Page 104 of The One I Love
She nods as she sets out the plates. “I’ve worked with Whitley on a bunch of weddings, including her own. Honestly? That’s how you guys got in here today with such short notice. Whitley called in a favor.”
“Interesting.”
Whitley knows this is fake. At least I think she does? At this point, I don’t know who fucking knows what. If she does, why would she use a favor for something that she knows isn’t real? But what if she doesn’t? If that’s the case, and she thought this was on the up-and-up, at some point I’d have to believe that Amelia would have told her not to bother.
Is Amelia changing her mind? Or at the least maybe reconsidering? Is that why I’m here? For the first time all day, I feel a little more at ease. Not as angry. Like there’s hope. I know I’m grasping at straws, but I’ll take anything right now.
“Okay, let’s get started with the appetizers.” Before Charlie can go on, I watch her cheerful demeanor turn to straight rage as she looks over my head toward the direction of the entrance. When I turn around, I see Simon standing there, leaning in the doorway, a smug look on his face.
“Hey, Bug.”
“What the hell are you doing here?”
My head is turning between Simon and Charlie like I’m watching a tennis match. How the hell do they know each other? At least I’m assuming they do. I’d assume that Simon hooked up with her—and then didn’t call her back. That’s theeasy guess. But he used a nickname for her. That is way too intimate for one of Simon’s one-night conquests.
“Out of all the catering companies in all of Nashville, I have to be at yours?”
He starts walking back to our table as Charlie continues to glare at him. Ten minutes ago, I’d have described her as having a very pleasant demeanor. Perky, even. But now I’m terrified.
“What are you doing here?”
He pats me on the back as he comes back to our table, but doesn’t sit down. “I’m the best man at this guy’s wedding. I’m here to taste the food. Make sure it doesn’t have poison in it.”
“He’s not my best man.”
“Don’t listen to him,” Simon says. “So what do we have here today?”
He makes a show of pulling out his chair and sitting back down. He even snaps the napkin in the air before setting it across his lap. With everything he does, Charlie’s face gets more and more red. I know they call me the Hulk, but she’s three seconds away from smashing Simon into this table.
“I don’t think it’s a good idea for you to be here.”
“Why not, Bug? Can’t concentrate with me around? It’s a problem for many.”
“Why are you the way you are?”
“We’ve been asking that question for years,” I offer in solidarity.
“Oh, stop. You love me,” he says to me. “Now, what are we eating? I just had a mean chicken piccata that it’s your job to beat.”
Charlie narrows her eyes at Simon before visibly taking a few deep breaths to calm herself. I sneak a glance to Simon, who’s sitting back in his chair, foot resting across his leg, like he doesn’t have a care in the world.
I don’t know how, but I’m going to bet my pension that he fucked this woman over. And bad.
“Shane, I think it would be best if we rescheduled. Maybe when you can come with your fiancée. Or I can have one of our servers bring you out the courses for you to choose from.”
I look over to Simon, who looks quite pleased with himself. “Can you just fucking stop it?”
“What? I’m not doing anything.”
“You’re existing.”
“Fine,” he says, standing up. “I’ll leave. Because I’m a gentleman. You remember that, Bug, don’t you?”
I know I’m a police officer, and if I witness a crime I should do something about it. But if Charlie were to kill Simon right here in front of me, I’d testify that I didn’t see a thing.
“Please leave, Simon.”
Simon doesn’t say anything, and for just a second, I feel like I see a hint of apology on his face. But as quickly as it appeared, it vanishes, and he walks out of the tasting room.
