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CHAPTER14

CONFESSIONAL 1194

Yang, Dal (Head Chef, Serenade: Juniper Ridge)

Running a restaurant’s not easy under the best of circumstances. You’re juggling orders, making sure sides get done with the entrée and keeping it straight who’s gluten-free or vegan and who ordered the cheeseburger, hold the pickles and tomato and the meat and bun.

Yeah, that’s a thing. It’s just lettuce and a fucking slice of cheese, I guess. I don’t know.

But juggling all that while kicking your own ass?

That’s a skill I haven’t mastered.

* * *

“Who used the last of the garlic?”

No one replies. Not even my sous chef, who’s been rolling her eyes at my mood all night.

Like always, I can count on my brother. “Youused the garlic, asshole.” Ji-Hoon wheels past, a bus tub of dishes laid flat on his lap. As our dish kid hurries to grab them, my brother spins to my side. “For the big tofu order at table six?”

Hell, he’s right. “Could someone grab more from the pantry?” I scrap away the ginger I’ve diced, then check the order board. “And let’s hurry up with the?—”

“Dal.” Ji-Hoon glides to my other side.

“What?” I don’t glance up. I need to get the garnish for this?—

“Look at me.”

“I’m busy right now.” True, we’ve only got a couple orders on the board, and the team could handle this with half of them on break. But if I stop now, I’ll start thinking. “I’m working, Ji-Hoon.”

“Give it a rest.”

“Can’t rest.” I snatch my chef’s knife and make neat, even cuts through an onion. My eyes start to sting, so I swear at the onion. “I’m busy.” The last thing I need is time with my thoughts. Thoughts tumbling to Lana, to the words she spoke before turning away.

It’s been more than six hours, and I still see the hurt in her eyes. The set of her shoulders as she walked away. She must be at home with her siblings right now. Tonight was the dinner where she planned to tell?—

“Rightnow, Dal!” My brother’s bark knocks the knife from my hand. Even the sous chef looks up with alarm.

Abandoning me, Ji-Hoon wheels to her side. “Simi, can you take over for the rest of the night?”

“Of course,” she says, wiping her brow. “We’re pretty slow.”

I glare at my brother. “I don’t want?—”

“I don’t care what you want.” He wheels around, narrowly missing my foot. On purpose, I think. “We’re going home. Right now, namdongsaeng.”

My throat swells tight and I fight to breathe.

Namdongsaeng.

Little brother.

He hasn’t called me that since?—

“Fine.” Tugging off my apron, I sling it in the hamper and follow Ji-Hoon out the door.

We’re halfway home before he speaks again. “You’ve been a huge asshole all night.”

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