“You didn’t invite him, did you, Soph?” Siena practically hisses the question.
I shake my head. “I haven’t spoken to him.”
Siena turns on Matti and Giovanna looks questioningly at Tommy.
“I thought we agreed that Vin wasn’t coming tonight,” Giovanna says.
Tommy shrugs. “As far as I knew he didn’t want to.”
Matti nods. “We didn’t invite him.”
Yet he’s here. With his fiancée. Uninvited.
Typical Vin. Coming inside me not 25 yards away from his fiancée a few weeks ago and now shoving their relationship in my face. On my night.
I exhale hard. “Excuse me,” I say, smiling at each of them in turn. “I need to check on the kitchen.”
Threading through the dining room I barely hear the people around me as the hostess seats Vin and Ashlyn at the big booth.
I push through the kitchen door and let it swing shut behind me then stand at the pass-through window with both hands flat onthe stainless steel counter. I breathe deeply and try try to force myself to relax.
Get your shit together, Sophie.
10
VIN
The kitchen door swings open and closed about every 30 seconds. I know because I’ve been fucking counting since Sophie disappeared into the kitchen 20 minutes ago when she saw me. She didn’t react, just looked at me for a half second with those big dark eyes then left.
That half second was all it took. She fucking hollowed me out.
“Vin.” Ashlyn’s voice is low, her hand grazing my sleeve. “The menu seems incredible. Will you tell me what’s good?”
“It’s all good.” I don’t look at the menu. I keep my eye on the kitchen door.
Across the table, Siena stares at me with a deadly level of concentrated hostility. Matti sits beside her, jaw tight, pretending to study the wine list. Tommy is quiet as usual andGiovanna tries to make conversation with Ashlyn to ease the obvious tension.
I ignore all of them and wait for her.
The restaurant is extraordinary. I knew it would be. She made a lot of changes to my choices, and of course they’re all perfect. I’m so fucking proud of her. I knew she could do it. She deserves this restaurant. She deserves this crowd. She’s God damn amazing.
And she’s fucking hiding from me in the kitchen.
The waiter appears. He’s young, pristine in his black apron, with a name tag that says ‘Marco.’ He recites the specials with a friendly smile, and I don’t hear the only dish I’m ever going to order on the list.
Marco takes everyone’s order, getting to me last. “Sir?”
“I want the gnocchi, half bolognese, half pesto.” It’s the dinner that Sophie served to me the night she crawled under the table and sucked my cock until I came in her mouth while I was eating. The night I told her I wanted her. The night I promised I would find a way to make it work if she would be patient with me.
It’s what I want tonight. It’s all I want.
He blinks, frowns down at his notepad then at me. “I’m sorry, sir, gnocchi is not available—”
“Find a way.” I hold his gaze until he decides to do what I fucking told him and retreats.
Siena leans across the table, her voice low and vicious. “Whyare you even fucking here?” She glances at Ashlyn, engrossed in conversation with Giovanna, and back at me. “And you had to bring her?”
I keep my eyes on the kitchen door. “It’s appropriate.”
