Page 28 of Unexpected Pickle
I still don’t see Hex. As much as I’d rather not get involved with whatever is going to happen with him, I raise my hand.
“Yes, Chef Young?”
“Is everyone here? I don’t see Hex—er, Chef Hex.”
Her smile gives away that she has already met and likely become infatuated with the fighter. “Chef Hex arrived early to familiarize himself with the setup.” She glances up. “Oh, there he is.”
We all turn as Hex approaches the group.
“Good morning,” he says.
Whoa. He wears black chef pants that must have been tailored while he wore them, as they fit like a second skin. His black jacket is broad shouldered and tapers to his waist. The rolled-up sleeves reveal his thick, tattooed forearms.
A crisp white dish towel is stark against the black, and his black skullcap-style chef hat has a white pattern that undoubtedly makes him the most fashionable chef in the room.
He sees me gawking and winks at me. I turn away.
“Everyone find a station,” Chef Sigal says. “The timer begins…now.”
I hurry for a stove. I’m not surprised when Hex takes up a spot beside me. Moreau is too slow to get the one on the other side, and he grumbles as he moves to another row.
Hex seems pleased. “We got rid of the riffraff.”
I lift the white towel to reveal my ingredients. Three brown eggs. Shallots. Smoked salmon. A potato. Feta. Butter. Easy peasy. I pull a skillet down from the rack above.
I glance over at Hex. He’s peering beneath his cloth in confusion.
I’m going to have to help him. I can feel it.
“What did you get?” I ask.
“I don’t know what this is.” He holds up a small black ball. “It looks like poop.”
I have to hold back my laughter. “That’s a truffle.”
“Like the chocolate candies?”
“It’s a type of fungus, sort of like a mushroom.”
He sniffs it, then pulls his face away. “I’m pretty sure it’s poop.”
I step closer and sniff it. “This is nice. Truffles are quite expensive and are considered a way to elevate a meal.”
“Oh.” He sets it down. “And this?” He holds up a fistful of green.
“Those are leeks.”
“Is it a giant onion?”
“Sort of. It’s very mild.”
He glances over at my stash. “How come I didn’t get any eggs?”
I step closer. “It looks like you have a vegan setup. They gave you risotto as a base. You should get started on that right away. It takes a while to cook.”
He grimaces. “So weird rice and fungus and not-onion.”
“You got cashews to make a cheese.”
