Page 68 of Why Cheese?
“Why do you need so much time out there in that filthy city?”
Swaying to comfort myself, I look back and catch not just Brie and Cam watching, but Roq and Cheddy as well. The last one holds a brick of dark chocolate right above the cheese pot. “In order to sell the cheese shop, re—?” I bite my tongue before asking her if she remembers.
“That place is wicked,” my mother curses. I can hear her crossing herself over the phone. We aren’t catholic, but she started doing it once I hit thirteen. Something about the demons of puberty. “Why don’t I come out to help you?”
“No!” I shout, my heart jumping out of my throat. If she came here, if shesawthem kissing or touching me my life, what little I do have, would be over. “I’m…worried, that the plane would frazzle your nerves.”
“It would,” my mom agrees.
“So I’ve got everything under control here, and I’ll see you again in July. Okay?”
My mom goes silent for a moment. “You need to call me. Every day.”
I did this morning before opening the store. She talked at me for an hour. “I will, mom. I promise.”
“All right. Who’s the best mother in the world?”
“You are,” I say and the line drops dead. Lowering my phone, I grimace at the battery at ten percent. If it ever ran out of juice while I was talking to her, she would be at that door in under four hours.
A loud plop is followed by Roq shouting, “Cheddy, I told you to wait!” I peer over my shoulder to find all four men staring in shock at the fondue pot. “It seems we’ll be having cheese chocolate for dessert.”
“I’m…” I fiddle with my phone and take a deep breath. “I’m tired. It was a long day. Hopefully, tomorrow goes better.”
“Do you wish for me to help you to your chambers?” Cam asks popping to his feet.
“Not so fast, Lothario.” Roq grabs his collar and yanks him back. “Go on and rest. We’ll clean this place and restock it for you. All of us will.”
Cam sighs, but shrugs and steps back in line.
I gather up my purse and try to bury my phone as deep as it will go. Then I pause and look up at them all. “There was something else I was wondering. Do you think…I could learn how to make cheese? From you?”
Roq’s lips open and I launch into a spiel to answer every question he didn’t ask. “It’s just, I’m tripping up on the cards, and I thought if I knew. Like hands-on, how the cheeses are made and different, then I could. I could…?”
“I’m not certain if that’s a smart idea. You’re exhausted after the day, and we can only craft at night.”
He makes sense. I should have known that. Duh. I’m dragging ass and if I stay up all night with them, then I’ll be useless the next day. We’ll never sell any cheese. They’d be stuck with me.
“Okay,” I say and shuffle for the door. “I’ll um, see you tomorrow. Night, I mean.” Taking a deep breath, I press my hands to the glass.
“Sunday.”
Pausing, I look over my shoulder at Roq in confusion.
“The shop will be closed on Monday, so it would be best if we trained you on Sunday night. Is that all right?”
The dumbest smile rises on my cheeks, but I can’t stop it. “Yes.” I glance from the stoney Roq to the leering Cam, the excited Brie, and Cheddy whose entire forearm is covered in chocolate. “I can’t wait.”
CHAPTER NINETEEN
Gorgeous Gorgonzola
SUNDAY NIGHT!
Be cool. Don’t let them all think I’ve been watching the clock the whole day in anticipation of sundown. I was able to close at two and tried to get in as much sleep as I could via a quick nap. That worked until five, leaving me sitting in my apartment trying to do anything but wait until seven.
Juggling an eggplant lasagna in one hand and the keys in the other, I manage to unlock the front door without falling face-first into dinner. Though, something tells me not even bits of dirt and leaves in the lasagna would slow Cheddy down. Laughing at the image of sauce dripping down his square chin, I push open the door.
“Excuse me, Dearie?”
