Page 42 of That First Flight

“Yes, I did.” Oliver pauses as he turns his head to look at me, adjusting the brim of his glasses. He has the most serious face I’ve ever seen on him before. “I wasn’t about to risk you or Mackenzie getting sick. I don’t think I’d be able to handle it. Food going in versus coming back up are two very different things.” He chuckles.

Thank god I’m sitting down, because that admission makes me feel weak in the knees.

“So, speaking of the restaurant. Do you go to Millie’s often?”

“Mollie’s? Yes,” he corrects me. “It’s a very well-known, high end restaurant in the city. It’s been on many blog posts featuring the top five restaurants that are must visits. They specialize in fine dining. You know the type of place where the servers wear all black and fancy aprons.”

“Wow.”That sounds like a dream for me.

I pick my book back up, trying to fight off the feelings he’s got me spiraling into.

“Are you going to tell me what’s with all the college culinary school books?”

I feel my cheeks heat up that he caught me. “I’m kind of a book nerd,” I admit.

“When I think of a book nerd, I think of my brother's wife who reads those romance novels.” He laughs. “Isn’t there a difference between reading books for pleasure and reading school books when you’re not in school?”

I nervously laugh. After I told him about Mackenzie, Oliver never once asked me for more information about her or my past. People would think he didn’t ask because doesn’t care, but I felt more relief than worry about him not caring because I’m so used to being criticized and the last thing I wanted was that from him.

Now’s as good a time as any.

“Well, I don’t immerse myself in a fictional world like most people do. The day I found out I was pregnant, I was sixteen years old and I knew with certainty that the track I had set for myself would never happen. A few years ago, I started aggressively reading culinary education books that were part of college curriculums to teach myself. I can’t afford to go to college, and besides, I would have no idea how it would even work with Mackenzie and being her sole provider. Being a single mom doesn’t really work with school. So I found these on some second hand thrift website for a fraction of the cost.”

My stomach does somersaults on repeat as I wait for the judgment to come. It always does…

“I like that. You’re goal-oriented and when things don’t work out, you take it upon yourself to fix it.”

Just like that, relief floods my entire body.

He’snotjudging me?

I’ve just become so accustomed to it that I didn’t expect this.

“The next best thing,” I continue. “Was studying on my own so that when I finally made it here, I would have learned so much along the way, things I can implement into work and be the best damn chef I can be.”

“From what I saw the other night and the way you moved around this kitchen, you were born for this, Macey. And I’m not just saying that because I like you.” Oliver smirks when he bumps my shoulder. “But you truly know the way around a kitchen, and you fascinate me.”

His words vibrate through my body. I’ve never had someone say these things to me. I’ve always wanted to believe I was born to be a chef, but I thought it was always just because my dreams pushed me to believe it.

Hearing it come from someone else… Correction, hearing it from Oliver, truly makes me feel like all of this could be possible.

“I just have one question, and I hope you’re not offended,” he says before I can respond.

“Shoot.”

“Why bartend when you want to work in the kitchen?”

I sigh. “I started doing that just to get into the industry back home in Montana. I wanted to make some cash and get my foot in the door with some experience to put on my resume. My thought at the time was that having a restaurant listed there, regardless of what position it was, might help me in the future.”

Oliver doesn’t respond, but keeps his eyes locked down on the spoon in his hand that he swirls between his fingers.

“One day…” I pause, averting my gaze from him while I try not to let my emotions get the best of me. I’ve never said this much out loud before. “One day, I’ll prove everyone wrong. One day, I’ll give my daughter the life she deserves.”

I refuse to look at him right now, but I can sense his stare boring into the side of my head.

“You’re an amazing mother. She’s really lucky to have you.”

I huff out an amused breath. “You don’t know methatwell.”

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