Page 79 of Go Cook Yourself

Ruby looks over again and smiles. I hope she doesn’t know we’re talking about her. She’s savvy as hell with an impressive sex toy collection that I haven’t forgotten about all day.

“I will tell her about Clive once she’s won the competition. She’ll walk it based on the things we’ve baked together over the last couple of weeks. That win will give her money for her sister, raise her profile, enable her to start her business, and bring attention to the cookery school. It will be the future everyone deserves.”

“But what if you’re also her future?”

At that point, Iain, Liz, and Ruby join us. “Thank you again, Garett, for all you did for the party. The food is incredible.” Iain pops one of my chicken, cranberry, and brie canapés into his mouth in one.

“Although I might send you a hospital bill if Iain eats anymore of these. He’s going to have a stomach ache all night,” Liz adds, winking.

I laugh with them.

“You’re wasted at our cookery school. You should be running your own restaurant,” Liz says.

Flora shifts awkwardly next to me.

“I love working there,” I reply. Ruby stares at me, her head cocked.

“But if you could work in a restaurant again, would you?”

Is Liz a psychic?

“Sorry, this might be a sore subject after what happened,” she adds when I fumble my words.

“What do you mean?” Ruby asks.

She can’t find out about Clive, but I can’t get my words out.

“Well, you know how Garett came to us.”

Before I can jump in, Iain explains, “His old partner told every restaurant in the area not to employ him. He had no job. When they tried the same with us, your mum told him to go cookhimself.” Iain lowers his voice. “Only your badass mother didn’t say cook.”

“Mum!” Ruby exclaims.

Liz shrugs, although a smile tips the corners of her mouth up. “He had it coming. How dare C—”

“Aren’t they cute?” Flora blasts, changing the subject as Liz is about to reveal Clive’s name. I owe Ruby’s parents more than I realised. I believed Clive hadn’t bothered calling them. “I suspect the party will wind up soon.”

Everyone looks to where Flora is staring. Kalen holds Amber close. He whispers in her ear and occasionally bends to talk to her belly.

“My daughter is very handsy with her husband,” Liz says. To Ruby, she adds, “You may prefer to stay at ours tonight, honey. Give them their space.”

“Mum, I’m all for sex positivity, but—” As if on cue, Amber’s hand slips to Kalen’s bum and squeezes it hard. “Okay, never mind. I’ll stay with you.”

“How about you stay at mine for a girl’s night?” Flora offers. “Garett could give you a lift there while I tidy up. He needs an early night.” She gives me and Rubes a wink when Iain and Liz aren’t looking.

But one of the rules is no visiting each other’s places. Although we’ve already broken the staying professional one.

“Good plan,” Ruby replies. “I’ll get my bag and pack everything I need.” She elongates the word everything, fixing me with her stare and raising her eyebrows twice quickly. The purple vibrator is going on a trip. “Meet you in the car.”

Before I can catch up and consider the problems with this plan, she’s said her goodbyes to everyone and rushed from the room.

???

Thank God my place is Ruby ready. Flora popped around this morning while I was at the cookery school to tidy up as if she’s planned this all along. Before going to Neil’s, I stayed up all night cooking for the party. I should be exhausted, but the prospect of another night with Ruby has my nerves buzzing.

My conscience takes a stay of execution, too. After what I’ve learnt tonight, I should be doing everything I can to keep the Cloud family happy, especially Rubes, but the mixture of seeing her smile at me all evening, those kisses at the cookery school, and then the promise of watching her use her vibrator demands that I take her to mine and reward her with all she wants from me.

Ruby runs to my apartment’s front door. My place isn’t good enough for her. She deserves a beautiful space with fairy lights everywhere and plush furnishings, not a bedsit where damp covers the room’s edges and a mysterious bad smell lingers in the bathroom.

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