Page 28 of The Switch: A Friends To Lovers Romance

A few minutes later, the door opened and Michelle entered. Ashanti studied her with an objective eye. Michelle had a small, piquant face, big brown eyes and long, straight hair.

What did Luke find so great about her? She looked normal, pretty… but normal.

“Hi.” Michelle wiggled her fingers and then dropped her hands. She shuffled her legs and stared at the floor. “I hope you don’t mind me stopping by.”

“It’s no problem.” Ashanti led Michelle to her cubicle. “Have a seat.”

“Thanks.”

Ashanti took the chair across from her and clasped her fingers together. “What can I help you with, Michelle?”

“It’s kind of personal.” Michelle licked her pink lips and leaned forward. “You’re friends with Luke, right?”

“Luke?”

“The guy from the café,” Michelle said.

Ashanti waved her hands. “Yeah, I know. I’m just… how can I help you with Luke?”

“We were talking for a couple weeks and then he totally blew me off. He said he had something going on and he needed to ‘step back’.” Michelle put bunny ears around the word. “But no matter how hard I think about it, I can’t believe it’s that simple.”

“I don’t understand.”

“Please be honest with me. From one woman to another. Is Luke really going through something or did he just say that to push me off?”

Ashanti blinked once. Twice. What was she supposed to do in this situation? Luke had begged her not to meddle, but the reason she’d started her plan to win his parents over in the first place was so these two could be together.

“I really like him,” Michelle pleaded when Ashanti didn’t answer. “We had something special. I know this sounds crazy and you hardly know me, but… would you help us get back together?”

Chapter Nine

Luke was lounging in his pajamas and trying to decide on what he’d eat for lunch when his phone rang. Expecting it to be his parents again, he ignored it and closed his eyes.

Should I have noodles or rice?

He rolled on his side and continued the internal debate.

Man, I’d give anything for Uncle Eddie’s udon right now.

His phone rang again, pealing incessantly until the sound had embedded itself in his head. With a groan of frustration, he scooped his phone and growled, “Yes, ma?”

“Why haven’t you reported to work yet?”

Luke scrambled to sit up. “Uncle Eddie?”

“I didn’t give you permission to take the morning off. Get here in ten minutes or you’re fired.” The line clicked.

Luke pulled the phone away from his ear and stared at the screen. What was Eddie talking about? Hadn’t he fired him last night?

It didn’t matter. Luke tore his pajamas off and changed into a T-shirt and jeans. He scrambled out the door and sped through the afternoon traffic to make it to the café.

He parked in front of the tinted doors and stumbled up the steps, almost losing his shoe in the process. He tore inside and checked his watch, his chest heaving and his breath harried.

Ten minutes. He’d made it.

Luke felt the air turn tense. He lifted his head and glanced around, jumping back when he noticed the customers staring warily at him. Certain that he looked insane, Luke skirted their tables and jogged to the kitchen.

He poked his head through the door. Uncle Eddie had his back to him. He was banging plates and pots around on the large, industrial stove. Thin smoke rose from the steamer they used to make dumplings. The scent of frying fish lingered in the air.

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