She frowned. “I’m sorry, what? The last time you turned down a baked good was because you thought gluten was poisonous.”
“That BuzzFeed article made it sound like it was rat poison!” I contested.
She shook her head and took a sip of her latte. I’d arrived at the coffee shop earlier than her, hoping to sample a few of the pastries for my blog. Instead, I’d sat at a table by myself, sipping on my coffee and people-watching through the front windows.
“You’ve been back from Vegas for a week and you’ve uttered like four words since then.”
I furrowed my brows. “Not true.”
“Asking Siri to play James Blunt doesn’t count.”
I wasn’t sure she was right, but I didn’t have the energy to fight with her.
“I’m going to set you up with this guy I work with at Vogue.”
I scrunched my nose. “I’m not really into male models.”
“No, he works in the graphics department. He has a beard and glasses, and sometimes from the right angle, he looks like Bradley Cooper.”
I hummed. “The Hangover Bradley Cooper or Silver Linings Playbook Bradley Cooper?”
She seemed confused by my question. “Is there a difference?”
“Big time.”
She rolled the question around in her mind and then nodded. “I’d say Silver Linings Playbook Bradley.”
“So he’s cute but a little psycho?”
“Oh my god, forget it.”
I shrugged. Fine with me.
She gave me a few minutes, enough time to start people-watching out the window again before she decided to drop her next bomb on me. “Julian says Dean has been hard to work with lately.”
My stomach clenched at the mention of his name.
“Worse than usual,” she added.
I took a sip of my coffee and purposely stared out at the street above Jo’s shoulder.
“You wouldn’t know anything about that, would you?”
Fuck her prying.
I forced my gaze to her. “Jo, you and Julian are awesome. You both love each other and you never fight and you’re the cutest thing since sliced bread.”
“I don’t think that’s how the saying go—”
“I would love a relationship like you guys have, but unfortunately Dean and I will never be like that.”
“Why?”
I laughed. Where to begin?
“To start, I don’t think he and I have ever had a conversation without one of us yelling. He is rude and opinionated and a workaholic. He has the ego of Kayne West and I hate him.”
She ticked off the reasons on her fingers as I spoke. “That’s only six things! Pfft, you could totally work through that.”
I shook my head. “Add on the fact that he has yet to call or text me since we got back from Vegas.”
She frowned. “Have you tried to reach out to him?”
I shot her a ‘you’re insane’ glare.
She held up her hands in surrender. “Maybe you’re right. You two are so freaking stubborn.”
We were stubborn and I should have hated it, but I didn’t. I loved it. I craved a relationship with him. I could hardly wrap my head around what it would be like. Would Dean wake up and make us breakfast in the mornings? Would I pour him coffee? Never. He’d complain that I did it wrong and I’d probably end up pouring it out on his smug face. God, we’d end up pushing each other to the brink of insanity.
I knew that wasn’t healthy. I knew that a relationship shouldn’t be about two people trying to win the upper hand. Someone had to give. Right?
“What’s Vogue guy’s name?” I asked gently.
Jo peered at me from the top of her latte mug. “Carson.”
Carson. That’s not a bad name.
“Tell Carson I’m free next week if he wants to get like chicken nuggets or something.”
Her brows perked up. “Are you serious?”
I downed the rest of my coffee before answering. “I don’t kid about chicken nuggets.”
She grabbed my shoulders. “Not about the nuggets, you weirdo. I’m asking about the date!”
“Sure. Why not? After all, I am single.”
Chapter Thirty-Five
Dean
After Vegas, I went two weeks before scheduling another team meeting. I focused on my other restaurants and worked in the back office of Provisions, telling myself it was necessary. I sent out work for Hunter, Zoe, and Lily in formal group emails.
From: Dean Harper
To: Lily Black, Julian Lefray, Zoe Davis, Hunter Smith Subject: LVRW
Last week went well. I’m going to take the next few days to play catch-up with Provisions and Merchant. Zoe, I need you as floor manager for the next few nights—Provisions went to shit while we were gone.
Hunter, get in touch with Mark and have him start showing you listings for potential properties. We need to get the ball rolling. I want a list of properties by the end of the week.
D. Harper
From: Lily Black
To: Dean Harper
Subject: Re: LVRW
Just read your last email and you didn’t mention me. What would you like me to be working on? Menu? Drinks? Name? Branding?
-Lily
From: Dean Harper
To: Lily Black
Subject: Re: Re: LVRW
Start putting together a list of bloggers we need to invite to the grand opening.
D. Harper
From: Lily Black