“Oh, but I just did.”
The manager on duty rushes out. “Mr. Lasker.”
Did she somehow call for reinforcements?Annoyance surges, but Noah mutters, “You’re welcome.” Okay, fine. I don’t need a manager to resolve this, but maybe it’ll go faster.
I explain the situation, and the manager turns deathly pale. “I’m so sorry, sir.”
“Your apology should be addressed to Aspen and her grandfather. They had to waste”—I glance at my Harry Winston—“over forty-five minutes of their time.”
“Of course.” He turns to them. “I’m terribly sorry, Ms. Hughes.”
Her green gaze, full of distrust, darts between me and the manager. It’s the same look she had when she was dealing with Sadie and her friends. The fact that it’s directed at me pisses me off. I deserve better, especially when I just helped her out.
“To make up for the inconvenience, we’ll be comping your full meal and drinks,” the manager says.
Aspen blinks, her mouth parting. She looks at me like she’s expecting a gotcha.
“They aren’t going to spit in your food,” I say dryly, too irritated to set her straight. It’s like she’s forgotten thatshe’sthe one who fuckedmeover. My revenge is reserved for her, not her grandfather.
The manager jumps. “Of course not!” He adds a nervous laugh like we’re all joking.
I don’t crack a smile. “Send them a bottle of 2008 Dom.”
He flinches. “Of course, sir.” Then he personally starts to lead them to their table.
“That hostess needs to apologize, too,” I tell him as I follow to make sure he doesn’t stick them at a shitty table in the back by the kitchen.
Aspen keeps her hand on her grandfather’s elbow, but also shifts closer to me. She lowers her voice. “You can go now.”
“Oh, no problem. You’re more than welcome. Really, it was nothing.”
She sighs. “Thank you. But—”
“I want to say hello to Kenny.”
“Honestly,thatisn’t necessary.”
“Of course it is.”
When they’re seated at one of the nicer tables and the manager has left, I turn to Kenny. “Hello, sir.”
He looks up at me. There’s a polite smile on his lips, but something about the way his eyes search my face feels off. “Oh, hi!” His eyes widen. “Zack.”
Zack? That weasel waiter from Benedicto’s who wouldn’t quit hitting on Aspen when we were there? The donkey Kat was thinking of inviting over?
Squirming a little, Aspen refuses to meet my gaze. She puts her hand on Kenny’s sleeve. “It’s Grant, Grandpa.” She flicks her eyes in my direction, then looks back at Kenny. “He just looks different from before.”
That’s bullshit. I’m older, of course, but I haven’t changed that much. There’s no way Kenny could’ve confused me with Zack.
“Grant?” Kenny’s brow furrows. “Can’t quite seem to… Which one was…?”
He doesn’t remember?
Aspen clears her throat. “From when I was in college,” she says, then turns to me. “Youreallyshould go join your brothers now, and let us have dinner in peace. We’re here to celebrate my new job, and we can’t have a good time with you hovering over us.”
“Okay. I’m just surprised that your grandfather doesn’t remember me.”
Her lips tighten. “Maybe you didn’t make much of an impression.”
