Page 41 of You Chive Me Crazy
Betsy shared a kind smile. “What’s going on, darling? Did something happen between you and Lucas?”
I gave her a slight nod and felt my cheeks flush with something akin to embarrassment and couldn’t stop myself from venting to her about what he’d done. I told her how he had signed me up for the food truck dealership's newsletter without my knowledge or consent, and how I ended up buying a food truck from them because of it.
Betsy listened patiently, nodding along. “Ahh—you feel manipulated.”
I sat up in the chair. “Yes! That’s exactly how I feel.”
She seemed to mull it over. “I understand why you would feel that way, Zoe, but if you don’t think he was trying to help, why was he doing it?”
“Of course, it’s possible Lucas had good intentions, but the fact remains that he crossed a line by signing me up for something without my knowledge or consent. I wouldn’t be surprised if that were against the law!”
“When something happens that I disagree with, I always like to compare the positives to the negatives. Maybe this was meant to be!” Betsy smiled warmly. “You have your own business now, and you're doing something you love. And who knows? Maybe you wouldn't have found your passion for food trucks without Lucas's help.”
I thought about it, but didn’t respond.
The months after they had expelled me had been the most stressful time in my life. I had been cooking in average restaurants, preparing unimaginative dishes, using none of my own recipes. Nobody would take me seriously or hire me at the top restaurants since I didn’t have a culinary degree. I was reduced to more like a line cook than a chef.
That was when I got the email about the food trucks.
And the more I thought about it, the more it made sense to me. So, I came up with a plan to save and save and save to buy a food truck so I could have my own business.
“Think about all the other good things that have come from it,” Betsy added. “You're your own boss, you're making a living doing what you love, and you're providing delicious food to people. Lucas may have made a mistake in how he went about it, but the outcome is something to be grateful for. Don’t you think?”
I hated to admit it, but Betsy was right.
I never imagined my business would be so successful. My original goal was to just keep busy, make enough money to pay the bills while doing something that I loved. Now, I was on the verge of turning it into a national food truck franchise.
All because of Lucas.
I was so angry that he’d manipulated me I completely overlooked the fact that Lucas had done one of the biggest favors in the world for me. Owning a food truck hadn’t even been on my radar since I had been so obsessed with working in a top restaurant.
I absolutely loved what I did, so why did I feel so betrayed by Lucas?
“He must think I’m an idiot, the way I got mad at him and chewed him out,” I said, shaking my head in disgust at my behavior. “I’m pretty sure I have more than just a concussion. I have brain damage.”
Betsy laughed. “I seriously doubt that.”
“Yeah, that’s just a big excuse to justify my insane behavior. Lucas must be really confused and disappointed right now.”
“Oh, I don’t think that’s true. Relationships are not always easy, but you have a better chance of enduring the difficult times when you talk openly about things. That’s how Marty and I have survived forty-four years together. And we never take the other person for granted. That’s it. I could write a book about relationships, but it would only be one paragraph long. Mutual respect, honesty, gratitude, compromise, open communication, anger control, and smoldering kisses. That’s all you need!”
“I especially like that last one.” I laughed and gave Betsy a hug, rubbing the side of her arm. “I’m a fool and need to apologize to Lucas. Thanks so much for your kindness and advice.”
“It’s my pleasure to help, sweetie.”
I stood to leave, but then pointed to the framed, autographed picture of Kevin Costner with Betsy and Marty. “Kevin Costner stayed here?”
She smiled proudly and nodded. “Twice. He loved Big Bear Lake so much he ended up buying a property here. Speaking of smoldering kisses, have you ever seen the movieBull Durham?”
“I believe in long, slow, deep, soft, wet kisses that last three days,” I said, quoting Kevin’s famous line from the movie. “Why can’t a man say that to me?”
“I’d be happy to,” Damian said, sporting a cocky grin as he slithered closer, entering the library without either of us hearing him. Like the chaos maker he was.
“That’s quite all right,” I said, controlling my gag reflex and slipping past him before he tried to keep the conversation going.
I headed upstairs and entered the Love Shack, but before I could close the door behind me, I froze, my mouth falling open.
Lucas was at his dresser, pulling clothes out of the drawer, his hair still wet from a shower he had obviously taken while I was downstairs with Betsy.
