The Beauty of Us (Fusion #4)

“Tell it to Riley.” Mia points at me and rolls her eyes. “She’s the one who has her boyfriend barking orders at me and making me whip up extra food for cameras all day. The rest of you just had to do interviews. I have to cook for them.”

“I guess I didn’t consider that you’d have so much extra filming time,” I concede with a wince. “I’m sorry about that.”

“It’s fine. They’ll be gone in a week, and I can have my normal life back.”

Everyone’s quiet now, staring at me, and I look behind me as if there’s someone else standing there. “Why are you all staring at me?”

“Because they’ll be gone in a week,” Cami says gently. “And that means Trevor will be gone too.”

“I’m not thinking about it,” I reply. “Let’s look at the schedule for next week.”

“Let’s talk about Trevor leaving,” Mia says instead. “Honestly, honey, are you okay?”

No, I’m not fucking okay.

But rather than fall apart in a tantrum, I smile and nod.

“I’m going to be just fine. We’re not breaking up. Besides, we still have a week, so let’s not dwell on it yet. You can wipe my tears next week.”

“Shit,” Mia says with a scowl. “There are going to be tears. I’m not particularly good with tears.”

“And yet you’re so good at consoling us through them,” Addie says with a smile.

We spend the next twenty minutes talking about the schedule with the filming crew next week, and then I walk out of the office, headed toward the bar so I can check in with Kat.

“There you are!”

“Nana?” I spin around, shocked to see my nana sitting at a nearby table with Trevor. She’s wearing her pearls, which I know she only does when she’s on a fancy date.

I hurry over and kiss Nana on the cheek and sit in the empty seat next to her, across from Trevor, who’s holding my gaze with happy green eyes.

“What are you two up to?”

“Well, this handsome gentleman caller asked me to join him for lunch. You know I couldn’t pass up that offer.”

“Absolutely not,” I agree with a smile, and Trevor winks at me.

“I haven’t been in here since you expanded,” Nana says as she takes it all in. “It’s truly beautiful, Riley.”

“Thank you. Cami worked with a designer, so I can’t take any of the credit, but we are very proud of it.”

“Honey,” Nana says as she covers my hand with hers, “I hope it doesn’t bother you that I made a move on your man. I promise, it’s strictly platonic.”

I want to bust out laughing, and I can see that her eyes are full of humor as well, but I manage to keep a straight face, and shift my head side to side as if I’m giving it thought.

“I guess that lunch isn’t a big deal.”

“Exactly, dear, it’s only lunch. And I’m double his age.”

“Age is a state of mind,” Trevor murmurs, still watching me through his sexier-than-hell glasses. “And you’re a joy to be with, Miss Dolores. I’m happy that you could join me on my day off.”

I don’t even know what to say. He’s voluntarily hanging out with my nana on his day off.

I mean, who does that?

“I’ll let you get back to your date,” I say as I pat Nana’s hand. “I have a full day today.”

“Okay, dear.”

And just like that, I’ve been dismissed. My nana is hilarious. Trevor leans in to talk to her, listening intently as she tells him an animated story.

I walk into the bar and look back, as if I still don’t quite believe what I just saw.

“That’s pretty sweet,” Kat says as she joins me and wraps her arm around my shoulders. “Did you ask him to take her out today?”

“No.” I shake my head, not able to look away as Trevor laughs at something Nana says, and then starts to relay his own funny anecdote. “I had no idea he was going to bring her here, or hang out with her at all, actually.”

“Wow,” Kat says with a sigh. “It’s amazing how this guy is making an effort to connect with the person who means the most to you in the whole world.”

When she says it like that, it brings tears to my eyes.

“I’m falling in love with him,” I whisper, and brush a tear off my cheek. “Is that what you want me to say?”

“Not to me,” she says, and kisses my cheek. “But I think you should say something to him sooner or later.”

“Sooner or later,” I agree. “Come on, we have work to do.”

“I had another bartender quit, so we need to talk about placing another damn ad,” she says as I take a seat at the bar. “Why can’t I keep people? You guys don’t have problems with staff in the restaurant.”

“Maybe it’s harder with bartenders?” I ask. “Not to mention, there is a lot of information to remember here, with your extensive wine list. So not just anyone will do.”

“I know. Let’s rework the wording of the ad, and I’ll put some feelers out for a sommelier that might need a job as well.”

“That fancy word sounds like they’ll be expensive. Cami won’t be happy with that.”

“Well, I’m not happy about hiring people who don’t have any experience and they quit in less than a month. That’s a waste of money.”

“I agree. I’ve added it to my list.”

I scribble more notes in my planner. I can’t help but wonder how things are going with Trevor and Nana, but I resolve to let them be, and concentrate on work. It’s good that the camera crew isn’t here today; it gives us all a chance to catch up and regroup.

There will be time for Trevor later.



It’s been one hell of a day.

I feel like today was for me what that crappy Monday was for Trevor last week. The weekly-special ad in the newspaper was wrong, one of our waitstaff quit, and a customer threw up all over their table.

Why would someone go out to eat when they know they have the flu? I mean, anniversary or not, that’s just common sense.

So, rolling into the house at roughly eight in the evening isn’t a surprise at all. I called Trevor on the way home, and told him that I’d just go to bed tonight. I need some quiet, and although I love being with him, I also need to start getting used to not being with him.

As I was reminded earlier today, he leaves next week.

And that just makes me sad.

My little house is dark and silent as I walk inside and hang my coat up along with my handbag and toss my keys in the bowl.

My stomach growls.

“Fucking hell, I’m hungry.” I sigh and rub my forehead. I forgot to eat before I left. But I was just ready to get out of there. I love our business fiercely, but today was one of those days when I couldn’t get out of there fast enough.

I hope I still have some ice cream in the freezer. That’ll have to be good enough for dinner. I know I don’t have anything to cook, even if I had the energy for it, which I don’t.

I’m kind of pathetic.

I hurry back to the bedroom and change my clothes, feeling better in some loose yoga pants, no bra, and an old T-shirt. I throw my hair up in a high ponytail and wander out to the kitchen to go through the small pile of mail on the countertop.

Bill.

Credit-card offer.

Nordstorm flyer.

And that’s about it.

Well, that chore is done.

I lean back on the counter and look around. Is it always this quiet here? Am I cold? Maybe a little. I should turn up the heat.

I should eat something.

Why am I so . . . lost?