Page 12 of Meant to be Mine

“They are a plant-based protein blend,” Hollis said with exaggerated patience. “I have been developing them in collaboration with three world-renowned chefs to achieve a flavor and texture profile that rivals anything you’ve ever had before.”

“Beef,” Callum said. “Grass fed beef. There is no rivaling that.”

Hollis turned around and pointed the spatula at the group. “I need you all to come at this with an open mind.”

“My mind is completely open,” Cleo said pleasantly.

He snorted and turned back around. Plant-based. Hollis was always trying to live forever by eating clean and trying to get the rest of us to do so. Thank God he had normal beer. Did they make vegan beer? I didn’t want to know.

I pulled out the chair next to Victoria and sat down, stretching my legs out under the table. The ocean stretched out in front of us. Calm and brilliant blue. Not a cloud in the sky. The tension I’d been carrying around all day—Edith, the event, the conversation with Kensey in the car—loosened a notch. I inhaled the salty air and let it work its magic. Hollis would be the first to tell anyone the ocean had healing properties. On that, I believed him.

“He’s been working up to this for weeks,” Victoria murmured to me, leaning slightly sideways. “I’ve been told not to make comparisons to other plant-based products. This isn’t a field rolled into a patty.”

“Because they’re not comparable,” Hollis said from the grill. “What I’ve developed is entirely different. The blends on the market right now are fine for what they are, but they all have the same problem. The texture is wrong and the flavor is more spice than protein. It tastes like something trying to be beef. Mine doesn’t try to be anything. It just is.”

Callum took a slow sip of his beer. “Every plant burger I’ve ever eaten has tasted like I was being punished for something.”

“Same,” I said.

Hollis frowned at us over his shoulder. “That is exactly the attitude I expected and exactly the attitude you’re all going to have to abandon in approximately seven minutes when these are done.”

“Seven minutes,” Callum repeated, like he was filing that away.

“The timing is important. You can’t rush the sear.”

“You can’t rush the fake meat,” Micah said solemnly.

For a minute nobody said anything. It was just the sound of the ocean and the sizzle coming off the grates. Did fake meat sizzle? Apparently.

“How’s the store?” Callum asked, settling back in his chair and looking at me.

“Good,” I said. “Really good, actually. We had a strong week. The beach event is coming together.”

Callum nodded. “I knew you’d be good at it.”

“Thanks.”

“You walked the site today?” Callum asked.

“Yeah. We went out to the beach club in Malibu. Walked the whole thing. Menu tasting, layout, the works.” I took a long pull of my beer. “It’s going to be good. The space is perfect.”

“We?” Callum asked.

I paused. “Kensey came with me.”

The reaction was immediate. Cleo’s sunglasses came all the way off. Micah, who had just tipped his chair back on two legs and appeared to be half-asleep, opened one eye.

“Kensey Blake?” Cleo said.

“Do I know another Kensey?”

“She’s back?” Micah asked.

“Who’s Kensey?” Victoria asked.

“His girlfriend,” Callum teased.

“She is a girl and she is my best friend,” I clarified. “She showed up at the store this morning. Out of nowhere. Surprised me.” I kept my voice casual. “She’s home for the whole summer. Teacher’s schedule.”