Chapter 30
Jamie
I pulled into Hank’s driveway next to an unfamiliar blue minivan. I was guessing it was Rachel’s, which meant they were here instead of out as Hank had expected.
Shoot. I hoped I wasn’t interrupting alone time.
I jogged up the porch steps and lifted my hand to knock, then hesitated. Maybe I should let myself in? I could sneak into the kitchen and grab Hank’s lunch and get out before Corey even knew I was there.
That seemed less awkward for everyone.
I turned the doorknob and eased the door open, peeking through the gap. The coast was clear. I scurried across the living room.
Just before I reached the kitchen, a door slammed in the hallway. “I can’t believe you!” a female voice yelled.
“Well, I can believe you!” Corey called back, sounding pissed. “Which is way worse, by the way.”
Footsteps stomped my way.
Oh, shit. I darted toward the kitchen, but I was too slow.
Rachel saw me first, brown eyes widening. “Who are you?”
“Sorry, I’m just here to pick up something. I didn’t mean to interrupt.”
“Well, you did!” Her cheeks were flushed red, and she looked ready to claw my eyes out.
“Don’t yell at Jamie,” Corey snapped. “He has just as much right to be here as you do.”
I motioned to the kitchen. “I’m just here to pick up Hank’s lunch. He forgot it this morning.”
“I put it in the fridge.” Corey turned to Rachel. “See, Jamie came by to get Hank’s lunch. That’s what caring partners do. They support each other.”
“Exactly!” Rachel insisted. “They don’t put work first.”
“Jamie is getting my brother’s lunch because he’s at work! That’s not the same thing at all…”
I hurried into the kitchen as their argument picked up again, stomach twisted with discomfort. The fight looked like an ugly one and I was sure my presence wasn’t helping.
I opened the refrigerator and grabbed the insulated lunch box that sat inside, then edged my way to the threshold, trying to gauge when it would be safe to make a run for it.
“I don’t get that much time off babysitting,” Rachel was saying. “You know how suffocating my family can be.”
“You’re the one who came back to live with them,” he shot back.
“Not by choice! They wouldn’t keep paying for college after I dropped my third class. You know that.”
“I can’t live my life on your family’s schedule,” Corey said. “This job is important to me.”
“More important than me, obviously!”
I winced at the gaslighting. This girl seemed to be a pro at twisting Corey’s words.
“I won’t compete with your job,” she continued. “Either you show up Saturday night as we planned or we’re through.”
There was a long beat of silence, followed by the slamming of the front door.
I cautiously stepped out of the kitchen. Corey stood staring at the door, tugging his hair. “Fuck!”
“Are you okay?” I asked tentatively.
He startled, turning, his face red. “Shit, Jamie. I’m so sorry you had to see that.”
“That was about you working the wedding reception this weekend?” I asked.
“Yeah.” His voice was hollow. “Rachel wanted us to have a date night, but obviously, I can’t do that.”
His eyes welled with tears, and my heart absolutely broke for the guy.
“Oh, Corey.” I squeezed his arm. “If you need to call in, I can handle it.”
“And prove my brother right?” Corey shook his head. “This job is important. Rachel doesn’t get it because she lives with her parents. She doesn’t have to pay bills.”
I nodded. I couldn’t imagine Hank getting angry that I had to work late or on a weekend.
I pulled that crap on him all the time. It was the nature of the business.
Of course, Rachel seemed a little immature.
Selfish, too. She’d implied Corey had to choose between her and his job. That was out of line.
Corey took a deep breath. “I mean, I could have a real future in catering…couldn’t I? I know you’re the top caterer and I’d never be as good as you, but…”
“Corey, you absolutely could have a future in catering. You’ve picked up so much since starting. You’re way ahead of our last hire. And the truth is, I won’t be there forever. You can step up when you’re ready.”
Corey swallowed hard. “You really think I’m up to it?”
“If you want it, and you put in the work, then yes.”
He nodded, jaw tightening. “I have to work this weekend, then. If I give Rachel what she wants, it’ll just happen again.
With my other jobs, I didn’t really care because they were just a paycheck.
But this? I really like it. Marissa knows so much about food.
” He pauses. “And you too! You’re both amazing chefs. ”
“I only know what Marissa has taught me,” I admitted. “She’s a great mentor. I know she’ll have more to teach you once I’m out of the way.”
“You’re not in my way.”
“Well, I’m in mine. I don’t want to stay there much longer, and you deserve the chance to advance. Marissa depends on me too much, but maybe this is a good opportunity for us both to figure out what’s really important.”
He blinked in surprise. “So you’re going to quit?”
“Not tonight, but yeah…I think so. As long as you’re sure you’re going to stay?”
“Yeah. I really want to.”
“I’m sorry that things aren’t working out with Rachel, though.”
He scrubbed a hand across his eyes, clearing away the moisture. “You and Hank are so good together. I think I’ve known for a while that Rachel and me weren’t the same. I thought maybe I could love her enough for both of us, but—”
His voice cracked, and he bit down on his lip, turning his face away.
“You’ll find someone else,” I said gently, “someone deserving of your love, Corey.”
He shrugged.
“Seriously,” I said. “I never thought I’d find a guy like Hank. Hey, if nothing else, you can sign up with Matchmaking Mamas.”
He gave a hoarse laugh. “Right, because that worked so well for you.”
He’d obviously heard all about the match mix-up by now. But that didn’t change the end result.
“It got me Hank, even if it took a while, and he’s the best match for me.”
“And you’re the best match for him, too,” Corey said. “I’ve never seen him so happy.”
I smiled. “Good. So, don’t give up just yet, Corey. I know it hurts that Rachel didn’t value you, but someone will. Eventually.”
“Well, until then, I’m going to focus on getting my life together. Hank doesn’t need to be taking care of me.” He paused. “Or you. You guys have your own lives.”
“Sure, but we’re always here for you.”
He gave a nod. “I appreciate that. But, uh, we’re running late for work and you should probably get that lunch to Hank. I bet he’s starving.”
I glanced at the time on my phone. “Shit! I’ll get going. If you need a few extra minutes, I’ll cover with Marissa.”
He swallowed hard. “I’ll be there on time, but thanks, Jamie.”
“For what?”
He shrugged. “Showing me there’s a better way.”
He could have been talking about the job or about my relationship with Hank, but in the end, my answer was the same.
I hugged him. “I’m always glad to help.”