Page 12 of All We Need

Excitement bubbles in my chest and my spine straightens as an idea takes root.

Nothing has worked so far, but if they saw a tiny change to the menu, maybe they’d finally show up.

I’m sick of being bossed around through a computer screen.

If they want to say no, they can come here and say it to my face.

I open up the menu saved on the desktop and, without second-guessing myself, delete three of our least popular items and replace them with dishesI’vebeen itching to try out.BluefinTunaTartare,GrilledSwordfish, and aSmokedTofuBurger.

A grin slowly stretches across my face like a scheming villain whenJohannaappears in the doorway.Oneglance at my expression and she flinches.

“That look is never good.Ew, stop waggling your eyebrows at me like that.”Shelaughs as she settles in the chair across from me.

I give her one last waggle then steeple my fingers under my chin. “Couldyou arrange a new menu tasting for next week?”

“A new menu tasting?”Herbrows rise in surprise. “Whathave you done?”

Johanna has worked in the industry longer than me, so she knows whatImean.

Leaning back,Ishrug. “SomethingIshould have done along time ago.Iunderstood why we couldn’t make menu changes when the restaurant was struggling, but we’re not anymore.Jo,”Igroan, tone pleading. “I’mtiredof cooking the same shit every day.It’sthree items.Oneof which we trialed on the specials in the spring.”

She shakes her head but can’t hide her smile.Jo’sknown me my whole life thanks to our dads being in business together; she’s like a second sister.Ieven dated her little sister,Harriet, until senior year of high school.Thereisn’t much she doesn’t know about me; including it’s futile trying to convince me once my mind is set.

“You’re gonna get in trouble.”Shesings like we’re in the playground.

“Yeah, well, whoever is behind these emails can come toMaineto give me a spanking.”

“Gross.Didn’tneed that visual today.”Shegrimaces before eyeing me skeptically. “Wait…is that why you’re doing this?Sothey show up?”

My mouth hangs open.Idon’t want to lie, butIcan’t exactly tell herI’mbored of my job.Plus, it’s not a total lie. “Don’ttellPat.”

“I’m not lying to him if he asks,Booth.”

I wave a hand in her direction. “Fine.Fine.”

She hesitates for a beat, studying me closely before she stands. “Leaveit with me.Ifthis comes back to bite us, you’re taking the blame.I’mnot in the mood to piss offMr.MoneybagswhenI’mbuttering them up for a new dishwasher.”

“Oh great.Thebar gets spoiled butIcan’t get a double oven to make my team’s life easier.”Ifold my arms with aharrumph.

“Maybe if you were nice to them, you’d get shiny new toys too.Emailme over the new menu andI’llprint them.”Sheheads toward the door but spins before she reaches it. “Ihope you know what you’re doing.”

“Nope.”Ikick my feet up on the desk and lean back. “Butthat’s why this is going to be so much fun.”

CHAPTER FOUR

alessandra

“You had one job.”

I glare at the internet router.

EveryThursday,Imeet with my team.Wego over upcoming proposals, reflect on recent investments, and check in with each other.Mostof them are based inNewYork, and this is the first meeting we’ve held virtually.

Everything was going fine until it wasn’t.Thebuffering symbol has been taunting me for an hour, and the service isn’t strong enough to connect to my hotspot.

Stupid small towns.

I was already behind thanks to moving last week andThanksgiving.

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