Page 25 of Promise Me Ever After
Darcy beamed. “Sounds like a great plan.”
My phone, face up on the table, vibrated with a message. Both mine and Darcy’s gaze went to the screen.
Alex: Stop keeping me hanging, Georgie. I have plans for you…
My sister’s head snapped up. “Is that Alex Kane?” Her mouth formed a little ‘O’ shape.
Embarrassed, I grabbed the phone and shoved it back into the pocket of my jeans. “Yeah. It’s something to do with work.”
“Doesn’t look like it to me.” Darcy fixed me with a knowing stare.
“Oh, for God’s sake! I might as well make the most of my drunken mistake and enjoy a decent meal.” The timer on the oven went off, signalling lunch was ready. “No offence.”
Darcy stood up. “None taken. I know I won’t offer you what he will.” She winked.
I put my head in my hands. What the hell was I thinking?
That night’s shift dragged.Compared to Saturday, where we’d been rushing around like headless chickens, there weren’t as many customers and we spent a lot of the evening cleaning and chatting. I hadn’t been able to stop thinking about Alex and the dinner. Going into the kitchen and not seeing him there seemed strange. Sid didn’t have the same level of banter with the other chef as he did with Alex. The whole atmosphere was different.
By the time I got home, all I wanted to do was sleep. I was exhausted from thinking too hard about everything, overthinking every single tiny detail and battling with my bruised heart.
“Fuck it,” I said to no one. “I deserve some fun.”
Curled up on the sofa, with a glass of wine and a bag of crisps, I got out my phone.
Georgie: Hey, are you awake?
I took a fortifying sip of wine while I waited. The moving dots signalled an impending reply. Then they stopped. I sighed. When the phone rang, I almost jumped off the sofa.
“Hey, Alex, you didn’t have to call.” I could hear the smile in my own voice.
“Figured it would be easier than messaging back and forth.” His tone sounded thick with sleep.
“Did I wake you?”
He yawned. “Might have dropped off watching the football highlights, which tells you everything about the games. I’m awake now though, and this is a nice surprise. What can I do for you at this time of night?”
Oh, Alex Kane, if only you knew…
“I wanted to talk to you about the dinner. Get it in the diary.” I knew I sounded formal, but if I didn’t take it seriously then I wouldn’t go through with it.
His chuckle vibrated through me. “Sounds very organised. When are you free?”
“Well, I don’t think either of us are on shift Tuesday night. If that’s not too soon? I mean, if you’re busy we can find another time,” I rambled, almost chickening out of the whole thing again.
His tone lowered. “I can make time for you, Georgie.”
I swear my insides contracted, his velvety voice breathing directly into my ear.
“So, Tuesday. What do you want me to cook?” he continued.
“Um, you could surprise me?”
“I’d love to know what you like, Georgie. Give me some inspiration. What does it for you?”
Shit. Was he talking about food or something else? Mentally I shook myself. I needed to get my mind out of the gutter.
I could hear him shuffling around at his end. “Sorry, I wanted to get my recipe book.”
