Page 15 of Falling For Us Again

“Please. You’ve been distracted all day. I thought you went for a drive to clear your head.”

Maggie knows me too well; I can’t hide anything from her for long.

“Well,” I shove my hands into my pockets, “I did get an offer from Kam Powell to be the head chef at his new restaurant.”

She doesn’t look up, adding another stroke to the latte. “Does he know you’re not interested? Why would that bother you? You love this small-town life more than anyone I know.”

I don’t respond, and silence hangs between us for a moment. Then Maggie looks up, her eyes wide.

“Wait, are you… actually considering it?”

I walk to the kitchen, grab an apple, and return. Tossing it in the air, I catch it and take a bite while Maggie watches me closely.

“I’m not sure,” I admit, “but I’ve read his email three times. It’s a solid opportunity with great benefits.”

Maggie puts her hands on her hips, scrutinizing me. “You are considering it.”

“I mean, it’s a great opportunity, but I’m not sure if I’m seriously considering it—just taking a look.”

“You’ve got a great life here.”

“I know.”

“A great one. Everyone loves you here.”

I chuckle. “Aww, do you love me, Maggie?”

She rolls her eyes.

“Besides, you haven’t cooked in years.”

I sigh and look away. I’ve never told anyone why I quit being a chef. Not even my mom, who eventually stopped asking.

“They say it’s like riding a bike.”

“I just don’t want you to embarrass yourself and come crawling back to Hartlow.”

I smile. “You know you’ll take me back.”

“It’s her, isn’t it?”

“Who?” I ask with a frown. I glance at Maggie, but she’s turned away, taking some pictures of the latte.

“Jenna.”

A mirthless laugh escapes me. “What does she have to do with anything?”

“She’s the woman you never got over,” Maggie says, turning to lean against the counter. There’s a question and an accusation in her eyes.

“You know I’m over her. I’ve dated plenty of women since then. I just broke up with my girlfriend of three years.”

“And why did you two break up? Cindy has her issues, but you were never going to marry her. I’m glad she realized you were stringing her along. You never saw a future with her.”

Maggie’s words sting, but maybe she’s right. I liked Cindy well enough, but I never saw myself fully committing. When she asked for a breakup five months ago, I didn’t fight it.

She called me an ahole for not trying to save the relationship, but I figured if she wasn’t happy, what was the point? She left for a new job in Florida a month later, and I was relieved.

“She broke up with me, Mags. Why am I the one getting blamed?”

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