Page 105 of Can't Kiss the Chef

I stand on the bottom ring of the barstool next to him and use the sleeve of my sweater to wipe off the discarded alcohol.

“Why don’t we bring these to the table and take a little break?”

He scoffs, hesitating for a second before grabbing the necks of the beer bottles. His big body plows through the bar making it much easier to get to our friends.

I slide in next to Indy and Margo as Byron has Oliver roped into some kind of story that has them both laughing.

“Is everything okay with Byron?” Indy’s tone is cautious, like she is nervous about what she is about to walk into.

He told just a few close friends about his dad’s health. It took some convincing, but I thought it was really important that Byron has all the support he might need.

“We didn’t get the news we were hoping for at his dad’s second opinion.”

Both Indy and Margo let out a sigh. Indy’s eyes discreetly flash to our boyfriends. Marcus is patiently nodding along as Byron hangs all over him, slurring his words.

“How long?” She asks cautiously.

“A few months. I was hoping they’d tell us he had a year, that way Byron could really get to know him.”

Margo nods along. I’ve gotten a lot closer to her this year since she took Ivy’s old bedroom. She is one of the most caring people I’ve ever met.

“Has he still been talking to him?”

“Everyday, they are always laughing. Byron comes over with a new story about how similar they are almost every time they talk.” I take a deep breath, knowing I’m about to voice the fears I’ve been having since we came back from Philadelphia.

“His dad has struggled with drinking in the past and that makes me nervous with how much Byron has been drinking to cope.”

“We won’t let him go down that path Lo,” Indy assures me.

“He has too bright a future for us not to have his back,” Margo adds.

A small smile tugs at my lips as I pull the girls into a hug. Byron and I might not have been born into the families that we deserved, but we found it at Westvale.

“Idon’tunderstandwhywehad,” Byron’s slurred words are interrupted by a burp strong enough to bring the house down. “Toleave early.”

There was no slowing Byron down tonight. I didn’t want to play the role of the nagging girlfriend since they don’t havepractices on Sundays. He had his fun, but he was just getting out of control. There is also little doubt in my mind that he’ll be nursing a gnarly hangover tomorrow.

“Because you were starting to fall over and if you drank anymore I wouldn’t be able to help you get home by myself.”

I gently urge him down on his bed.

“Please don’t move until I get back with some water okay?”

He nods, but I’m not naive enough to think he’s going to be sitting in the same place when I get back. Mia follows me down the stairs. Trotting next to me like her only concern is nagging me for a late night walk.

“Do you want a treat?” I coo.

She sits knowing that’s how she earns the biscuit in my hand.

“Do you think your daddy’s going to be okay?”

When she doesn’t answer, I do, hoping she’s thinking the same along the same lines as me.

“I hope he’s going to be okay too.”

I give her a few belly rubs before grabbing a clean glass from the drying rack and filling it up.

“Hey baby,” Byron’s voice is sultry.

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