Page 89 of Operation Sunshine
Lexie sighed. “No rest for the wicked.” She patted his arm as she walked past him.
Franco took a minute to collect himself before emerging from the pantry.
“Franco, here are the specials for tonight.” Mina thrust a sheaf of papers into his hand. “Hot off the printer.” Before he could get a word out, she disappeared into the kitchen.
Franco smiled when he saw her handiwork. Typical Mina, she’d accompanied the courses with little drawings of the dishes. Then he spotted a pink corner sticking up out of the sheaf. He pulled it free, and his chest tightened another notch when he read her note.
Good luck, Chef Franco. Make sure Florence knows how lucky it is to have you.
Franco tried not to choke up.
By late evening, he was drained. They’d had a steady stream of diners, and someone had obviously talked because more than a few of the regulars wished him success for the stage. Franco found it hard toretreat behind his usual wall of banter and bravado, and when he got a second, he dove out in search of a glass of water.
To his surprise, Ben was waiting for him by the office door, a glass already in his hand.
“You holding up?” Ben asked in a quiet voice.
Franco gave a crooked smile. “Barely. Feels as if everyone’s already saying goodbye.”
Ben’s gaze was steady and warm. “That’s because they care. And they’ll be here when you come back.”
Franco wanted to sayAnd you? Will you still be here?but the words snagged in his throat. Instead, he brushed his hand against Ben’s, a fleeting touch that still made his chest ache.
When Ben finally locked the front door, Franco was ready to collapse—until Raj called from upstairs in the function room.
“Get your arse up here,” Raj groused. “Youare in trouble.”
From the office doorway, Ben blinked. “Okay, what have you done now?”
“Nothing,” Franco protested. “I’m completely innocent of…whatever it is.”
Ben smirked. “I’m not sure I’d gothatfar. Let’s go see what’s gotten Raj all riled up.”
Franco climbed the stairs, Ben behind him, and when he pushed the door open, voices rang out.
“Surprise!”
The room was strung with fairy lights, a banner stretched across the far wall: YOU’RE GONNA DAZZLE THEM, FRANCO. Arun waved from the corner. Chloe raised a glass. Mina and Ollie popped confetti cannons, showering the room in glitter. Lexie smiled at him from behind the banquet table filled with plates of nibbles.
Willow grinned. “You didn’t think we were going to let you leave without a party, did you?”
He smiled, his face hot, lost for words.
Raj appeared with a cake iced in messy swirls, bearing the wordsGood Luck, Franco.
Franco brought his hand to his chest in feigned shock. “Youbaked?”
Raj snorted. “I cheated. Box mix,” he said dryly.
“Liar,” Franco said, grinning despite the lump in his throat.
“Fine.” Raj smirked. “Box mix and a prayer.”
A loudpopbehind him revealed Ben opening a bottle of champagne, and then everyone let out whoops and cheers.
“If ever there was a reason to celebrate,” Ben said, his voice carrying across the room, “this is it.” He passed the bottle to Lexie, who proceeded to fill the glasses while he opened another.
Glasses clinked, laughter filled the air, and Franco let himself sink into the warmth of it. He looked around at the people who had long since become more than colleagues or friends.
