Even I can’t hold back my giggles when Luke responds with an overly cheesy wink.
Evan returns with my drink and another beer and I’m quick to thank him. Katie’s fiddling on her phone before sighing out loud.
“What’s wrong?” I ask her.
“Gabby texted. She and Sam won’t be able to make it. Something’s come up.” Katie rolls her eyes. We all know what that means.
“Nice choice of words,” I remark, sipping on my drink.
“Well, at least we know Gabby’s getting looked after. Elle, you ever want the same treatment you let me know.” Luke jokes, to which he receives a hearty push from Ellie.
“Dude!” Evan says shaking his head.
“So Tash, how’s it going? The restaurant been busy?” Ellie asks, directing the attention somewhere else, apparently in my direction.
“Always.” I laugh. There is literally never a time when it’s not busy, which is one of the things I love about my job. I don’t know how I’d cope if I were in another line of work. After climbing the ladder all these years, I’m now at the top of my field in a four-and-a-half-star restaurant. The better the restaurant, the busier you are. I love it.
“I’d do absolutely anything to get a table at Unleash.” Ellie groans dramatically.
“Well, why didn’t you say so?” I may only be the chef but I can still pull a few strings. I’ve never had the desire to dine there but I think that’s just because it’s my place of work. The restaurant is truly stunning and of course, the food is to die for.
Ellie’s eyes almost fall out of her head, she almost looks like a cartoon. “For real?”
“Dude, she’s the head chef. Why don’t you just ask her to come around and cook you dinner.” Katie pokes fun at her friend, throwing her head back as she laughs.
My throat itches and I clear it awkwardly. “Well, one of them.” Unfortunately, I have to share that title with three other people, so that there’s always someone there to run the kitchen. “But text me and let me know when, yeah?”
“Oh definitely!”
“Does that offer apply to us too?” Evan jibes flirtatiously. He’s being more sociable than normal tonight and I’m starting to wonder if it has anything to do with the death stares Katie’s been secretly shooting him all night. Oh yeah, I noticed that, Katie. Apparently, she’s not as sly as she seems, or maybe it’s the way she’s downing her drinks that’s causing her to get sloppier.
I haven’t known these guys very long but I felt the vibe between Katie and Evan a long time ago. And I’m guessing that if I can tell they’re acting weird tonight, everyone else can too. I can only imagine the grilling Evan’s going to get off of Ellie.
“Of course.” I smile nonchalantly. Evan’s cute and if I’d met him on his own, maybe in a supermarket somewhere, I’d totally be interested. But that boy has Katie’s name stamped all over him. And while I know Katie can be as sweet as pie, I’ve heard the stories - she goes from zero to scorned lioness in approximately zero point three two seconds.
Besides, I wouldn’t ever want to stand in the way of true love.
“Does anyone want anything?” Luke rattles around his empty bottle. “I need another.”
I’m still working on mine. I highly doubt I’ll get another drink at all but Katie downs the rest of the pink liquid in her glass and raises it to Luke. He takes it as he squeezes past Ellie and Evan.
“Wait, Tash. Gabby mentioned that you had a spare room since she moved out. You know that’d be perfect for-”
It must be the alcohol flowing through my body that makes me jump up and shove my hand over her mouth. “Shhhhhhhh.”
“Why ‘shh’?” Evan asks while Ellie and Katie just stare at me like I’ve lost my marbles. Which as I slowly start to look at my position, I might have.
Evan laughs and I right myself, slipping back into my seat. I shrug apologetically at Ellie, “Sorry.”
“I’m not sure if Luke knows. I actually wanted to ask you about living with him first. Gabby mentioned that you shared a dorm in college.” I look pointedly at Evan.
I’m surprised when all three bodies burst with laughter. Well shit, that can’t be good. He must’ve been a real nightmare in college!
“He wasn’t that bad.” Evan calms first but the way he says ‘that’ does nothing to sooth my unease. Yeah, I’m definitely not convinced. “Look, I promise, you’ll be fine. He was a bit wild back then, but he’s calmed down a lot since.”
I level him with a stare before looking skeptically between Katie and Ellie. “He’s a bit boisterous, but he’s no harm, honestly, he’d make a good roommate for you.”
Luke returns to the table with drinks and settles himself next to Evan on the edge of the booth. Right across from me. It’s very distracting. I’ve got to admit, he may not be my type, but he sure is unnervingly gorgeous, even with his stupid cap.
