“Yeah, yeah. Don’t rub it in.” Zach tossed his dirty fork into a tub of sudsy water. “I don’t get it, though. How could adding red cabbage instead of regular change it that much?”
Ava shrugged. “You’re the chef, but I’d say there was an unexpected chemical reaction. Did you see how the color was all off?”
Zach rubbed the back of his neck. “I think the garlic turned green and the cabbage turned blue. That can happen with acids and alkaline ingredients. But that doesn’t explain that metallic flavor.” He poured them both a glass of water from the pitcher on his backline. “Here. Swish.”
She swallowed the water in one gulp. “Thanks. So salty.”
“Me or the food?” He raised an eyebrow at her.
“Har har.” Amusement burbled up in her.
“I’m sorry I’m so prickly around you.” He tucked his hands into his pockets.
“What?” She opened her eyes wide. “I hadn’t noticed.” His lips tightened and she relented, giving him a wink.
“Har har,” he mimicked her. His gaze bored into her. A tightness crept across her shoulders. “I mean it. I feel like I’m always apologizing to you. But I?—”
“Zach!” Dani wove through the crowd toward them. “I have an emergency, and I need your help.”
Ava’s shoulders relaxed. Dani had provided her a way out of this intense conversation. She backed away a step.
Dani caught her arm. “Please, stay. I think you can help me out too. You two can be my superheroes.”
Help Dani out and become a superhero? How could she say no to that? “What do you need?”
“I just found out that a couple of people for the teams portion of the charity contest had to drop out.” Dani’s knuckles were white as she clutched a clipboard. She looked at Zach. “I have to totally rejigger the contest. I thought since you two already know each other…”
Zach crossed his arms. “I think I can see where this is going.”
Dani blew a stray hair out of her eye. “So, will you do it?”
“Do what?” Unlike Zach, Ava had no idea where this was going.
“Compete in the charity competition.” Dani brought her hands, still clutching the clipboard, up under her chin in a mock prayer pose. “Please, I’m begging you.” She made a comical puppy dog face at her brother.
Zach laughed. “You don’t have to look at me like that. You know I can’t say no to you. I’m here, aren’t I?”
This obviously had nothing to do with her. She was already doing the charity competition. Dani must have someone in mind to pair up with Zach. It looked like he was going to be the superhero. Ava began backing away again.
Dani turned the puppy dog eyes toward her. “Is that okay with you?”
“Me?” Why did she have to give the okay? Zach was an adult. He could make his own decisions. “Me what?”
“Do the competition. As a team. A pair of chefs working together. I know you signed up to do the singles portion, but I really need another couple’s team. I thought since you two know each other, you might want to be on a team.” Dani’s tone turned pleading. “I saw you two just now. The crowd was eating it up. If you can bring that energy next week, it could really help. I could even whip up some new advertising for it.” She traced a hand across the sky like she could read the ad up there. “Come and see the island’s odd couple. Will they cook up something great, or will they grate each other apart?” Dani waved a hand between her and Zach. “You have chemistry.”
Ava’s face went hot. “I think?—”
“Notchemistrychemistry.” Dani laughed. “I mean the banter between the two of you just now. If you bring that to the charity competition, we could really draw some crowds.”
Ava blinked at her, but Zach chuckled. “I think your slogan needs some work.” He uncrossed his arms. “I didn’t realize that the charity competition had a team event. I would have brought a partner.”
“And now you don’t have to,” Dani said. “Ava can be your partner. I’ll work on the slogan. It’ll be great, I promise.” She shoved a piece of paper at them. “Here are the rules.” Without waiting for their agreement, she turned on her heel and dashed off.
“What was that?” Ava stared after her.
Zach smiled, but it was halfway to a grimace. “That was my sister. She always has plans for my life. Don’t worry, I’ll talk her out of it later.”
“Talk her out of it? Why?” Sure, she had hoped to fly under the radar for the charity competition, but this could be even better.
