Page 107 of Broken Daddy

“That’s your sister.” Nate’s proud grin makes my chest swell with love. How did I get lucky enough to find the perfect man, completely by accident? If it weren’t for that hookup in the alley…

“You look tired,” he says worriedly, hefting the bags again. I try to wave off his concern, but I’m sure I look like hell. “We can just go right home if you’d rather.”

I shake my head, curious at Eva’s darting gaze as she looks back and forth between us. “No, I still want to see it. It’s on the way anyway, right?”

“Wait till you see it, Gen!” Eva takes my hand, tugging me excitedly toward the exit. I eye the pair of them, not sure what’s going on…but something is up.

* * *

Twenty minutes later,we pull up outside a row of shops in an older district of the city.

“There,” Eva points out, though I recognize the area from driving through in the past and from my FaceTime calls with Nate. It’s exactly what I had in mind.

The front of the restaurant is painted black wood, the windows massive and dark with butcher paper. Antique style wine red lettering over the lintel reads “Bittersweet Roux.”

My dream.

Right here in New York, where it all started, and where new beginnings are taking root.

Nate opens the car door and helps me out onto the sidewalk. Eva slips out herself, running up to the door.

“You did this?” I ask, running my hand over the ornate but understated carvings just below the windows. We got the property for a relatively cheap price, for the city, but only because it was pretty run-down. I wasn’t sure at first, but Nate took one look and reassured me it just needed polishing.

He nods, a mischievous smirk on his face. “Ready to see the inside?”

Eva yanks the door open excitedly and runs in. I follow, squinting as my eyes adjust to the dark.

Then Nate flicks on the lights.

“Surprise!”

The dining room is small, intimate, and filled with everyone I love. Chris is as ridiculous as ever, arms raised high to draw attention to a banner that saysWelcome Home, Genhanging from the ceiling. Russ moves forward to wrap me in a tight hug, and over his shoulder, I see Jenson and Mel tucked in closely to one another, their baby in Mel’s arms. Sienna is standing in front of an array of pink cupcakes and food, nothing elaborate that I can see, but all of a sudden, I’m starving.

“What is this?” I laugh, moving farther into the room once Russ releases me. Nate slips an arm around my waist.

“Thought we’d kill two birds with one stone. You get to see your restaurant, and we can have a quick party to welcome you home.”

Chris rolls his eyes at the idea of a “quick party.”

“Slash baby shower,” he adds, proffering a gift bag.

“Welcome back, Gen,” Mel chimes in, standing to wrap me in a hug, radiating warmth. I sink into it and find myself on the verge of tearing up, which is embarrassing, but indicative of just how much everyone here means to me.

“You guys didn’t have to do this.”

“We wanted to,” Russ says easily with a shrug. Sienna comes around to take my bag and leads me to a chair at the table, handing me a plate.

“I know you. You’re starving,” she deadpans, earning a laugh from me.

I immediately go for jalapeño poppers, prompting everyone else to dig in as well. Eva makes a beeline for the cupcakes as Nate chides her to eat real food first.

As everyone settles in, I get my first good look at Bittersweet Roux.

It’s a tiny restaurant. Just what I wanted. Enough room for maybe ten tables, low lighting, shelves high on the wall where I’ll put trailing plants. And the open-style kitchen I always loved.

“It’s almost done,” Nate leans in to tell me. “The crew will be finished up in there this week, and then the inspector comes in. After that, it’s all up to you.”

Our eyes meet.

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