Page 88 of Go Cook Yourself

“And you can’t go into business with your old partner because they ruined you.”

He’s never really explained that. Over the last weeks, I’ve considered that person might be Clive. If it was, then why would Clive stop any restaurant from taking him on? And why would Flora still be so close to Garett?

His warmth gives me the hope that escapes him. “I wouldn’t do anything with that guy.” There’s an unexpected bitterness in Garett’s tone. “He double-crossed me and ruined my future as much as my parents did, maybe more. He was the one who took Cookie, and he was the one who stopped every restaurant in this town from employing me.”

I turn. His mouth is downturned, and his eyes have sunk. “So that wasn’t related to an ex-girlfriend then?”

“I’ve never had a girlfriend before…”

I turn one-eighty and straddle his legs. “Before what?”

I should be asking him about Clive, but this moment is significant for us.

Is he calling me his girlfriend? Emotions conflict, beating me with what he might mean, but he won’t meet my eyes.

“Just before.” He sighs again, and it breaks my heart. We both know there’s no future in this, yet that little light of hope guiding my actions since we became friends refuses to be extinguished. “Ruby, I’ve got something to tell you. Please don’t be mad at me.”

He still can’t meet my gaze. I tip my finger under his chin to lift his head. “I don’t know who hurt you, baby, but don’t be scared to tell me things.”

What’s between us is more than friendship and more than lovers, and yet the sadness of Jem catching us together still stops me from suggesting more.

“I’m leaving the cookery school,” Garett says. “On Christmas Day, I’ll leave the country and move to Ireland to run a restaurant.”

I pull my lower lip between my teeth, but overwhelm still fills my body.

“Is it because of me?” I hate how vulnerable I sound. I vowed not to let a man hurt me again. And yet, he’s only doing what I asked.

“Partly. I can’t be around you knowing we can’t be together, but I respect the reasons why. If I had a family like yours, I’d do everything to ensure they were happy.”

Tears spill out and roll down my cheeks.

Garett continues, “But it’s not only that. I want a future. I need to work in a restaurant kitchen again. I’ve loved every second of working in the cookery school—”

“Even when you found me with a knife cut on my first day?”

“Even then.” He chuckles as he thumbs my tears away like I did him in the hospital when we learnt he might get Cookie back. “I’ve especially loved every second I’ve spent with you, and I wouldn’t change that for the world, but I need to work somewhere I can build a future, create menus, and design the interior to make a place great. Our trip to the pub helped me decide to go.”

“I understand.” And I do, which makes me hate myself. “I want that for you.”

“And I won’t be leaving your family in the lurch. I’ve spoken to some people who can do one-off sessions, but they don’t need to. I know your sister originally mentioned you leaving the cookery school at Christmas, but with me gone, you could stay working there if you want to. Since your first week, you've proved that you could easily lead the cooking sessions. Watching you today was one of the highlights of my career.”

Tears are slipping down his cheeks now, and I repeat the action he used on me.

“You’ve got it all sorted.”

His body trembles. “Are you angry with me?”

“I’m not. I wish I were because that would make it easier to say goodbye. You’ll be gone in three days, and one of those is the competition.”

He nods his head, his eyes avoiding mine again.

“Can we just go to bed and cuddle tonight?” I ask. “I’m tired after some intense weeks and want to be held by you.”

“But isn’t that against the rules?” It’s a slight tease, which slows my tears as I shrug.

“Maybe. It will mean that we’re not just fuck buddies.”

“Were we ever?” He brushes my lips with his before lifting me in his arms and carrying me to bed.

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