Page 41 of Can't Kiss the Chef

“You just happened to be making my favorite thing when I texted you?”

He shrugs playfully. “What can I say? God loves some of us more than others.”

I’m stunned silent. You never know what’s going to come out of Byron’s mouth, but it’s always going to be entertaining.

I dig through my purse and try to find the bag of peppermints I always have in there. I hand a few to Byron to unwrap.

“You remember how to do this?”

“Yes, I remember how to feed a horse,” he scoffs like he wasn’t absolutely petrified of Cookie the first time I brought him here.

“Okay, city boy, you give those to Cookie, and I’ll get Charlotte’s horse ready for you to ride.”

Thirty minutes later both horses are tacked up and I guide Byron to the back of the property. I’ve spent countless hours exploring the acres of land that make up Blissful Stables and each time the property grows more beautiful.

The air is cool, and the leaves are starting to change, but the sun is bright overhead. I let my face bask in the sunlight, soaking up the time we have left to ride outside before winter comes and we have to use the arena to ride.

“Can I ask you a question?” I make sure I’m a little in front of Byron on the trail. I’m unsure if I’ll be able to have this conversation if I have to look him in the eye.

“Of course, Pips. You can ask me anything.”

“What happened between you and Dalton?”

The newly discarded leaves crunch blow us. It feels like a lifetime as I wait for his response. I eventually look back to make sure he is still behind me and can see the wheels turning in his head.

He takes his navy baseball cap off and runs his hands through his hair before putting it back on backward. He bites his lip and damn if that’s not the sexiest thing I’ve ever seen.

“I just want the truth, Byron.”

That was his golden ticket. A pass into the tilt-a-whirl, ready to give me whiplash.

“I’m sure he told you that we played against each other growing up. He went to a prestigious high school that, like the one percent of the one percent, goes to. They always belittled us.” The sentences come out choppy. It’s like he is a computer that is rebooting. “They hated it when we beat them because how dare they lose to the poor charity case kids from Brooklyn.” He stops and takes a deep breath. “He’s just an asshole, and I was so confused when he walked in with you because I didn’t even know you knew each other.”

“Maybe he’s changed? He’s been nothing but a gentleman to me.”

“Guys like him know how to turn on the charm Lola. They are used to getting what they want and will do anything to get it. I still play against Dalton twice a year, and I can tell you he hasn’t changed.”

“Well, I guess that’s for me to find out because I’m seeing him again next weekend.” I say, definitively

Byron mumbles something I can’t hear but I can read his lips.I’ll be here for you when he lets you down.

Funny how he thinks I’ll believe that. I was on my way to loving him when he let me down.

15

Byron

The trip to the barn with Lola wasn’t an uncomfortable one but rather a loaded one. She was waiting for me to force her to make decisions that she needed to make for herself. She was going to go on that date no matter what I told her, but I still told her the truth. I was honestly waiting for her to turn her back on me and never talk to me again.

I have always been a confident guy, but I don’t really have much experience with relationships.

I can’t believe I’m calling Jalen for relationship advice.

It doesn’t take much scrolling to find his contact. He tops my favorites and has since we were kids. Jalen’s my brother. Wemight not share the same parents but his family has been there for me in every way that counts.

I wait for the phone to ring, then place it against my water bottle so I can start my weekly dinner prep. With the season starting tomorrow and midterms coming up, I don’t want the guys to have to worry about what’s for dinner, and with Josiah heading to the playoffs, it’s a win-win for the whole house.

I’m pulling out all the ingredients I’m going to need when the call starts connecting. I look at the screen, just wanting to say a quick hi before finishing up what I’m doing. It’s not Jalen’s ugly mug I’m greeted with. It’s the two people who stepped up and helped my mom when she couldn’t rely on anyone else.

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