Page 106 of Stirring Up Love
“What’s wrong is how flattered you are by this,” Finn told Darius. “Could you be any more full of yourself?” But he couldn’t keep from laughing. That or cry. “What does that say about me, though?”
“That you choose to surround yourself with people who complement your personality.” Bella tucked into her food again, then added, “People who help you be your best self.”
Except Simone. She brought out the worst in him. Right up until they’d gotten to know each other.
The omelet on his lap was getting cold, and even though his appetite was gone, he wasn’t about to waste any more food, so he dug in. Feta, mushrooms, spinach, and diced tomatoes. “This is fantastic.”
“I know.” Bella looked smug, but then again, she always did. “It’s from the diner over on Elm. I’ve been keeping it to myself, but I figure walking away from your dream girl and two hundred thousand dollars deserves a good pick-me-up.”
But he hadn’t told her—
She cocked her head. “You think I don’t know you well enough by now? That girl didn’t break your heart. You walked away before she got the chance to show you the door.”
He squinted at her. Bella was perceptive, but clairvoyant?
“And also, Darius might’ve filled me in when he called.”
“You’re lucky you fed me.” Hangry Finn would not have been okay with this. He glared at Darius. “And you. Not cool. I would’ve told her in my own time.”
“You don’t have the luxury of time on this one. Isn’t your videoconference scheduled for tomorrow?”
“Later today, actually. It’s already past midnight,” Finn said. He winced at the realization of how little time he had left to fix things, at how clueless he was about what he should do. Whatcouldhe do after how he’d left things?
Darius must’ve noticed the uncertainty flicking across his face, because he said, “Talk to us. We want to help you, and you’ve got a few hours left to grovel.”
“Me? I’m the one who should grovel?” Maybe he hadn’t explained the situation well enough; it was as complicated as a beef wellington recipe.
But Darius nodded and took a bite of patty melt. When he swallowed, he said, “You’re the one who walked away.”
“I walked away because it was inevitable. I’m not someone who people pick—don’t you get it?”
The room fell silent, apart from Bella’s noisy chewing. After a moment she sighed and put down her fork. “Ipicked you. That night back when you were a dishwasher and we were in a bind, I chose you to step up.”
“Because you were out of options.”
“Because I made sure it looked like I was out of options.” She set her food on the coffee table and sat back up, hands resting between her folded legs. “I told Jade and Zeke to take the day off. I wanted to give you that shot. And it’s the best choice I’ve made since opening up the place.” She leaned back. “Other than the pear risotto.”
“That pear risotto was amazing,” Darius agreed. “When are you going to bring it back?”
Finn tuned out of their conversation, his mind awash with the revelation Bella had just shared. She’d concocted a whole plot just to get him on the team?
No matter how much time he put in toward healing past wounds, he still thought of himself at the core as someone whom no one wanted but had worth anyway. If the world didn’t want him, whatever—he wanted to do good for himself regardless.
But even if Bella hadn’t chosen him off the bat, he’d never stopped to think how she’d chosen him ever since. She was here to cheer him up when she could’ve been at home relaxing after a long day. Darius had been choosing his friendship for eight years.
Had his misplaced insecurity pushed Simone away?
The fact remained ... “Clearly you both think I’m in the wrong. Yeah, I walked away, but she didn’t call me back.” Hadn’t called him since.
“Stubborn,” Darius said, and Bella nodded.
Finally, they understood. “I know, right?”
“I meant you.” Oh. “The deal was a big change for both of you. Do you blame her for being on the fence?”
Maybe a little. “I told her she could back out, that I wanted her more than I wanted the deal.”
“Aw, look at you, Finn, with the grand declarations.” Bella looked close to ruffling his hair like he was a puppy, and he scowled. “Too bad you followed it up with a tantrum.”
