“She won’t,” Hope responded. “Well, she will if she actually watches the video and the clips. But… I don’t think she will.” Hope scrolled down through the comments and smirked.
OMG, I love these two. Hope can cook me anything, and I’d eat her right up. Oops, did I type _her_?
Hope chuckled and scrolled down again.
They have to be a couple, right? Please, tell this lez, they’re a couple.
That food looks delicious. Certainly will be a nice appetizer to add to my repertoire for the lesbian book clubs I run.
Hope couldn’t stop smiling. This was beautiful, and she was absolutely in love with it. This was the thrill that she got from her morning cooking show and creating food that people could do on their own. It wasn’t just about making something for others to eat and watching just how good it tasted to them. It was about equipping others to be able to do the same.
“I love this.” Hope gave the phone back to Lyric.
“I think this season is going to be the biggest yet. Once all the videos we shot drop, the ratings are going to go through the roof.” Cadence took the phone and looked at it.
“It’s just beginning, don’t you think?” Lyric said, her eyes alight with excitement. “Like you’re finally picking up steam and going to be able to push through the barrier to make this a long-lasting show?”
“Yeah. Maybe.” Hope nodded, but something ate away in the pit of her stomach.
“What are you all looking at?” Florence’s voice startled them.
Hope tensed. That wasn’t a question of inquiry. It was a scolding about why they weren’t working and instead were just gossiping. “We were looking at the promotional video that Cadence filmed. It dropped last night.”
“I’ve seen it.” Florence’s lips thinned. She didn’t look pleased. But she should be, because that video was going to do what it was meant to do.
“And…?” Hope asked, waiting with bated breath for some kind of accolade. She wasn’t entirely sure why, but Florence was her new boss, of sorts, and she wanted to impress her.
“It’s good.”
That was high praise from her. Hope could tell that just from the small amount of time they’d known each other. That was as much as Florence was going to say on it.
“Yay! FloRo approves!” Cadence lifted her fists in the air and started dancing like she’d just scored a touchdown.
Hope shook her head with a laugh. “You’re a dork. But yes,FloRoapproves.”
Florence rolled her eyes and nodded toward the kitchen. “How did the first scene go?”
“Well.” Hope crossed her arms, stilling and turning back to business. “I like the format of teaching the viewer. It helps calm tension—at least it did this time.” Hope grinned.
“Good.” Florence started to step away, but Hope caught her by the arm. “Was there something else?”
“I’m going to need to sit down with you and Ange today. Maybe Logan too.”
“What for?”
“To talk about a serious issue in the hotel. It’s not one that we’re going to be able to resolve.”
“I’m intrigued.” Florence crossed her arms and turned slightly, opening to Hope.
“Yeah, it’s about the stench.”
“The mold.”
“Ding! Ding! Ding!” Hope winked at her. “I need to check on the kitchen. Let me know when you want that meeting.”
“Will do.”
Chapter
