Page 53 of Tastes Like Summer

With another fucking guy.

And it’s going to happen right before my eyes.

All night I’m going to have to look at her, so fucking beautiful, laughing and enjoying the company of one of the best guys I know.

Fan-fucking-tastic.

I can’t believe I’ve been worrying like an insane person, thinking of nothing but her and her kiss and her scent and just how fucking incredible that night was and now⁠—

How do they even know each other? How could she just have ignored me? How can she just go out on a date after what happened? How can she⁠—

“Michael,” Lexi breaks through my internal rage, shaking my shoulders, the tone of her voice suggesting this isn’t the first time she’s called my name. “What’s wrong? What happened?” I see the fear in her eyes; the concern that something might have happened with the potential investor sitting outside—our last shot at finding someone to help us out. “Is it Jonathan, your friend? Did he say no? I mean, that’s impossible! We haven’t even served him an appetizer! Was it the champ⁠—”

“Stop,” I practically growl. “It’s not Jonathan. He’s fine. It’s…” I sigh and shake my head, squeezing my eyes shut. “He’s here with her.” I open my eyes and look at Lexi, hearing the hurt in my voice. Diana is the first woman I’ve ever felt like this for, and it’s clear from her actions that she must not feel the same.

Lexi looks over her shoulder at the line cook and server we hired to help us for tonight before wrapping an arm around my shoulder. She leads me into a corner of the kitchen for some privacy.

“What do you mean he’s here with her? What are you talking about?”

“Jonathan. He’s fucking here with Diana.”

Lexi inhales sharply. “No.”

“Yes.”

“Like, on a date?”

I raise a brow. “What do you think?”

“You could be wrong,” she says, shaking her head. “Maybe they’re just friends.”

I snort and rub my eyes. “They’re not just friends. When he asked if he could bring someone to the tasting, he mentioned a date. Plus, she’s…” I sigh. “She dressed up—I think that’s the same outfit she wore at Barbara’s wedding. She’s always so fucking beautiful, but tonight… It’s more than that.” The ruby red of her silky outfit contrasts with her tan skin, her dark hair falling like a waterfall down her back in beautiful loose curls. Diana doesn’t wear a lot of makeup, usually, and tonight is no different—save for the enticing red lipstick calling my name. It’s clear she’s dressed to impress tonight, and she’s succeeded. Diana looks devastatingly beautiful in a torturous, agonizing way.

My chest tightens, my hands fisting at my sides. I’m not sure whether I want to run outside, pull her from that chair, and claim her from Jonathan, risking everything that’s on the line, or whether I want to run away and never see her again. Neither of those options are possible, however, because the ache of the situation has made it impossible for me to breathe. Diana hasn’t texted or called since we made out at her house, making something quite clear: “She doesn’t want me.”

“Michael,” Lexi whispers. “That can’t be true. I saw you guys at the beach; saw how she looked at you—how you looked at each other.”

“It doesn’t matter; she’s made her choice. And now I have to watch her fucking laugh and flirt the entire night with the guy I’m counting on to give us the money for the restaurant.”

“Well, what if I host them? What if I’m the one to guide him through the menu and answer questions, and you just stay back here? I can tell him you’re the one manning the kitchen, being a total control freak, and⁠—”

“Stop, that’s not going to work. Jonathan and I are close—it would be too weird if I avoided this dinner. And not showing up would be counterproductive. I’d rather just one thing be fucked up tonight instead of two. This dinner is too important.”

Lexi sighs and wraps her arms around me. I tense at first, but let myself lean into the hug after a few seconds, not able to recall the last time someone held me. “It’s her loss.”

Sighing, I squeeze her hard once. “Thanks, cus.”

She pulls away and smiles. “Now let’s give them the best dinner of their lives.”

I nod once. “Give me a minute, will you? I need a moment alone,” I murmur, before heading out of the kitchen, and leaning against the hallway wall.

I sigh and run my fingers through my hair, trying to control my deep disappointment. I thought Diana and I would be something. For the first time in my life I wanted this, and now it’s all gone. She doesn’t like me the same way I like her, doesn’t feel the same way, and I’m just going to have to deal. Though I don’t know how I’m supposed to last the rest of the summer with her around. Because there’s no avoiding her, is there? Not when Rachel has found happiness in her daughters after the worst year of her life. No matter how much it’ll hurt to constantly see Diana, there is no way I’m going to let it affect my daughter’s emotional well-being. I’m just going to have to work through this. I’m just going to have to⁠—

“Michael,” Diana’s soft voice breaks through my thoughts. My spine straightens, every muscle in my body tightening, but I still can’t open my eyes. Can’t bear to see her in that fucking outfit that she wore for another man.

“No,” I tell her. “I don’t—can’t—talk to you right now.”

“I—” She sighs. “I know you hate me. I know I probably hurt you, and⁠—”