Page 80 of A Sudden Romance

Minutes later, Jameson announced, “Five more minutes!”

Great! How was Sabastian supposed to mash the potatoes and blend them into his mousse in five minutes? Not to forget the dessert required to be chilled for at least fifteen minutes in the freezer.

Sherry was now back at her station. She’d already plated her dessert, and all she’d needed were the chopped nuts.

Utilizing his remaining minutes, he scooped the mousse into three already-frosted glass bowls, skipping the mashed potatoes. Unless he won this round, Sherry was ahead of him in points.

After the judges sampled the desserts, Sherry’s mashed potato truffles earned her ten points, while Sabastian earned six. Not having mashed potatoes in the dessert cost him.

People cheered. Camera flashes and other bright lights all but made him dizzy.

He shook Sherry’s hand to congratulate her before Jameson handed her the pretend check. “What are you going to do with fifty thousand?”

“I want to go back to culinary school.”

How could he not be happy for her? In her forties, she wanted to go back to school to advance her career.

“Sabastian and Sherry...” Jameson called him to join Sherry, then asked if they’d like to join the executive chefs in Vegas. Sherry to compete and Sabastian to go as a standby in case one of the chefs dropped out.

“I’ll think about it,” he said, but it was an obvious no. He couldn’t put himself through this again. Disheartened, he forced himself through the final hour before they let him go. Grey had wanted to talk to him about the Vegas event. Then, with a promise to send him confirmation, Sabastian walked out of the kitchen at eight.

With his chef’s jacket in his duffle, he fought the dread threatening to drown him. It didn’t help that he was starving and exhausted and his feet hurt.

What a grueling experience. No wonder he’d never left the comfort of The Peak in pursuit of adventure. Today was one of the most stressful and emotional days of his life. Which might be a ridiculous statement for a man with a homeless background. It was only one day, after all. Still, no situation had ever brought out so many different emotions in unending succession.

Reality hit the moment he saw Iris peering over the people loitering in the lobby. Her smile, such contrast to his mood, should cheer him up. Instead, it punched him in the gut. A loser like him didn’t deserve her.

“Sabastian!” She pressed through people and threw her arms around him. “I’m so proud of you!”

“Thanks.” His chest constricted. He dropped his bag to his feet to pull her into his arms. She was so calming. What did she see in him? He buried his nose into her hair, inhaling her sweet scent as if needing it for the many months they’d be apart after she left tomorrow.

“You must be exhausted. Let’s go out and eat.” She slid her hand into the crook of his arm.

“Is it okay if I head to bed?”

“Oh. Okay.” Seeming to think about it, she squeezed his arm. “You want me to drive?”

“No.”

People hovered around the lobby, sipping drinks and chatting. He, on the other hand, could feel his night spiraling.

“Mom and Dad said congratulations!” she said as they passed the potted plants at the entrance.

“The winner usually deserves the congratulations.”

“There’s more to winning than coming in first place.” She let go of his arm to approach the car in the garage. She’d been his big supporter in this. Not only had she canceled her flight today but she’d also come with him yesterday. After touring the kitchen, they’d gone out to dinner. She’d been a good distraction for his nerves.

He started driving to their hotel, having no idea what to say except for dwelling on a future without Iris. He’d failed.

“Would you like to stop and pick up a meal to go?”

“No.”

“Are you going to be okay not coming in first place?”

“Besides revealing what I already knew about myself?” That he couldn’t make it the moment he left The Peak. Maybe he’d never be ready to leave.

He preferred to be driving back to The Peak so he could curl into the comfort of his bed and start figuring out ways to make a career change. Was he even supposed to be a chef? What would he do if he wasn’t a chef?

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