“You know you loved it. I could feel the tingles.” Two can play at this game. Jenn rolls her eyes and shoves me, a wry expression crossing her pretty face.
“Go back to your date,” she dismisses me.
“I better. She may start to worry you drowned me in a stock pot.”
“Don’t think I haven't considered it a time or two,” she muses.
“I'm glad it didn't have to come to that.”
Jenn stays silent, obliviously not sharing my sentiment. I glare at her. It isn't too harsh. She smiles again. She’s a tough cookie. But I guess you have to be when you run your own business and have to handle both Shane and Chase. There’s a reason they chose her.
“Can I ask one more thing?” I pause.
“Sure.”
“Are conch fritters on the chef’s menu tonight?”
Jenn’s face lights up. “Of course. They’re a house specialty.”
“Sweet. Those things are like crack.”
“They were Pop’s favorite,” she shares wistfully.
I never met the man Jenn considered a father. I only knew him because his name was on the deed of the restaurant I needed to procure. Jenn did all the face-to-face dealings, and even back then, she was opinionated, obstinate, and bull-headed.
I guess some things will never change. Just as long as we can keep the peace, I can deal with those qualities. I have been accused of possessing one or two of those glowing attributes myself.
“Hey,” I call as Jenn heads back to the bustling line.
“What's up?”
“Got any relationship advice for me?”
Jenn’s big, blue eyes narrow, and I swear they slice me with their sharpness. “Yeah. Don't be a fucking asshole.”
“Poetic,” I mock as I head out of the kitchen.
“It may not be pretty, but it's good advice!” she calls out from behind me.
I wave my hand over my head in acknowledgment.
Don’t be a fucking asshole.Right.
In the dining room, I find Shane and Chase keeping Simone in good company. She’s laughing and smiling and being animated with her hands as she speaks. She looks different. Much more relaxed than when she’s with me. It pisses me off. I want to know that side of her. I want to know every side, but she puts a wall up, and I have to know why.
I slip deftly through the crowded restaurant, not wanting to draw attention to myself. I don’t want to interrupt their conversation. I want to eavesdrop. I know it’s wrong, but Simone is a tough nut to crack. Maybe if I do some recon and gain some insight, I can find my way into her trust. Into her full trust.
Her laugh echoes, it’s relaxed and carefree. For a split second I’m jealous of Chase and Shane, I want her to laugh just like that with me.
“It was hilarious…” Simone speaks as her laughter tapers off. “This completely straight-laced-looking man, with glasses and a briefcase comes into the ER with abdominal pain. Turns out he had acute appendicitis. When we got him into the operating room and completely disrobed him we discovered his…” She erupts with giggles. “His pubic hair was dyed green.”
“Green?” Shane scrunches his face.
“Yes, green, but that’s not the funny part.” Simone takes a sip of water to compose herself. “Above it there was a tattoo that read ‘keep off the grass’.”
“Oh, shit.” Chase chuckles.
“When the surgery was complete, Dr. Kansas, who has a great sense of humor, wrote the guy a note on his dressing.”
