“You’re a lot, too, you know! A lot of intelligence and beauty and class!”
I laugh as she keeps calling after me. Margie isn’t at her desk yet, so I decide I should settle in and start the daily grind.
I only see a couple more references to Benny and me as I scan through social media and avoid checking our video. An old episode of Lily making shakshuka on her international-cuisine-focused show,World on a Plate,got some buzz over the weekend after a Food Network star tweeted about it, so I’ve had to rewatch it and do a little research on what the heck shakshuka is in order to respond to some of the comments. Then my mouth is watering, because holy yum.
I’m not sure how long I’ve been favoriting and replying to tweets and comments when a message from Margie pops up in my work email.
R -
Video shoot @ 11, PK 2.
Thx,
M
My shakshuka craving is displaced by a big ol’ ball of nerves in my stomach. I confirm that I’ll be there, then pull out my phone to text Benny.
Reese:You get the message about a video at 11?
Benny:Of course. They couldn’t film without their star
It might be funny if it wasn’t so on the nose. I grimace at my phone, considering a sassy retort. But he texts again.
Benny:Meet in PK 1 before?
Reese:Sure
My nerves still aren’t settled by the time I set off to meet Benny. When I walk into PK 1, I don’t see him. Instead, my eyes are drawn to the gentle giant working a ball of dough between his hands on the counter. He looks up as I approach and flashes me the most dazzling smile I’ve ever seen.
Seb.
Easily my favorite of the men on Friends of Flavor, he has the build of a professional athlete, but the softest demeanor and a gift for encouraging the aspiring chefs who come on his and Aiden’s show. He’s the titular good chef to Aiden’s bad. They’re FoF’s answer toThe Great British Bake Off’s famed judges, if Mary Berry was a tall, gorgeous Black man and Paul Hollywood regularly made competitors cry.
“Hey, you’re Reese, right?”
He brushes one of his flour-covered palms off on his apronand holds it out to me. I walk closer with what I’m sure is an expression of awe on my face.
“Yeah, hi,” I manage quietly as my hand meets his.
“Sebastian.” He gestures to himself as if I wouldn’t know. “You can call me Seb. I saw your video from last week—nicely done!”
“Th-thank you,” I stammer. “I’ve seen…all of your videos. I love you.” Oh myGod,Reese, could you be any smoother? I clap a hand over my mouth and he lets out a small laugh, then goes back to working his dough. “I mean, I’m a big fan. Of your show. I love your show.”
“Wow, thank you so much,” he says sweetly, grinning down at his work. “Maybe we’ll get to collaborate sometime. Are you here for the summer?”
“Oh, that would be amazing. Yeah, through August—”
“Not recruiting yourself a new costar, are you, King-Size Reese’s Cup?” Benny’s voice comes from right behind me and he claps a hand on my shoulder.
I shoot him a menacing look. “I might if you use that mildly insulting nickname variant again.”
“So Reese’s Pieces was better?”
“Slightly. At least it doesn’t comment on my size.”
“Noted. Shall we, then?”
Seb glances between us with amusement. I reluctantly nod.
