Page 15 of Why Not Both?

“Did you say Lis?” she asks.

“Yes, I—”

“Lis? What are you doing here?”

I turn away from Victoria and my heart stops beating.

Spencer is there on the other side of the conference room with two other people. I can’t see them as my vision narrows to the man I spent all night with on Saturday. My face grows hot as we stare at each other.

“Lis is our new head chef,” Victoria says into the growing silence.

I can’t tear my gaze away from Spencer to look at her. I realize I’m shaking as the dots start connecting in my fried brain. I was scheduled to meet with the top staff at Blue Vista today. The owner, the event coordinator, the acquisitions coordinator, and the staff coordinator. Victoria and three other people.

I wrench my gaze away from him to look at my new boss. Then back at him. I swallow, terrified of what she knows. He said his best friend’s name was Vic. That she was his roommate as well. That he was going to text her to make sure she wasn’t coming home early.

“Give us a few minutes?” Spencer says and everyone leaves the room until it’s just me and him.

“Do they know?” I whisper.

He grimaces as he stands and comes around the table to me, leaning against the edge of it.

“They do. Derek and Adalie were at the bar with me. They saw us together. And Vic is my roommate.” He scratches the back of his neck. “I may have mentioned you once or twice. But I swear it was because I thought I was going to call you and take you out again. Not because I was bragging or anything. I really like you, Lis.”

My heart is breaking. Because he really likes me. And I really like him. And we had so much fun together. And he’s a nerd, just like me. And he thinks I’m beautiful. And—

“We can’t see each other again,” I say. The words feel like claws on my soul. “Not romantically, I mean.”

“Lis,” he says, and I can hear the protest, so I stop him before he can say more.

“No, Spencer. I can’t.” I bite my lip, searching for a way to explain. “I’m head chef here. Do you know how many female head chefs and executive chefs there are in Vancouver?”

“I’m going to guess by your question the answer is not many.”

“No. This is an unbelievable opportunity for me. Something I’ve been dreaming about for years. I can’t do anything to mess it up.”

“Being with me won’t mess it up.”

“Maybe that’s true. But what if we get together and then it doesn’t work out? What if we break up and it’s weird and we can’t stand each other anymore? Victoria is your best friend. You think she’ll choose me over you?”

“Vic. Her friends call her Vic.”

I smile sadly. “I’m not her friend, Spencer. I’m her employee.”

He straightens, catching my hand in his. “But what if it does work out? What if it doesn’t end? What if we have the greatest love story ever told?”

My heart is pounding in my chest because I want to. God knows I want to try. I want to see where this could go. But after last time, I just can’t risk it.

I shake my head. “I sorry, Spencer. We had one night together and one date. And they were amazing. But I can’t.”

He stares down at me for a long time. Then he lets go of my hand to cup the back of my neck. My eyes close at his touch and he leans down, pressing a gentle kiss to my lips. A kiss that says goodbye. My heart shatters into a million pieces at the thought that I’ll never get to kiss him again.

He pulls away.

“Okay. We’ll do it your way. But for the record, I think you’re wrong.”

He lets me go and my whole body feels frozen. He leaves the conference room to call the others back and as the space between us grows, the colder I get.

Chapter 6

---