Page 16 of Can't Kiss the Chef

Indy nods in agreement, and that’s all I need to really start going off.

“The big goof just sits next to me and acts like everything is fine,” Byron is the kind of athlete who doesn’t really look that athletic. To shoot you straight, he’s a little chubby. Picture Matthew Stafford during his last season at the University of Georgia. “Then he makes fun of me.”

I don’t feel the need to mention our drunk chat from the other night.

“That seems like something Byron would do,”

“He shouldn’t be acting normal. Everything is not normal between us.” I choke back the tears. “He just stopped calling, Ind. We were about to tell everyone about us. One summer. It took one summer apart for him to realize I’m not worth it.”

Before I can process what’s happening, Indy is swallowing me in a hug. I let myself sink into it.

“First of all, you are worth it, and I won’t allow you to talk about my best friend that way. And secondly, I’m sure there is more to the story than that. That doesn’t seem like something Byron would do.”

That’s the downfall of her knowing both of us so well. I feel like I can’t complain to her or Ivy without their personal relationships bleeding through into their responses.

Right as I’m about to answer Indy, my phone rings. I answer it without looking at who’s calling.

“Hey honey, how are you?”

“I’m good, Mom, just in the kitchen with Indy.”

“Ohh, that’s nice. I was just wondering if you had time to change your major.”

Hasn’t this just been a lovely day.

6

Byron

One thing I didn’t have on my bingo card for today was walking in on my roommates listening toBet On ItfromHigh School Musical 2.Marcus and Aaron are sitting on the couch serenading each other while Josiah has his phone out, recording the whole thing while suppressing a laugh.

“What’s going on here?”

Marcus looks me dead in the eyes, as serious as a person can be and asks me, “Have you not seen Coach’s email?”

I shake my head. I checked when I got to campus, but after that, I had to go right to my culinary class, where I was… distracted by my new partner.

“My phone is in my backpack. Does someone want to tell me why we are listening to this shit?”

“Coach is letting us pick goal songs this year,” Aaron informs me.

I start laughing, like on the verge of tears laughing and Josiah finally lets his loose. After I catch my breath, I look at my teammates. “Which one of you is considering this song?”

Marcus shyly raises his hand. The man who has an obsession with PDA, is the same one who can’t look me in the eye and tell me that this is the song he wants to use each time he scores a goal at home.

“Well, you know you have to use it now.”

“It’s fun, and it will have the whole arena singing along,” Aaron chimes in.

With that, Marcus is sold, and the pressure to pick my own perfect song sets in.

A few hours later, I’m prepping dinner– Philly cheesecakes, please don’t read too much into that– when Marcus comes into the kitchen with a hairdryer and some other wonky-looking hair tools.

“I have to take these over to the girls’ apartment, but I had a few beers while we were going through song choices. Can you drive me?”

The speed of my knife dramatically slows.

“How long are you staying? I promised Josiah I’d have dinner ready for him when he gets home from practice.”

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