“Me too!” Molly agreed.
“You’re in charge of the pastries,” Kaya told her. “You’ll probably be able to freeze everything we don’t eat and bring it over.”
Wyatt grabbed a third donut. “We probably have enough here for the next… thirty to forty brunches.”
Molly threw a donut hole at him, but he ducked and caught it in his mouth. “Not if we keep inviting you, Wyatt. You’re like the donut version of Cookie Monster.”
Ezra bounded down the stairs and joined us. “Stop giving Molly a hard time,” he ordered, wrapping his arms around her immediately. “She orchestrated this all by herself. I’m proud of her.”
And then he kissed her on the top of her head, painting them as the most perfect couple of all time.
My stomach dropped further, like it had been trapped in a faulty elevator shaft right before it plummeted eighty stories to its death.
She looked up at him, gazing at my brother like he had hung the stars in the sky. “I told you when you first met me that ordering takeout was one of my top life skills.”
He nudged her nose with his. “That you did.”
Moved by the romance in the room, Kaya leaned on Wyatt. He wrapped his arm around her, his hand still clutching a half-eaten donut.
Good thing I hadn’t eaten anything yet. Or I would have puked it up all over.
Ugh, what was it about couples that made me simultaneously want to be in one and swear on all that was holy that I would never be ooey gooey like these mushy love birds?
Thankfully, there was a knock on the door, and I didn’t have to dry-heave my loneliness all over Ezra’s kitchen floor.
“I’ll get it!” I moved before anyone could talk me out of it. Conversation continued in the kitchen, but I tuned it out, assuming they were all declaring their undying love for each other and blah, blah, blah.
I ripped open the door. Vann stood on the other side. The temperature instantly dropped, and goosebumps rose all over my arms.
We stood there for a prolonged moment, time and space and all the universe ceasing to exist as we tried to figure out what to do next.
“Brunch?” he eventually said, holding up a netted bag of Clementine’s.
He hadn’t shaved this morning. There was stubble roughing up his usually smooth jawline. And he had ditched his preppy look for a navy-blue Cycle Life t-shirt, a pair of gray sweatpants and a loose stocking cap. God, it was unfair how sexy he looked.
And this should not be a sexy look, by the way. I had only ever been exposed to the buttoned-up, I-have-a-trust-fund-and-private-plane gentleman attire. And because those were the kind of men I had previously dated, they were the only ones I had experience with. I imagined a man that could take me to a five-star dinner and be able to afford the tip. I thought I wanted the nice car and country club membership and standing golf outings with his college buddies.
Vann, like this, was the opposite of everything I knew about men.
And yet…
I licked dry lips and tried to keep my breathing steady. “This way.” I gestured toward the kitchen.
He stepped inside the door but didn’t move beyond the entryway. “I didn’t know you were going to be here,” he confessed in a low murmur.
I leaned in, accidentally inhaling his freshly showered smell. “I did know you were going to be here,” I whispered. All I could smell now was crisp soap, men’s deodorant, and citrus. It had completely stolen my ability to lie.
Or think clearly.
He flinched, my words sparking curiosity. “Thought we were going separate directions, Baptiste. But you keep finding ways to run into me.”
Some of my senses came back at his accusation. I stood straighter, realizing I had been totally crowding him. “The gym was an accident.” It was an accident. “And it wasn’t like I could tell Ezra no when he invited me to brunch. Although, be on guard, Molly’s trying to set us up.”
Something flashed across his face, but it happened so fast, I couldn’t grab the emotion and put a name to it. “Seems about right. I think we’re the only single people she knows.”
“We’ll just have to make it clear we’re not interested in each other,” I told him. “So, she doesn’t keep trying.”
Leaning in, his chest bumped my shoulder and it was all I could do to remain completely still. Lest I do something ridiculous like shiver. Or swoon. Or tackle him to the ground and start dry-humping him. “You’re not interested in me,” he murmured, quietly enough that the kitchen couples couldn’t hear him. “If I remember correctly. I was totally up for a more memorable round two.”
The devil was all over his mischievous face when he backed away, a snarky challenge sparking in his eyes.
My cheeks flamed red, embarrassment burned like a wildfire in my blood. “Were you now?”
“You’re the one that put on the brakes, Dillon. Not me.”
I gaped at him as he pranced into the kitchen all high and mighty.
Okay, he didn’t prance.
But he might as well have. Cocky bastard.
Everyone cheered for Vann’s oranges, like he’d managed something spectacular. But hello? I brought the cheap champagne.
I filled my plate with quiche and a Bavarian crème and a kruller—because I wanted to make Molly feel better for buying all these pastries, obvi.
And fine, I grabbed an orange too. But that was more to ward off the very real and present threat of scurvy than because I wanted to make Vann feel like people actually wanted what he brought.
We gathered around Ezra’s table, our plates laden with good food and carbs and love. Mimosas and hot mugs of coffee were passed around and great conversation commenced.
I could tell Vann was a little nervous, except around Molly. These weren’t his regular people apparently. And we were a little short-staffed without Vera and Killian present.
He’d ended up in the seat directly across from me and so every once in a while, I would catch his eye and we would look away quickly, pretending we didn’t notice each other.
What was I supposed to do with this guy?
He was right. I had put on the brakes. Immediately.
But now I wasn’t so sure that was the best idea. I was clearly attracted to him. I liked to flirt with him. I liked to look at him. I would like to know if I liked to do other things with him…
That same drunken image of his naked body over mine flashed in my head.
I shook my head and took a sip of coffee. “Dillon’s thinking about switching up the weekend at Bianca and doing brunch instead of supper.”
Everyone looked at me, eyebrows raised in surprise.
“Bianca needs a new approach,” I explained with a shrug. “What we’re doing right now isn’t working. I need to make some big changes. And fast.”
“When are you thinking of changing things up?” Kaya asked.
“Soon.” I looked at Molly. “I’d like to jumpstart the change with a social media campaign.”
She nodded excitedly. “Of course. I love the idea. It would be such a good location for breakfast. And all that natural light and white décor. That place was built for Saturday mornings on Instagram.”
I smiled at her praise. She wasn’t exactly the food expert in the group, but she was exactly my target market. Her enthusiasm was encouraging.
“That’s a good call, Dillon,” Wyatt put in. “It might be a hard adjustment for your staff though.”
“We’ve been talking about it quite a bit. I have some strategies we’re going to try. Worst case, I hire a few additional servers and line cooks. It should be a pretty simple menu. I want uncomplicated elegance.”
“Casual French is how she pitched it to me,” Ezra added. Then shrugged, his expression melting into admiration. “The concept is impossible not to love. Hopefully execution is as easily embraced.”
I felt Vann’s stare all over my skin, making me hot and hyper aware of him and stupidly nervous. “Hopefully,” I said meekly.
“Thinking
like a real head chef now, huh?” Vann’s voice held this note of gloating that made me immediately furious.
And overly warm.
Leaning forward, I toyed with my empty champagne glass. “You know, since I am one.”
His smirk was unsurprising, but just as smug. “I’m impressed, Dillon.”
“That makes me feel so much better. Now that you’re impressed, Vann.”
He rested his elbows on the table, dipping his head so we were exactly eye level. “I assumed that was your goal. Impressing me.”
My jaw snapped shut, my teeth clacking together in frustration. I shot him a tight-lipped smile. He hid his grin behind a sip of coffee.
I narrowed my eyes at him. He opened his, all wide-eyed innocence.
The rest of the table watched us like a tennis match, their heads bouncing back and forth.
I turned to Ezra and smiled sweetly. “I guess I have you to thank.”
“For what?” he asked smoothly, trying to smother a laugh at my expense.
“For making me a real head chef.”
Ezra shrugged. “I don’t think you can credit me with any of what you’re doing at the restaurant. That’s all you.”
I shoved a bite of abandoned donut in my mouth and tried to act normal. Between all the compliments and support and Vann’s teasing and gloating and just all-around presence, I was completely frazzled. If I was a bird all my feathers would be ruffled right now. All of them. Every last one.
“There was a time I would have thought this was impossible,” Ezra continued. Fresh embarrassment descended like a tsunami. “Now here you are, telling me how you’re going to run my restaurant.”
I knew he meant well. I knew this was a moment of genuine love and affection coming from my older brother. But did it need to happen right now? With Vann here? And all these other people?
Of course, Vann didn’t take the polite, socially acceptable way out. Oh, no. He had to poke the hornet’s nest. “Why do you say that?”
Ezra had no embarrassment meter. I didn’t even think he knew how to feel embarrassed. There was not a gauge inside him warning him when to slow down or stop. He just plowed onward, ticking up quite the body count behind him.
Today was the first time I’d been considered a real-life casualty. But that didn’t make it easier.
“Because Dillon used to be wild. She couldn’t hold a job, let alone manage a restaurant.” His voice sobered, losing the humorous edge he’d had seconds ago. “Honestly, there was a time, I thought I was going to lose her.” I glared at him and he flinched, realizing he’d said too much. “But now look at you, sis.” His tone was peppy with renewed energy, hoping to cover for his unwanted trip down memory lane. “You pulled it together.”
“Thanks, Ez.” I only used his nickname to irritate the bejesus out of him. “But we don’t have to rehash any of that today. Or any day. Or ever…”
Vann’s ears perked up like a hunting dog on the scent. “Must have been a pretty scary time though. I mean, especially as her brother.”
Ezra nodded.
I was going to murder Vann.
“It killed me when Vera was with Derrek the Dick,” Vann spit out. “I felt totally helpless.”
I noticed Molly throwing shade from down the line and was thankful for my one ally. Even if she didn’t say anything. Ezra didn’t even notice Vann’s backhanded tactics.
“Sisters, man,” Ezra sighed.
“All right, I think that’s enough of the big brother support group,” I said, standing up to clear plates. It was officially time to get the hell out of dodge. “You two can meet next month. Ezra, it’s your turn to supply the shitty lemonade.”
Vann looked straight at me and I swear there was a twinkle in his gray, gray eyes. “Whoa, I’m sorry if I offended you. I can just relate to Ezra. That’s all I was saying. I know what it’s like to care for somebody, watching them struggle and not be able to do anything about it.”
“Especially when they don’t want help,” Ezra added.
“I didn’t need help,” I argued, hating that we were having this discussion even after I’d tried so hard to get away from it. “I was fine.”
“Now you’re fine,” Ezra called after me as I stomped toward the kitchen. “You know what you were like six years ago. You know that wasn’t fine. Not even fucking close.”
There was a weighted silence as his words hung in the air, effectively piquing everyone’s curiosity and ripping me wide open.
I heard Molly whisper a forced, “Ezra, drop it.” But other than that, nobody spoke for a long time.
Shoving my dishes beneath the faucet and letting them clatter in the sink, I wrenched the faucet on and wished Ezra’s apartment had more privacy.
Taking a deep breath, I knew I had to say something. I couldn’t just let the morning end like this. Besides, it was six years ago.
Six whole years.
I should be better at this by now.
Why wasn’t I better at this?
Popping back into the open dining room, I plastered on a fake smile and looked at my friends sitting in tense silence.
“I used to be wild,” I told them in an obvious sort of way. “I know that surprises all of you, but I lived out my college years… well, like I was in college. I drank too much. I partied too much. I did a lot of things that were too much. But I’m better now. I grew out of it. There’s nothing to worry about anymore.”
It was clear that Ezra didn’t fully believe my quick attitude change and pacifying smile, but after the hell I’d put him through during my early-twenties, I knew he might never truly trust that I was all the way okay ever again.
And he didn’t even know the worst of it.
Kaya waved me off. “I had no idea you liked to drink. I guess we can finally be best friends. I was waiting for you to become a borderline alcoholic. And now I have the final piece of the puzzle.”
I smiled at her candidness, feeling marginally better.
Molly laughed too and said, “The first time I ever met Dillon, she told me ‘parties were like her thing.’ It’s important to know your strengths.”
I smiled a little wider, but the pressure in my chest was still suffocating. Sweat broke out on the back of my neck and I felt unwanted hands crawl up my legs.
“I’m going to go,” I nearly shouted, desperate for some peace and quiet. “Thanks for brunch, Molls. I’ll, uh, call you later.” I took three steps backward. “You too, Kaya. Bye, Wyatt. Ezra.” I reluctantly looked at the big old elephant in the room and briefly met his eyes before grabbing my purse off a stool and pretending to search for my keys. “Vann. Bye, everyone.”
I escaped their calls of goodbye and practically sprinted from the building. I wasn’t usually this jumpy when someone brought up my past, but the combined presence of Ezra and Vann made shit too real for ten a.m.
“Dillon!”
Apparently, my quick exit, Wile E. Coyote style, wasn’t enough of a message for Vann. I glanced over my shoulder to find him chasing after me. And damn, his eyebrows were scrunched together. He had something to say too.
I waved at him, my keys gripped tightly in my hands. “Oh, hey. Sorry, I need to get to work. We haven’t switched over to brunch yet, so I have a lot of prep that still has to happen.”
He jogged faster. “Hey, stop for a minute.”
My door unlocked and if I wouldn’t have hesitated like a fool, I could have totally thrown my body across the driver’s seat and locked the doors before he caught up to me.
But he was running. In that t-shirt and sweatpants. And damn it, I got distracted.
His fingers wrapped around the top of my doorframe, holding it open. “Hey, would you slow down?”
I shook my head. No. No, I would not. “I really have to go.”
“So, you’re like a runner?”
I blinked at him, trying to make sense of his words. “Usually, I’m a yoga-er. But I’ve been looking to get a little more in shape. Hence the spin class.”
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He smiled. It was blinding in the morning light. Breathtaking. Nerve-racking. Life changing. “That’s not what I meant. You run. You have one-night stands because you don’t want commitment.”
I frowned. He was not going to figure me out this morning. Especially when he was only working with partial information. Not after the shit he’d just put me through upstairs. “No, I don’t have time for commitment. I work every night. And all day. And basically, all of the minutes of my life. I have time for one-night stands.” Those violent hands started to inch up over my bare legs again. I kicked one foot out, shaking my leg just to get the haunting sensation to stop. “And I just don’t… I don’t have one-night stands either. Like ever.” Remembering Ezra’s tell-all novel upstairs, I was forced to amend. “Anymore anyway. Once upon a time maybe, but that stopped.”
“Six years ago?”
“Excuse me?”
His look gentled, but his smile warmed, and I hated that it made me want to open up to him. Nobody should have that kind of power in a smile. “Listen, I feel like I misjudged you.”
“You’ve actually misjudged me since you met me.”
He ignored my snark. “And I’d like to start over. Or try again. Or… I don’t know what I want to do. But I feel bad for what just happened.”
He felt sorry for me is what he meant. “I grew up, Vann. That’s all that happened. I lived this kind of wild, party girl life and then I woke up one day and I realized I couldn’t keep living my life like that. I couldn’t keep… going with zero responsibility and zero commitment and zero anything to live for. I needed goals and a purpose and…” I ran a hand over my hair, trying to smooth it down as the wind ruffled it. “My dad had just died. I didn’t know how to cope. And my mom was a mess. And I never had any boundaries growing up. So I just… I did things I’m not proud of. But that phase of my life is over now. And even if Ezra doesn’t believe me, I’ve spent the last six years trying to prove it to him.”
His smile disappeared. Along with that warm and melty look in his eyes. Now he just looked concerned. Damn, I really messed this up.
The Something about Her: Opposites Attract book four Page 21