Page 131 of The Flirt

"She isn't," Chad replied, putting an arm around my shoulders. "She's in LA."

Anthony narrowed his eyes but didn't say anything.

"Really?" Beckett said. "But we've known about this evening for about four months."

"Darlings, let's focus on the fact that we're all here," Adele said.

Hmmm... I figured Zachary had learned the art of “smoothing things over” from his mom.

"It's true. Come on, let's head inside," Beckett said. "I'm determined to get the best spot. I’m in charge of taking pictures. Bella asked me."

Anthony stared at him. "She asked me too."

I tried to keep a poker face, but Beckett immediately caught on. "Scarlett? What's that? You're laughing at us."

"No, I'm not," I said.

"You look smug, so fess up. What is it?" Anthony asked.

"She said she asked both of you because in case one messes up, she'll have a backup."

"She expects one of us to mess up?" Beckett exclaimed. "Which one of us?"

"She didn't say," I replied earnestly.

Xander smiled. "That girl is going places, I'm telling you. She truly remembers everything I tell her."

"Which reminds me," Chad said, "we need to have a word later about the things you teach my daughter."

Xander cocked a brow but didn't reply.

"I wasn't joking before. Let's get inside," Beckett said.

As the group started to move toward the front door of the school, my phone rang. I immediately took it out. "Oh!" I exclaimed.

"What happened? What's wrong?" Chad asked.

We fell back as everyone else went inside. "It's my... Doesn't matter. I’ll call him back later."

But he insisted. “Who?”

"Mark, my previous boss."

"What the hell? Why does he keep bothering you?"

"This time I actually do know why. He sent me an offer this morning and probably wonders why I haven't replied."

He stilled. "An offer?"

I looked up at him. "Oh, that's right. I forgot to tell you. Seems Simon didn't work out in Seattle. So they kicked him to the curb and made me an offer."

"As chef?"

"Yes. I didn't want to reply this morning, though, so he wouldn’t think I didn't even consider his offer. But let's go inside and I will politely tell him later on that I have no interest in going back to Seattle."

Chad swallowed hard. "Not even for a chef position at a Michelin-starred restaurant?"

"I like the menu at Broussard's so much better. Besides," I said, coming closer, "I'd never want to be away from you and Bella."

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