Fish? She kept Evie Knievie?
My mind starts churning.This is a sign.
I search the space in front, thinking. When I was young, my mother used to say that I was good on the fly, and my sisters used to hate me for it because it meant I could come up with a lie at a moment’s notice to avoid getting in trouble.
But it’s like fate was training me for this very moment.She kept our fish.
I quickly look away and frown, raising my voice. “What the fuck, Eddie?”
There’s silence on the other end before he says, “Huh? Me, Eddie? Or ... who are you talking to?”
The laugh stays deep inside because I have to commit. Fuck.
“This is really inconvenient,” I level. “You can’t just cancel at the last minute. I rely on you.”
“What the fuck are you talking about?” he shoots back. “I told you I was meeting you in an hour and a half.”
“Eddie, you’re my sous. My right hand.”
“I know, but please slap me with the left one because what are you talking about? Are you going mad?”
I turn my profile away from Evie because there’s no way I can hide my smile now. He’s going to kill me for this.
“Leaving me high and dry for this farmers’ market defeats the purpose of your position. I thought you understood this.”
I hear his kettle slam onto the stove.
“Chase. What are you saying? I do understand the importance of my position.” His voice moves further away as if he’s looking at the screen. “Hold on, am I muted? Can you hear me?”
Fuck. I cover the laugh that starts by coughing and forcing my words out stronger.
“I’m really disappointed. This restaurant isn’t just my dream. I’d hoped that what you learn would help build your own one day.”
“Are you fucking high right now? Were you caught eavesdropping and hit in the head?”
I let the silence stretch out before I say, “Listen, I don’t want to use words like ‘unprofessional,’ but that’s what this is. I’ll just have to find someone else to help me today. We can talk about this tomorrow. Got it?”
More silence. Then he erupts.
“You son of a bitch. This is about the girl. Hey, hey, hey ... don’t oversell it. Be cool. And good luck, sir. You owe me for the slander.”
“Absolutely.”
I hang up and dramatically toss my phone across the couch, cracking out “Fuck” before letting out a hoarse exhale.
Please have bought it. Please ...
A thought strikes.What if she walked away and this is all for nothing?So I roll my neck like I’m stressed before I glance her way, not even having to feign surprise when I see she’s staring at me.
“Oh damn,” I rush out. “Sorry, I didn’t know you were standing there.”
She stares me down like she’s trying to see through my bullshit before she shrugs.
“You didn’t hear me?”
Hear that I have a baby mama?I shake my head.
“No, were you talking to me?”
