Page 67 of The Chef's Kiss
“You’ve got some nerve. It’s over.” She tossed the diamond in his face. “Get out of here. I never want to see or think of you again.”
“Wait, Cara. What did she tell you?” Jeff slid out of the booth, reaching for Cara’s hand. But my bestie wasn’t having it.
“No.” She shoved him, not caring she was causing a scene. “You don’t get to weasel out of this.”
“I gave her the cash to take care of it.” He tried to put his arms around her. “Remember, you’re the one I proposed to.”
“Ugh, get your hands off of me.” She stepped out of his arms. “What kind of idiot do you think I am?”
“There are two sides to every story, Cara.” Jeff rolled his eyes, glaring at me.
“I don’t even want to hear yours.” Cara folded her arms over her chest. “It’s time you left.”
“Be reasonable.” He lowered his voice.
I glanced around the restaurant as the best woman I knew cut this pitiful excuse for a man down to size. She didn’t care who was watching, and in any other scenario, I would have cheered her on.
“I think that’s enough.” Hudson stepped between them. “The lady asked you to leave. You’ve done enough damage here for a lifetime.” I expected Jeff to push back and argue, but Hudson didn’t give him a chance. With a glance at Jake, dining with one of his siblings at the next table, the two men escorted Jeff to the parking lot. I didn’t wait to see what happened next. I just needed to make sure Cara was okay.
“I am so sorry.” I took her into my arms, guiding her over to the bar where it was quiet. “I can’t even begin to apologize for any of this. I would completely understand if you never want to speak to me again.”
“Hush, Jorge.” She hugged me back, the tears coming in waves. “I’m the one who’s sorry.” She blubbered into my shoulder. “I just had to throw a ring in his face, but you.” She leaned back. “No wonder you ran away from school. You’re Jorgie, you needed some space to re-plan your future.”
She knew me so well. “Cara.” I leaned my head on her shoulder. “I am so sorry this happened. You were so happy with him, and I just didn’t know how to tell you.”
“I was happy. But it was a lie.” Her shoulders shook. “I can’t love a lie, and I could never be with a man who would treat my bestie like that.” She sniffed, scrubbing at her tears.
“I’m sorry,” I whispered again. The words were all I had, and they weren’t enough. I could never make up for what I’d cost my friend.
“It’s not your fault we both fell for his pretty, two-timing face.” Cara pulled away, studying my face through her tears. “So tell me, Jorge, are we having this baby?” She gripped my hands, and I could tell she was trying to fight through the heartbreak to be there for me. “I’m one hundred percent behind you, whatever you decide.”
I loved her for saying we. “Yeah, we are.” I hugged her close, gazing through the window into the parking lot where Hudson stood with an elegant woman. They were arguing. There was no trace of Jake or Jeff. Just Hudson and the mystery woman I’d seen him talking to earlier tonight. He seemed upset.
“Are you going to be okay if I leave you alone for a little while? I have a lot left to wrap up before we can leave.”
“Me? You’re asking ifI’mokay? We need to have a long talk about this later, but for now, I’m going to say thank you.” She took my hands in hers. “I know you would never in a million years have let me marry that guy. I know you would have found a way to tell me so I wouldn’t make the biggest mistake of my life. Don’t worry about me. I’m just going to go eat both of the desserts we ordered. Come find me later. I’m going to need to crash with you tonight.”
“I love you.” I gave her another hug before I left her alone in the bar.
24
HUDSON
I didn’t have the heart to tell Jorgie she’d done the soft opening wrong. It could have gone horrifically bad being so large, but it hadn’t, so there was no point.
Plus, I wasn’t sure she’d hear anything I had to say today.
“I don’t think I’ve ever seen that girl so quiet,” Pamela said.
I looked at the waitress in question.
She shrugged. “We all know each other in this town. I wasn’t friends with Jorgina, nor did I know many people who were, but I still know her pretty well. Comes from growing up in one little box crowded with all the other unlucky souls.”
A hint of a smile appeared on her lips, and I could tell she actually loved her little box.
“There are worse things,” I muttered. Like growing up without a community at all. The four walls of a box were welcome in my life, and it was something I hadn’t realized until last night.
I’d enjoyed looking out into the dining room and recognizing many of the faces, liked proving myself to people who would remember my name as more than just Chef Silverman.
