Page 49 of Salty, Spiced, and a Little Bit Nice

“By the way, Mom asked if I’d heard from you.”

“She did?” The sadness multiplied, and a sharp jab of guilt hit me. She and I might’ve not seen eye to eye, but no matter how challenging she could be, she was still my mother. “How is she? How’s Dad? Are they well?”

“They’re both fine. But they haven’t forgiven you for turning down George. They’restilltalking about that.”

Of course.I forced out a smile. “So… nothing’s changed.”

“Anyway, she asked if I’ve heard from you. Don’t worry, I didn’t say a word.” He paused. “I never asked, actually. Whereareyou staying now, anyway?”

I opened my mouth, then closed it again, glancing at Alec for help.

“She doesn’t live far from me,” he answered, without missing a beat. “Within walking distance from my place.”

I snorted, turning it into a cough when Naomi shot me a suspicious gaze.

“Thanks for looking out for her, man. I owe you one,” Eric said. “How’s work going?”

“You’d have done the same for my sisters,” Alec replied. “And work’s been busy. Had a big work function on the weekend.”

Heat flooded my cheeks as a full-length movie of The StrictlyProfessional Kiss began playing. I stole a glance at Alec, but he seemed unfazed, so obviously he’d forgotten all about it, and I was the only one still affected.

Our food came, and we said our goodbyes, with Alec promising to catch up with Eric and Naomi at his sister’s wedding in a few months. I bolused for my food while Alec poured some soy sauce into two small dipping bowls, then mixed a generous blob of wasabi into his.

“Did you know? That he was going to propose?”

I shook my head. “No. Great news, though. Couldn’t be happier for them.”

“Not Eric.” Alec picked up a piece of salmon sashimi and dipped it in his mixture. “George’s proposal. I watched the video.”

I groaned. “Yeah. You and eleven million other people.”

Alec grinned. “Itisentertaining. I might have contributed quite a bit to those eleven million views. Why’d you say no?” He turned to watch me. “He seems like a nice guy.”

“He is.” I swiveled in my own stool and returned his stare, our gazes holding for a few beats, and I couldn’t tear my eyes away. “Just not the right guy for me.”

I knew I was setting myself up for a long, hard fall, but right now, in this crowded Japanese restaurant, I couldn’t see anyone else but him. I realized he would never be mine, so I might as well make the most out of whatever time I had with him in the next few weeks.

Even at the risk of having my heart bruised and battered for the second time.

Alec was the first to break the moment. “By the way, just in case the topic ever comes up with Jacqui,” he said, turning his attention back to his food, a teasing smile playing on his lips, “my favorite movie of all time might be that YouTube video.”

CHAPTER 14How to Un-Fake a Fake Relationship

Two days later, I was alone in the shop, setting up the bakery’s new accounting software I’d just installed on my laptop, when a loud knock broke my concentration.

“Ellie Pang?” A lanky, dark-haired man was standing at the door, his cap in hand.

“Hi, yes.” I recognized his voice from our calls. “You must be Mike.”

He nodded and handed me my car keys. “Your car’s outside, ready to get back on the road. We’ve rebuilt the engine and performed a tune-up. Checked and rotated the tires, too. If something doesn’t sound or feel right, bring her back.”

“Great. Thanks so much for dropping the car, I appreciate it.”

“No problem. I don’t normally do it, but Alec asked me to, and you’re on the way to my other appointment anyway.”

I mentally added another item on the list of Alec’s Supremely Thoughtful Gestures. “How much do I owe you?”

Mike handed me a folded piece of paper. “Here’s your invoice.”

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