Page 117 of All We Need

With beady eyes, she tuts at the tiny stain on my chef coat, while her husband eats his hamburger silently.

Poor guy.Sheprobably removed his voice box for talking back.

“Mrs.Stewart,Ipromise you that today’s catch of the day was, in fact, caught today.”Mypalms press together in front of me in a prayer.

I’m praying thatPatrickwill finally let me ban her.

She turns her nose up at theemptyplate in front of her. “Itdidn’t smell fresh.Anawful fishy odor was coming from it.”

Lord, give me strength.

I’d rather chop off my own hands than serve bad fish.Notto mention the health hazard it would cause.

I glance down at her plate. “Didit taste fishy?”

She balks. “Whatare you implying?”

“Nothing.”Mygrin stretches so wide my eyes water. “I’dbe happy to send out a complimentary blueberry cobbler.”

Her head jerks with a huff. “Isuppose that will suffice.I’dsuggest you throw out the rest of that trout before someone else orders it.”

Salmon.Shehad salmon.

“Absolutely.I’llget right on that.”Ilook between her and her husband.Blinktwice if you’re in danger.“Enjoythe rest of your evening.Seeyou next week.”

“We shall not be dining here ever again,” she shouts after me.

“We shall not miss you,”Igrumble for my ears only.

I poke my head into the kitchen. “Simon, two blueb?—”

“I know the drill.”Hechuckles and slides two desserts across the pass. “Thisisn’t my first rodeo.”

IfIdon’t laugh,I’llcry. “You’rea champ.Ineed to talk toJo.Yougot this?”

“Do what you gotta do.”Henods before tearing off a new ticket from the printer and reading it out.

The bar staff are zipping back and forth as they fulfill drink orders.Evenamid the dinner rush chaos, my brother andJohannatake advantage of any spare second to catch each other’s eye.

HereIam, incapable of holdingAly’sattention even if my life depended on it.

I spent all morning thinking about her, wondering how it went withMartin.Myphone battery suffered thanks to the amount of timesIrefreshed our text thread.Nothing.Ittook all my self-restraint not to call or message her.

Johanna spots me waiting at the end of the bar, and holds up a finger.Shestabs at the portable point-of-sale tablet, entering in an order, then heads my way.

She props her hands on her hips and exhales. “Tonightis a busy one.Howare you all doing in there?”

“Feeling the pressure.I’venever seen aJanuarylike it.”Itake in the full tables, not an empty seat in the house.

“You’re telling me.Maybeyou can convinceAlyto stop hiding in the office and to come and give us a hand.”

My head whips to the side. “Aly’shere?”

“Um, yeah.Shecame in about seven hours ago.”Suspicioncreases her brow. “Somethinggoing on between you two?”

“Your guess is as good as mine.”Iregret the words as soon as they leave my mouth. “Fuck, pretendIdidn’t say that.”

“Okay, let’s pretendIdidn’t tell you this.”Sheglances around, likeAlyis about to jump out. “Shelooked pretty pissed when she walked in.Quinntexted to say that she andMartinwere having coffee this morning at the bakery and it appeared…tense.I’mnot trying to gossip.Ijust thought you should know.”

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