Chapter 05 JESSIE
“Fire two steaks, medium,“
Malia called from the pass. “I want sides walking with them—Tony, one sashimi, full set. Two miso noodle salads. One ahi tartare. Heard?”
“Yes, Chef!“
The calls bounced back from the line.
Malia’s voice cut through it again. “Jay—medium rare on sixteen. You got it?”
“Yes, Chef,“
I called back, flipping the steaks, brushing them with butter before sliding them to rest on the board. The heat was brutal tonight. I wiped my forehead with the back of my hand, eyes flicking over the tickets clipped to the rail before reaching into the lowboy for more cuts.
And then Danny’s smile popped into my head uninvited but very appealing. The memory of his mouth followed, and I caught myself grinning like an idiot.
“Ohhh, look at this guy,“
Trevor sing-songed from sauté. “Someone’s in loooove.”
“Fuck off,“
I muttered, but it was too late.
The kitchen pounced—elbows, laughter, a chorus of assholes sweating through their aprons and living for the distraction.
“Full board, guys, keep it tight,“
Malia snapped without even looking up.
“Yes, Chef!“
we answered in unison.
It didn’t stop them. Not the ones close enough to me, anyway.
Trevor was one flame away, already asking about wedding invitations. Rory had obviously been the one to spill—even if he’d been decent enough not to mention who it was. I tried my absolute best to stay dismissive, but fuck, that smile kept creeping back onto my face.
I hadn’t seen Danny around the resort yesterday, but when I woke up, there was a message waiting on my screen, and we’d spent the day texting back and forth. He was probably leaving soon. Just thinking about those texts made the hit a little easier to take.
I set fresh cuts on the grill, the sizzle roaring up around me, then turned to finish the two steaks heading out.
“Jay,“
Malia called.
“Sixteen walking in one, Chef,“
I said, eyes still on my board.
“Good—but that wasn’t it.“
There was a slight lilt to her voice.
I glanced over my shoulder, my heart doing a small, stupid flip.
Danny stood at the pass, no longer a figment of my imagination, leaning just off to the side with that familiar grin aimed straight at me.
“Fuck me…“
I muttered, knife still in my hand. “Thirty seconds,“
I said to both of them.
I shot Trevor a look—his station was mostly clear. “Can you cover me? Just a minute.”
His grin turned feral as he nodded.
I pressed my lips together, plated fast, and slid the food onto the pass for Malia.
“Hey,“
Danny said, lowering his voice. “Sorry—I know you’re busy.“
He leaned his elbows on the counter, eyes flicking briefly toward Malia. “I just wanted to say goodbye. Again.“
A small, self-conscious laugh followed.
I wiped my hands down as best I could and leaned over the counter too, hoping to give us some semblance of privacy while I felt the eyes of the entire kitchen burning into the back of my head. “Are you heading out now?”
“Yeah. Car’s waiting.“
He gave me a sympathetic shrug. His eyes dropped to my lips for a second—long enough to make my stomach flip—before he shifted back a step. “I’ll let you know when I get there, though. If you want.”
“I want—tell me everything,“
I said quickly.
Danny smiled, and I swear the whole space brightened. “I’ll tell you everything. Promise.“
His hand drifted forward, and I didn’t hesitate, our thumbs hooking as we pulled our hands together. “Is it weird that I miss you already?”
“Probably,“
I teased, then shrugged. “I miss you already too.“
I kept my voice low, leaning closer over the counter.
He gave me a look that was hard to read even now—even with him this open. Then, in one soft, reckless move, he bumped his forehead against mine, eyes closing as he stayed there for a second. His hand tightened around mine before he pulled away. “Bye, Jessie.”
I tried to smile, but I’m pretty sure it came out a little sad. “Bye, gorgeous,“
I whispered.
Danny bit his lip, gave me one last helpless look, then let go of my hand and backed away. He stopped to grab his bag, slinging it over his shoulder. When he finally turned, my heart dropped, already bracing myself to watch him walk out.
“Are you kidding me right now?“
Malia’s voice snapped me back.
“Sorry, Chef. I’ll get back—”
“No,“
she cut in. “That’s how you say goodbye to him? After staring at that boy with heart eyes for the past two months? That was it?“
She looked at me like I’d personally offended her.
My heart thudded. I swallowed thickly.
“Jay, go the fuck after him, man,“
Trevor yelled. “Don’t be an idiot,”
The whole kitchen joined in—my team, all of them hollering, nudging me away from the line, telling me off.
“I have orders,“
I said with a nervous laugh.
“I’ll cover. Just fucking go, Jay!“
Trevor shot back.
I looked to Malia. She rolled her eyes and waved me off, already calling out another order.
Okay. Let’s run after him.
I washed my hands as fast as I could, yanked off my apron, and shoved through the line as hands thumped encouragement against my back. The second I cleared the kitchen, I broke into a jog toward the front desk, silently praying he was heading out through the main entrance.
I cut through the service hallway and into the main lobby, my heart still pounding with adrenaline. The space opened up all at once, sunlight filtering through the arches, greenery everywhere. Danny stood near the front desk, bag slung over his shoulder, mid-conversation with one of the receptionists. He looked like he was just about to leave, so I picked up my pace, nerves crashing into me all at once.
I was still in my chef jacket, still shaking a little, because this was public—too public—and for a split second I wondered what I’d do if he pulled back. It didn’t feel like he would. Not after showing up at the restaurant. Not after everything we’d already shared. But you never really know.
Then he looked up.
And all that doubt just… evaporated. Right there, in that moment, I just knew.
I couldn’t let him leave yet.
I didn’t give myself time to think. I crossed the distance and caught his shirt, pulling him in to kiss him right there in the middle of the lobby, in front of staff and guests and anyone else who happened to be looking. Somewhere behind us, a voice dropped, a laugh cut short—the lobby didn’t stop, but it shifted.
His hands came up instantly—not pushing me away, but gripping the fabric of my jacket and holding me there as his lips parted for mine.
My stomach went absolutely feral as I kissed him, every nerve lighting up, and I had to fight the smile breaking across my face because—fuck—it was perfect. A movie-star kiss if I’d ever seen one.
When I pulled back, I stayed close, my forehead resting against his.
“I’m not as good as you at putting myself out there,“
I said. “But you make me want to change that.”
His hands tightened in my jacket, the smile on his face bright. “You’re doing pretty great right now.”
He kissed me again, slow and lingering, like he was savoring it, and I let my heart get away from me without the least bit of resistance.
He could have it.
Own it.
Do whatever he wanted with it.
And maybe I could have him in return.
Later that night, my phone pinged as I stepped out of the shower, steam following me as I clutched the towel at my hips and hurried toward the sound. I knew it wouldn’t be Danny—he was still mid-flight—but some irrational part of me hoped anyway.
It wasn’t him.
Sadie: I know we’re not supposed to have favorites, but this one’s mine
There was a photo attached. I tapped it, setting my phone on the bed as I pulled on my shorts, waiting for it to load.
When it finally appeared, my grin broke free before I could stop it.
There we were—Danny and me—walking hand in hand into the ocean. I was laughing, eyes on the water curling around our feet. Danny’s light green gaze fixed on me with unmistakable, full-on heart eyes.
It hadn’t been in my head.
He’d felt it too.
And just like that, all the insecurities I’d built over the years—the walls I’d learned to raise with every almost and every failed relationship—started to crumble.
With one look.
With one picture.
Seems like it doesn’t take much for life to do a one-eighty on you.