Page 14 of The Broposal

Instead of answering, I took her hand and kissed it. Anything to avoid a confrontation. But she wouldn’t let me.

“Kenny, I swear to God, if you choose Han, we’re breaking up.”

“Jackie, I’m not going to choose!” I hadn’t meant to raise my voice, but I didn’t exactly appreciate another ultimatum so soon after getting engaged.

“What the hell! Are you fucking kidding me?”

“Please don’t make me choose.” Making decisions wasn’t exactly my strong suit, and Jackie knew this. She usually picked for me so I wouldn’t make the wrong choice, but was this something I was willing to let her choose? If I didn’t make up my mind and she chose herself for me, then it didn’t matter what my original choice would have been. If it was Han, she’d know and be bitter about it forever. If it was her, she’d never let me live down that I wasn’t confident enough in our relationship to say it myself.

I started driving to Jackie’s house instead of the restaurant. For the first time, maybe ever, the choice was clear.

It was as if she’d read my mind. My vision went white as Jackie’s hand cracked across my cheek, causing me to swerve into traffic. Horns honked and cars swerved, but I was able to get control before hitting anyone. I clenched my jaw and putone hand on my cheek, leaving the other firmly gripping the wheel. Heat rose in my chest and face, and I struggled to push the anger down. She’d slapped me before, but never while I wasdriving. She could have gotten us both killed!

“I’m sorry,” Jackie said, coaxing my hand away from my cheek to hold it in hers, then planting a soft kiss on the reddened handprint on my face. “You just make me somadsometimes!”

I wished she wouldn’t get so angry. I wished I didn’t make her so angry.

“I’m sorry.” My words came out weak and pathetic. Just like I felt. How I too often felt with Jackie.

“I see you made your choice.” Jackie grinned as I pulled my car into my usual spot in her driveway. Ihadmade my choice, and for the first time since we’d been together, I didn’t need any reassurance to know exactly what I wanted.

“I choose Han,” I said. “Please get out of my car.”

CHAPTER FIVE

HAN

Who stole the soy sauce packets?” my new boss, Daniel, shouted from the walk-in pantry. The air got thick around me as Daniel marched red-faced through the kitchen. He pointed to Juan, the other new hire. “Where is the soy sauce?”

“I don’t know, sir,” Juan mumbled.

“I’ll help you look,” I offered, knowing if I didn’t, someone was about to get fired for something they didn’t do. I followed Daniel back into the pantry, and low and behold, the soy sauce was exactly where I’d left it. “There.” I pointed.

“Why isn’t it on the first shelf?” Daniel scolded.

“Oh, my mistake, sir.” Shit. I could have gotten someone fired because I didn’t learn where the soy sauce went fast enough.

“Fix that,” Daniel said, then stormed out of the pantry and into his office.

I sighed and took the L by playing Tetris with the pantryitems to get the sauce where Daniel wanted it. I’ve always been shit at Tetris.

When I finally got the chance to take off my apron and put it in my locker, Daniel was yelling again.

“Just return the money you stole, and we won’t have a problem!”

“I didn’t steal anything. I swear!” Juan said frantically. Daniel seemed to have it out for Juan today.

If Kenny were here, he’d definitely handle it. If you only knew Kenny by how he acted with Jackie, you’d have no idea how he was when she wasn’t around. Optimistic. Charismatic. A leader and an advocate.

But Kenny wasn’t here. I looked around for a sympathetic face, but the only people in the kitchen were other cooks who were all just as much at risk of getting fired.

“Have you tried recounting the money?” As soon I’d said it, I felt like I’d stepped off a cliff’s edge, but I kept going. “With all due respect, someone would have noticed if he walked out and stole from the register.” I knew I was out of line, but I couldn’t just watch Juan get fired and say nothing.

“Are you calling me a liar? I know it was him! Give me back the money or you’re fired!” He pointed an accusatory finger at Juan, who had tears in his eyes by now.

“I swear, I didn’t steal anything!”

“Get out of my kitchen!” Daniel slammed his palm on the counter hard enough to make me jump. “Or should I call the cops?”

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