Page 92 of Can't Kiss the Chef

She turns her head away quickly, thinking every word she just said is the truth. I pull her into my chest before laying my chin on top of her head.

“I can tell you that my mom was excited that I asked her to come tonight. She told me she can’t wait to talk to you more.”

Lola stays silent.

My back goes rigid. Heat pulses through my body.

How did her parents shatter this woman’s belief in herself?

If you saw Lola out at Jasper’s you’d see the confident and outspoken girl who I was drawn to from the moment I met her, but even the most confident of us hide insecurities. It’s devastating that Lola’s parents perpetuated these beliefs.

“Okay Lo, I’ll play along with you. Say for some crazy reason my mom doesn’t like you. You know what I’d tell her?”

She shakes her head.

“I’d tell her how you went against your parents wishes to follow your dreams. You stood up for yourself even though you knew you’d be alone. To me that’s bravery.”

I rest my middle and forefinger under her chin and lift her face until her eyes meet mine.

“That sounds like a woman I’d want my daughter to look up to.”

I watch Lola stubbornly battle with a lone tear that wants to break free. When she loses the fight I use my thumb to brush away the lone tear.

“You are one of a kind, you know that Byron Andrews.” She uses my thigh to prop herself up and kisses me.

“I think you earned that dinner, want to order takeout from Jasper’s?”

I don’t get word out before my stomach grumbles, answering for me.

An hour later I’m padding down the stairs dressed as Fred from Scooby-Doo with Mia as my much more feisty Scooby. Lola will be our Daphne once she is done getting ready. She was battling with her orange wing and when I offered help she snapped at me.

She broke into laughter. “Why am I letting this wig get the best of me?”

“It’s been a crazy few weeks. I’ll give you some time alone and I’ll go set up the bar.”

I scoop up Mia and on my way back up I kiss Lola on the cheek.

“Remember you get to have fun on your birthday.”

“I’m expecting big things from you tonight Andrews.”

“Oh come midnight, it’s my birthday and that means you have to do all the work.”

Her laughter cuts the tension. On my way out I through her the discarded wig.

“Take your time, I got everything handled downstairs.”

Mia wiggles her way out of my arms once we get to the kitchen. She roams free while I put the beer into a cooler. I give the bar a once over to make sure that all the alcohol we bought is out. Satisfied with the spread I grab a chopping board from the cupboard and pull out some limes. I’m searching for my favorite knife when the bells hanging on the front door ring.

Mia is sitting in front of the door tail wagging.

“You have to go out before your big Halloween debut?” Gosh if I baby talk like this to my dog I’m concerned about what I’ll sound like when I have kids of my own.

I grab her leash from the coat rack. It’s barely secure on her collar before she leaps up and throws herself out the door. We take a lap around the house and Mia makes pit stops at all her favorite bathroom stops.

Mia prances towards the front door telling me she is ready to go back into the house. When we are about ten feet from the porch, I notice two figures. I’m not sure why they wouldn’t just themselves in. Anyone that would be here this early is a close friend and knows to just let themselves in.

“Just go in guys, Lola and the boys should be in there,” I yell, still not able to make out their faces.

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