Page 36 of The Problem with Dating

“What did she say?”

I took a deep breath.

I tried not to choke on my next inhale.

“She said, ‘‘Alejandro,cuando muera, no me busque en las iglesias. Encuéntrame entre las ollas y sartenes.’”

“Wow.” He nodded slowly. “Now, in English for your best friend to understand.”

I smirked. “‘Alejandro, When I die, don’t look for me within a church. Find me in the pots and pans.’”

Noah sat back in his chair, shook his head, and snickered lightly. “That sounds like Teresa.” He gestured toward the kitchen. “Is that why it’s a mess in there? Were you looking for her?”

“Yes.”

“Did you find her in there?”

“No,” I replied. “I only found burnt empanadas.”

He patted my shoulder. “It’s okay if you found grief, too, Alex.”

“I didn’t. I’m fine.”

“Henry called me this morning. He asked how you were doing.”

“And what did you tell him?”

“To piss off.”

That’s my best friend.

Loyalty was Noah’s middle name.

“Thanks,” I muttered, uncertain what to think about Henry searching for me after Teresa’s passing. Henry was one of the best chefs in the world. It just so happened that with that position, he also managed to be one of the worst humans I knew. I used to look up to him until he stole my restaurant concepts and started sleeping with Catie. Rumor had it that they were living happily ever after together. I always wondered about how cheaters could cheat with one another and then run off into the sunset, leaving others with the trauma of healing from the betrayal. It hurt to be cheated on. It hurt even more to know both parties involved in the scandal.

To say Henry’s and my relationship was broken beyond repair would’ve been an understatement.

“Not a problem,” he said and meant it.

“Can we talk about anything other than this?” I asked.

“Like the beautiful girl across the street?”

I rolled my eyes. Turned out, I didn’t want to talk at all. Not about Catie. Not about Henry.

And most definitely not about Yara Kingsley. Though, realistically, she was better than the first two options.

“Maybe we can sit in silence,” I grumbled.

Noah nodded and clasped his hand around his glass. “I’m fine with that, too.”

* * *

Noah helpedme clean up the whole kitchen before heading to Chicago later for the service.

After finishing some paperwork, I headed out the front door to lock up shop. After locking the door, I glanced to my left and saw that water bowl.

Son of a…

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