Page 86 of A Sudden Romance

So not what Sabastian wanted to talk about now. He scratched his chin. “If I couldn’t win a competition, how am I supposed to go out there and be a chef? My destiny is in this house, and I can’t work for her parents and date her at the same time.”

“That’s not what I asked, but let me see if I get your point.” Leo held up one finger. “Iris told you that you can only be together when you become rich, yes?”

Ugh... Sabastian ground his teeth and snatched the sourdough bread. Perfect. Sour to match his mood. Again, Iris’s words echoed in his head.

“Tell me what kind of man I’m supposed to fall in love with? While you’re at it, why don’t you schedule a date for me?”

He ripped open the bag with so much vigor slices flew out and onto the counter.

“My question is...” Leo was persistent. Couldn’t he see that Sabastian had no answers? “Did. You. Call her?”

“Told her I was sorry.” Besides, she was ignoring his calls.

Leo’s shoulders shook as if he found this funny. “You mean the text you sent with two words? What did you type again?”

Sabastian ignored Leo while he picked up the bread slices and set them on the cutting board.

Leo exhaled. “From what I see, you’ll need to find a new job either way. How are you going to face her parents when they find out you broke their daughter’s heart? And what about her brothers?”

Leo was right, and Sabastian was already aware of his doom either way. Yet Iris Stone was everything to him. Further reason he’d had to submit his applications and résumés. Even if he could live with the embarrassment once her family found out what he did to Iris, how was he going to face her again?

He stood back and crossed his arms as Leo continued. “You love this girl, but you crushed her heart and yours. Let’s not forget you crushed my sister’s heart too.”

Sabastian winced. “Crushing hearts is what I’m good at apparently.”

“I don’t care about your heart right now.” Leo’s tone was light. “It’s a miracle Iris finally noticed what a good man you were. Don’t blow this up. Call her and apologize.”

Ducking his head, Sabastian gripped the back of his neck. How could he explain that calling her wouldn’t work when she wouldn’t answer his calls? But the more days he let go by without talking to her, the more he lost part of himself.

“I need to work out some things first.” Like getting a job in her city to show her what she meant to him and his willingness to fight for them. That was better than just saying sorry.

“Did you just hear a word I said?” Leo slapped the counter, apparently not trusting Sabastian’s unspoken plan. “I know how women think. In your case, now you really have to do something to show her you can’t live without her.”

He could even propose to her today, but he’d already pushed himself back to where things had begun, if not worse.

He needed to take one step at a time.

In the following days, as he waited to hear from the jobs, he called the management company in town that he used for the vendors at The Peak. He also reached out at church and requested to post a job listing for a qualified chef available to work part-time. He could trust the church, not only because they knew the Stone family but also because whoever browsed the church job listings had to have been a church member for two years.

During the last week in January, Sabastian got a call from one of the five-star hotels in Boston. It was his least favorite job, but the HR manager wanted a virtual interview.

If he was hired as a janitor, he could then wait for an opening for a chef. Either way, it would be easier to look for the job he wanted while closer to Iris.

That evening while having dinner with Kyle and Regina, Sabastian shared his plans to move to Boston. He also told them about his upcoming virtual interview.

Kyle’s eyes widened, his brows rose, and his fork clanged against the plate. “I’m assuming my daughter has had quite an impact on you.”

Regina beamed. “That’s a big change for you.”

He was yet to look at housing, and he told them so. The money he’d saved to start a restaurant would be an investment in his relationship. Rent was high in Boston, but investing in his heart was more important than throwing himself into a business he may have no idea how to manage.

Someday, if he got restaurant experience, he’d start his own business. He was at peace with that.

“I’ve been looking for my replacement.” Surrendering the only job he knew, in the one place that was home to him, stretched his nerves. But leaving these wonderful people behind? His throat closed over.

“Don’t worry, darling.” Regina reached for his hand as if sensing his struggle. “We knew you’d leave someday. But you’re family. I trust you’ll visit as often as you want.”

“Thank you.” He’d need to call Eric too.

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