Page 108 of Broken Daddy

He’s not asking me to come back, not right away. Which only makes me want to leave Germany sooner.

But I have a job to finish there—Saucer’s team is training on the new menu while I’m gone, and I’ll need to find my replacement.

ThenI can come home to this. My dream. A little tasting menu-style restaurant in the heart of the city. No showy PR, no power couple articles. Nathan’s insisted on backing off entirely, except for the carpentry work, which he refused to hand over to anyone else.

Bittersweet Roux is everything I ever wanted. And Nate, well, he’s everything I didn’t know I needed.

“How’s business been going?” Jenson asks Nathan. They don’t see each other often but stay in touch. As far as I know, this is Jenson’s first time back in New York since I left.

“Good, really good. Fighting to keep it small, but we knew that was coming when we were talking everything out.” Nate gives his brother a nod of appreciation. Just as he pushed me to followmydreams, Jenson pushed Nate to go all-in on his.

He’s officially hands-off with Ironside, focusing full time on Owl Factory. Right now, it’s still operating out of his barn, with only four employees to help out.

“That’s the tough part about boutique,” Mel chimes in. “Once something becomes popular, everyone wants it. And it’s not surprising your work has become popular.” She gestures at our surroundings. It’s like everything else Nate creates—simple, but flawlessly beautiful. There are little details here and there in the woodwork that give Bittersweet character.

“Thank you,” I murmur, twining our hands under the table. He squeezes back in reply.

“I know you’re not officially back yet, Gen, but if you’re ever looking for a pastry chef…” Sienna raises her brows. I’ve known her long enough to know she’s only half joking.

“You’d leave the Fig? Really?”

She shrugs. “They lost my loyalty the day they cut you out without hearing an explanation. And now they look like complete asses with Erik serving time. I’m just saying. The idea of a tasting menu appeals to me, and I know how much you like to play around with innovation.”

It’s quick, but a silent conversation takes place between us. Sienna is letting me know her offer is genuine. And I smile back, more than ready to take on the challenge of this place with her by my side.

“What doyoucook?” Eva asks curiously, licking pink frosting off her fingers. Sienna nods at the cupcakes.

“Dessert.”

Eva’s eyes light up, her head whipping around to look at Nathan. “You can do dessert as a job?”

We all laugh, relaxing into the moment. The baby kicks again eagerly. I wonder if she knows we’re home, and just how much she’s loved.

After what must be close to an hour of chatting and catching up, exhaustion starts to set in. I lean my head against Nate’s shoulder, lids drooping as I get lost in the comfort of being around friends and family.

Nate rubs a gentle circle on my back. The way he shifts his weight has me sitting up. When I look around, everyone’s eyes are on me, as if they’re expecting something.

“Gen, I know it hasn’t been long that we’ve known each other, and doing this long-distance hasn’t been easy, either.” He slips a hand into his pocket.

My heart jumps.

“But you know me better than anyone. You know where I came from and what I struggle with.”

Across the table, Jenson and Chris lock eyes, both thinking of their father, no doubt.

“Despite how much of a grump I was and how much I struggled to come to terms with how I feel about you, I want you to know that I’m completely in love with you. And even with an entire ocean separating us, I want you to be mine. If you’ll have me.”

He thumbs open the box, revealing a silver band with a round diamond bracketed in a little floral halo. He takes my hand and our eyes meet over the ring.

“Yes.”

Yes, yes, yes!

I want to stand up and shout it, leap into his lap, but I’m pretty sure that would startle everyone in the room.

Instead, I can only grin like a complete lovesick fool as Nate slips the ring on my finger, the look on his face as ecstatic as mine.

Eva bounces excitedly in her seat as everyone calls out their congratulations.

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