Page 110 of Can't Kiss the Chef

“I have a lot of free time when you’re at practice.” I keep my tone cool. Even though these last couple of weeks have been anything but cool. I’ve threatened more people than I care to admit to keeping this event under wraps until I felt like Byron’s family in a space where I could ask them to come.

“We’ll be there.” Aerie says from the couch. He uses hand to push up from the couch, but he doesn’t have the strength to stand. I take the open seat next to him on the couch and offerhim a hug. This event will show him all the support his family will have.

Byron

I know my parents have been excited for this charity event Lola helped plan. Dad can’t stop talking about meeting my classmates from my culinary class who will be cooking for us all today. While Mom is excited to see all my teammates dressed as waiters to serve us at the event.

I don’t want to be here. I love that Lola cares enough to put this event on when she has finals and her competition to worry about. Since the engagement party there hasn’t been I day I wondered if I could rely on Lola she’s just been there.

“Oh my gosh Lola.” My mom’s hands shoot to cover her mouth. “This room looks gorgeous.” One of the banquet halls in The Riley Center is revamped to look like a Parisian hotel. My teammates are all dressed in tuxedos carrying trays of d’oeuvres.

“Thanks,” she turns her head to the side, her cheeks turning pink. She still doesn’t know how to accept a compliment and it’s a habit I’m desperately trying to break her of. “It wasn’t just me, a lot of people care about your son.”

Anxiety bubbles in my chest. I stuff my sweaty palms into the pockets of my black dress pants. I’m not worth this kind of effort. If it weren’t for the fact that this was for charity I wouldn’t be here right now.

“I’m going to go look at the silent action table.” I lean down and kiss Lola’s temple.

“I’ll come with you.”

“No, you show my parents around. I’ll be fine.”

I really just need the alone time alone. I’m in a room full of people I know. People I care about, but it’s all too much.

Lola aced this silent action. There are two tickets to an upcoming Rangers game. A photoshoot with a local photographer. My personal favorite is a tattoo session with Cora.

“What are you going to put your money on?” Marcus asks me while holding out a tray of mini lobster rolls.

“Nothing right now. I’m still in shock that this is happening.” I circle my hands over the room.

“It was killing Lola to keep this from you. She thought you guys might need a pick me up after the move.”

“If there is one thing I’ve learned since my dad’s diagnosis is that I don’t deserve Lola.”

Marcus’ eyes turn to slits as he sets down his tray. He grabs my shoulders so I’m facing him.

“Byron, you are everyone’s best friend. The person they can rely on. Just accept the fact that we all want to be here for you like you have always been there for us.”

Somewhere between my conversation with Marcus and the masses of people who’ve come up to apologize for my dad’s health the event came to an end before I could even place a bet.

“I just want to thank you all for coming.” Lola addresses the crowd. She looks beautiful in her black knee-length dress. Her hair is straightened falling right at her shoulders.

“We were able to raise ten thousand dollars for the Cancer Research Society tonight and none of that would have been possible without you guys.”

“See I told you, a lot of people care for you Byron.” Marcus says. I don’t know where he comes from, but a laugh bubbles out of me. I scan the room and realize that almost everyone I care about is in one place. If they aren’t here they donated an auctionitem. For the first time in weeks a genuine smile spreads across my face.

42

Byron

“It smells like shit in here.”

Lola strips her gaze from Cookie over to me standing a very safe fifteen yards away.

“Well that’s because there is shit in here,” she says, expecting me to understand how stables work. I’m from fucking Brooklyn not the Adorondacks.

“How the fuck am I supposed to know that, I’ve only ever been near creatures this big with you.”

“Maybe we can get a little closer?” She reaches for my hand that’s resting on the fence separating the horses living quarters from the rest of the barn. I hesitate, wanting to pull my handaway. Until she flashes me one of those big smiles that scrunches up her nose that she knows I can’t say no too.

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