“I think you might be confusing me with a fairy godmother. All chefs need time to prep.”
“Well, well, well,” says June, sounding like a middle-school bully who’s cornering me on the playground. She’s going to steal my lunch. “Who knew catering a rehearsal dinner would be too hard for Mr. Bigshot?” She has her hands on her hips and is smirking at me. It’s cute.
It also gives me a new idea.
I smile and take a step toward June, locking eyes with her but addressing Stacy. “Tell you what, Stacy. I’ll do it.”
June narrows her eyes, but Stacy squeals. “Really?! Thank you, Ryan! You’re the b—”
“But only if June lets me use her kitchen and assists me.”
If there was a record playing right now, it would grind to a screeching halt. “What? No,” says June, her hands falling off her hips. “I’m not helping you.” She looks to Stacy. “I’m not helping him.”
I shrug and turn to face Stacy. “Sorry, I tried. I can’t do it without help, though. It’s too much work by myself.”
Stacy’s face is so forlorn it’s laughable. She turns big round puppy eyes to June. “Juuuunie—”
June flashes her a no-nonsense look and takes one big step away. “No, don’t start that.”
Stacy rushes up to her and drops down to her knees, clasping June’s hand inside her own. “My darling, June. Love of my life. Soul sister from another mister. Please help Ryan! I’ll never ask you for anything again.”
“I doubt that.”
“I’ll give you my house.”
“You’re renting.”
“My kidney.”
“Don’t need it.”
“My car.”
“It’s older than mine.”
Stacy sighs and stands up. “Fine. I didn’t want to have to do this, but…”
June’s eyes go round, apparently understanding what Stacy is threatening. “You wouldn’t.”
Stacy stands and faces me with a determined look. “Ryan, have I ever told you about the time that June peed—”
“Stop! Fine, I’ll do it, sheesh.”
A smug smile spreads over Stacy’s mouth as she whips around to throw her arms around June’s neck. “Love you!” She then kisses June’s cheek so hard that it makes June’s lips smoosh to one side.
“Well, I like you a little less now.” June smooths down her shirt, and I try not to let my eyes linger on her curves.
Stacy laughs. “I’m your favorite person in the world. Don’t deny it.”
June just groans.
“What about me?” I say. “No kisses for the man who will actually be doing the catering?”
Stacy winks at me. “We’ll just call it even for when you tried to break me and Logan up in seventh grade.”
Savage. I can respect it.
Stacy pulls her phone out of her pocket and starts dialing as she walks toward the door. “Meet me at the car, June. I’m calling Logan to tell him the good news.”
I turn my gaze to June and find her already studying me. Her full, bubblegum lips are slightly pinched together, and I can’t tell what’s going through her mind. She looks oddly thoughtful—contemplative.
“What are you thinking about right now?” I ask her.
“Which kitchen utensil I’ll use to kill you.”
My stomach clenches when I see a hint of a smile in the corner of her mouth. She turns away, trying to keep me from seeing it, but it doesn’t matter. I know it’s there, and that’s worth something.
Chapter 8 Ryan
“Still no girlfriend back in Chicago?” Logan asks after the bartender slides our beers in front of us.
I shake my head and take a drink. “No time.”
He laughs. “I don’t think that’s actually the problem.”
We’ve been friends since birth because our moms were longtime best friends. And even after choosing different careers, going to schools in different countries, and then settling down in different states, we’re still just as close today as we were as kids.
Logan has walked with me through every major event in my life. My buzz cut in eighth grade, the first time I made out with a girl freshman year (he wasn’t there, but you better believe I recounted it to him in such detail that he felt like he was the one who kissed Tory Hayes), and also when my mom died junior year. I don’t like thinking back to that time—even after all these years, it hurts. My dad passed when I was five, so I never really had any memories of him, but my mom and I were more like friends than mother and son. And no one can prepare for a car accident.
