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My heart stung. Was this where we stood? Did I even have any right to be mad?
Yes. Yes, I did because Wally was, first and foremost, my friend. Regardless of what happened between Jesse and me, I knew when someone was being a jerk.
“Have you ever even seen him cook?” I asked, a bit more bite to my tone than I intended.
“No. Have you?”
“As a matter of fact, yes. He cooked dinner for me all the time when we were still seeing each other. It was delicious. He’s very talented.”
Jesse froze. I wasn’t sure if it was because I dared to speak up or because I mentioned the fact that Wally and I dated. Either way, it was awkward as hell. Not knowing what else to do, I shuffled off down the hall to check on him, leaving Jesse alone to brood.
I knocked on Wally’s door. “Hey, it’s me.”
He opened it, but only by a crack. “Hey.”
“Are you okay? I just wanted to check on you.”
“Dandy. Sorry you had to see that.”
“It’s fine. For what it’s worth, I think you’d do great at culinary school.”
“Thanks. Doesn’t matter, though. He won’t pay for me to go, and I certainly can’t afford to pay for it.”
“Do you want me to talk to him?”
Wally laughed bitterly. “I appreciate the offer, but it’d be like talking to a brick wall.”
“I don’t know. I think I could get through to him.”
“Don’t waste your breath, Viv. I’ll just have to figure something else out.”
“Don’t give up, okay? I know you’d be a fantastic chef.”
“You’re the only person who believes that.”
“Because I’m in your corner. Always will be.”
He gave me a wry smile. “Thanks, Viv. You’re the best.”
“I try.”
Chapter 16
Jesse
3:00 a.m.
I was most productive at night. I didn’t buy into this modern-day notion that you had to be an early riser and get straight to the hustle. I knew my body, what I was capable of. I’d prefer working late into the evening over dragging myself out of bed any day.
Except today was different. Today my mind was foggy, and my eyelids were heavy. I was on my fourth cup of tea, but it didn’t help much to stave off the threat of sleep. I couldn’t go to bed, though. Not when I was juggling a million things at once. A part of me was worried that if I relented and took a breather —just as Devin had been telling me to— I’d never find the strength to start back up again.
It was better this way. I’d rather barrel through, full steam ahead.
Between managing things at the firm, dealing with my son’s acts of rebellion, and constantly checking in on the perimeter of my penthouse turned safehouse, I also found myself distracted by memories of Vivian.
The smell of her hair. The silky softness of her skin. The taste of her lips. The way she threw her head back and sighed in contentment when she came.
The look of disappointment she gave me.
