Page 49 of A Perfect Match
“You’re the youngest of fiveanda business owner.Not to mention a marketing maven and pioneer.Yeah, I think you’re strong.It takes strength to cut it in the business world, and you’ve got a solid track record already.”
She blinks a few times, her throat bobbing.“Why are you so sweet?”She takes a bite of toast.
“I’m not sweet.I’m honest.”
“You’re both,” she says as she chews.“Now eat your food and let me know how I did.”
I take a bite of the eggs.They're simple but good—fluffy, seasoned well.The bacon is crisp, just how I like it.It's not haute cuisine, but it's honest food, made with care.
“Do you want me to be sweet, or honest?”I ask her.
"Let’s try for both again,” she says with a laugh.
"They're…" I pause, narrowing my eyes critically."Agreeable to the palate."
She snorts out a laugh, the sound warming me more than the food."High praise.I strive to create a breakfast that begs to be calledagreeable.”
“Hey, if there’s a food critic in my restaurant and they call my menu agreeable, I’ll take that compliment and run.”
She tilts her head as she looks over at me, something dreamy coming over her.“Are you trying to get food critics in your place?”
“Of course.Not shooting for a Michelin star with my concept, but I want to be on the map.”I take another big bite of eggs, winking her way.“For my dad.”
“Is he a chef too?”
“He was, in his own way.Before he passed.”
Understanding shudders through her, and we lock eyes.The more I learn about her, the more I want her.The more I realize how much she fucking complements me.She’s an ingredient I never planned on finding, and I suspect she’ll meld nicely in the recipe of my life.
If she wanted the same thing, that is.
“How old were you when he died?”she asks quietly.
“It was about four years ago.Cancer.He fucking loved that I had trained to be a chef and was working on food trucks.It was like the missed opportunity of his life, you know?That thing he never got to do but always wanted to try.”Emotion is welling inside me.I need to tread carefully.“I wish he could have seen the reality TV show.Man, he would have lost his shit.”I laugh to myself and take another bite of eggs to stop the way my throat is tightening up.
“What was his name?”
“Ray.”
Her eyes widen slightly, and I can see the pieces clicking into place.“That’s why you named the…”
I nod.“Yeah.It’s for him.In his honor.”
She touches her chest, tears welling in her eyes.She bursts into a sob and covers her face with her hands.
“Oh shit,” I start, “I didn’t mean—”
“That is the absolute sweetest thing I’ve ever heard.”She cries into her hands then sniffles, looking up at me with red-rimmed eyes.“Oh my god, Kru.I’m so sorry I said Ray’s was some neo-hipster chain restaurant.”
A laugh bursts out of me.“That’s right.What else did you tell me?That I was going to dance on the bar hourly?Brutal.”
“I was mad at you.”She wipes tears away from under her eyes.
“Fair.”I bite into the bacon.“When did you lose your dad?”
She takes a deep breath, her gaze drifting down to her plate.“I was young.Like six.I barely remember him.He was in the wrong place at the wrong time—car accident.Not his fault.”She toys with a piece of bacon as she continues.“It was hard for all of us.And my oldest brother Asher nominated himself as the honorary Dad after that.He tried so hard to fill Dad’s shoes…which was an impossible task, especially for a grieving twelve or thirteen year old.”
“I can’t imagine.”I reach out and squeeze her free hand.“Losing a parent is always hard, but I think it’s hardest when you’re young and you haven’t gotten the hang of the world yet.”
