Page 20 of Don't Regret Me
“Gee, thanks.” Liz wiped an arm across her sweaty brow.
“Am I wrong?”
“No.” She didn’t want to talk to anyone about Corey or her kids. It wasn’t their business, and frankly, she wasn’t sure what to think herself.
“Well, it’s a good thing I want you out of this kitchen because there’s a diner out there complaining about his food. Table ten. Time to face the music of your mistakes. Go make nice.” She shoved a plate piled high with the fan-favorite strawberry cream puff.
With a sigh, Liz pushed through the swinging door into the dining room. She’d never eaten here herself—it was a bit out of her price range—but she could imagine sitting below the crystal chandeliers with the live cello music enhancing each bite.
She smiled at Julie, the cello player, and headed for table ten, stopping when she caught sight of the lone man sitting with his back to her. She’d recognize any part of him—from the way his hair curled down his neck to the stiff set of his shoulders. He was always on guard, distrusting everything.
Except her. Somehow, she’d found herself on the inside of his thoughts, his feelings and ideas. She imagined she was one of the few people on this earth who actually knew the man.
Liz slid the plate onto the table. “Sir, this is on the house.”
He didn’t look up from where he read something on his phone. “And that’s supposed to make up for undercooked chicken on my pasta?”
Oof. She thought only burning was her problem tonight. This was worse. “No, it’s meant as an apology.”
He grunted, and the sound irritated her.
“Don’t be rude, Nick Jacobs.” She’d hoped saying his full name would remind her this was movie star Nick Jacobs and not her Nick. “We have been working our butts off back in that kitchen to make this a pleasant dining experience for every one of our guests, and I am sorry we weren’t able to do that for you. But sometimes, we have bad nights, sometimes I have bad nights. I’m a human being with a life and feelings, and they can’t continue to be ruled by the likes of you.”
He finally met her eyes, surprise sparking in them. “You.”
“Me what?” she snapped. “Are you going to tell me I don’t have the right to talk to you like this? Most of the world might think you’re important, but to me, you’re just a guy.” One who’d broken her heart and didn’t even know it. A tear slipped down her cheek. “Just a guy.”
He set his phone down and rubbed the back of his neck. “I met you.” His brow furrowed.
For a moment, all thoughts ceased except for one. He remembered her.
He shook his head. “At poker night.”
Those hopes crashed to the pit of her stomach, but before she could respond, Nora was behind her. “Mr. Jacobs, I’m so sorry for this outburst,” she said. “Let’s get you a new meal, and we’ll do whatever else we can to make this right.”
He plucked a strawberry from the cream puff and popped it in his mouth before standing. “No.” He threw his napkin on the table. “That won’t be necessary.” Without another word, he turned and left.
It was only then Liz noticed Julie had stopped playing and every eye in the restaurant was on her. A few phones were out, probably recording her humiliation. What had she done? She couldn’t lose this job.
Rushing back to the kitchen, she tried to catch her breath. Nora followed her, pointing to her office in silence.
When they were inside with the door shut, Nora sighed. “What were you thinking, Liz?”
“I honestly don’t know. I’m so sorry. Something just cracked inside of me. I understand if you have to fire me.”
Her hard eyes met Liz’s. “As you said, you can have a bad night. I will have to suspend you though. Two weeks. Get your head on straight, and then come back ready to make this work for you.”
Two weeks.
“Okay.” There was nothing left to say. Liz gathered her belongings and avoided the gazes of her coworkers as she high-tailed it out of there. Once in her car, the dam broke and tears cascaded down her cheeks.
Every time she saw him, she thought it would get easier, that it couldn’t possibly keep hurting like this.
Every time, she was wrong.
With her kids gone for the night and her dad at Jimmy’s for another poker night, she couldn’t stand the thought of going home to an empty house. It was around nine when she pulled up outside Jasmine’s brother’s house. Jasmine was already waiting for her on the front stoop.
“Where to?” she asked her friend.
