She found Rose waiting for her, arms crossed and back against the sink. “That man is insufferable.”
Megan agreed. “That’s one word for it.” Ass was another.
“Are you okay? I saw you leave and that’s when I remembered you used to work here. I should have asked Henry’s parents to pick somewhere else or at least given you a heads-up. I’ve been so focused on the wedding and didn’tthink. I’m so sorry, Megan.”
“You have no reason to apologize. Actually, you coming to check on me was really sweet. Thank you. Hug?” Megan held her arms out, and Rose stepped into the hug. Megan squeezed her cousin, grateful to also call her a friend.
“Okay, I should get back. You’re really okay?” Rose stepped back and held Megan at arm’s length as she waited.
“Yes. I’ll be out in a minute.”
Rose nodded and left. Megan checked her makeup and was relieved to find it was mostly intact. Her eyeliner had seen better days, but the new brand of mascara had held up.
She fixed what she could and stepped into the hallway. Megan turned the corner to find Roger leaving the Andromeda Room.
“Shit.” Megan tried to backtrack, but Roger spotted her.
“Meg? Is that you?”
She sighed and faced her old boss. “Megan, actually.”
“You’re looking well. Are you still working in a kitchen, or have you moved on to a more realistic career?”
Rage combined with shame filled her. Rage at his outright dismissal of her skill, craft, and effort. And shame for letting him get to her.
Sure, his food was good, but he’d reached a certain level and decided that was good enough. She wouldn’t normally judge someone for finding and staying within their strengths, except Roger barely did any of the work and berated those that did. He was miserable to work for.
“I’m still in a kitchen and doing pastry work. I’m Commis chef at another local place.”
“Hmm,” was his response.
Before he could say anything else, Megan started the walk back to the party room. “Bye, Roger.”
“Chef,” he corrected her.
“Bye, Roger,” Megan repeated, with a hand wave over her shoulder. She turned the corner and sagged as she saw Caleb headed her way.
“Hey, Megs. Everything okay?” he asked, a concerned look on his face. “Rose said you were only going to be a second, but I got worried so…”
“You were worried about me?” She looked up at him as he wrapped his arms around her waist.
“Well, yeah. You disappeared without a word. I asked Tucker what was wrong, but he didn’t know. Then Rose left and when she came back, I asked her. She told me that the guy that visited the table used to be your boss and he was an ass.”
“You came looking for me?” Megan could stare into his green eyes forever. Maybe, just maybe, he felt the same. The only way to find out was to ask him. Later.
“I was worried. You didn’t answer my question. Are you okay?”
Megan leaned against his chest, the strength of his arms around her a safe haven. She answered him truthfully. “I am now.”
