demonstration.
“Problem solved.” Flex smirks.
“I don’t know.” I guess it’s a viable alternative, but my eyes can’t help straying to the last woman whose neck I wrapped my hand around. I’m not prepared for the gaze staring back at me. My heart lurches up into my throat, and my stomach drops.
Eli is talking to her, but even as she answers, her eyes are on me. The firm set of her lips and the furrow of her brow tell me she’s not happy to see me. She downs her drink, makes her excuses, and heads for the door. And I let her.
“What are you waiting for?” Dalton interjects. All eyes are on me, the entire table witnessing the fact that I’m a pussy.
“Trust me. She doesn’t want me to go after her.”
“Bullshit.”
“If you’d heard our last conversation, you’d understand.”
“Then go and fix it. She’s great, and if I’ve learned anything about women, they don’t look at you with such vitriol unless they actually give a flying fuck. That woman most definitely gives a shit.”
“Fuck.”
I jump out of my chair and follow Aspen over to the elevator, scared to reach out and touch her because I know I won’t be able tostoptouching her.
“Hey, Aspen. Can we talk?”
“We’ve said enough.” She keeps her eyes cast down.
“I’m glad you decided not to quit. I hope Leonard is helping you, although you’re already more intuitive than he is in the kitchen.”
“It’s fine. I wanted to learn from you.”
“Aspen.”
“I get it. We never should have blurred the lines. I knew it was a bad idea, but I let it happen anyway because I…” She trails off.
“I’m sorry. I failed as a mentor and as a fucking decent guy. If I could take it all back, I would. I fucking miss you, baby girl.”
“Don’t call me that.” It hits like a dagger straight through my heart.
“My apologies, Aspen.”
She hesitates as the doors to the elevator ping open. “Can you come back?”
“What?”
“To Rooftop. I want my mentor back, and maybe it’s totally selfish of me.”
“It’s not.”
“I want to learn from the best. I love Leonard, but he’s not the best. You are.” If I could sprout wings right now, I’d soar. I’ve really fucking missed her. Everything about her.
“I’ll make it happen.”
She steps into the elevator, turning to face me. “I’ve missed you too.” The doors close, leaving me slack-jawed by her admission. I’m sure she only means it in relation to the kitchen, but I’ll take anything I can get.
I heave a breath I didn’t know I’d been holding since the night she walked away from me, and it fucking hurts. I’m like a junkie getting my first hit in too long, and I’m right back where I swore I’d never be. She lied to me, if only by omission, and I can’t lose sight of that. If only because it’s better for her in the long run.
Now, I need to figure out how to work with Aspen.
Chapter 19
