Chapter Thirty-One
Hazel finished her run-through with Max’s kitchen brigade and looked over the list of ingredients required for the night’s specials. It was only a few days until she headed home. She’d let her landlord know she’d be leaving before the end of her paid-up lease. He didn’t care, he already had her money. She signed the contract with Molti Pesci and had been released from her contract with Ethan, just as he’d promised.
She hadn’t seen him. She hadn’t spoken to him. She hadn’t even texted him. Meredith and Violet had listened patiently while she’d raged about how he’d made plans for them without considering hers, trying to force him into the bad guy mould, just as she’d once tried to force him into the shallow celebrity mould. But it was bullshit now, just as it had been bullshit then, and eventually they’d called her on it. She’d never get over the way the light had left his face. Maybe if she hadn’t spewed all that rubbish about them never having a future, they might have spent this last week doing all the things she was now missing. She’d thought saying those words and walking away would make it easier on both of them. But it didn’t, it just made everything hurt more. Hazel was sure she was right though; it was better this way, before they got in any deeper and couldn’t let each other go. And long-distance would never have worked. They were different people with different lives. He had his future and she had hers, one he was never meant to be a part of.
Hazel closed the fridge door and squared her shoulders. She’d get over him and she’d be fine. She had her dream waiting for her, and that was all she needed.
‘The bar next door has their opening tonight, don’t they?’ Dean, the Chef de Partie asked.
‘We should do a bit of extra prep in case there’s more foot traffic than usual,’ Chef Max added.
‘I’ll have a word to the crew out front,’ Hazel said, wiping her hands on her apron.
‘I think a few local celebs are coming,’ Dean said. ‘I heard Ethan James is going to be there.’ Hazel’s head snapped up. ‘Oh that’s right, you know him. He was with you the night you came here with Eddie. Is he going to be there?’
She shrugged. ‘I don’t know. I don’t really know him. I helped him out with his dog for a bit, that’s all.’
‘We should go have a look,’ Dean said.
‘You should keep preparing that beef,’ Max said.
‘Yes, Chef,’ Dean called out, straightening up.
‘Congratulations on the job at Molti Pesci,’ Max said to Hazel, as they went to go through the menu with the waitstaff.
‘Thanks for putting in a good word, Chef. I really appreciate it.’
‘My pleasure. When do you start?’
Hazel peered out the door at the red carpet and the lights being set up on the footpath in front of the adjacent bar. Was Ethan really going to be there?
‘Wednesday,’ she said. ‘I’m heading home after this weekend.’
Ethan rummaged through his wardrobe looking for his other high-top.
‘Harry,’ he hollered, ‘did you take my sneaker? It’s fucking Comme des Gar?ons!’ He rubbed his fingers across his brow. He didn’t want to go to the bar opening. When he’d agreed to take Ronnie, hoping to generate a bit of publicity for the movie, he’d had no idea the place was next door to Max’s on the Beach. He knew Hazel would be working. She’d be so close.
Ethan had spent every night since they went their separate ways sitting on his balcony, staring at the moon, trying to balance his see-saw of emotions. He’d just signed a contract that would change his life, but he couldn’t stop thinking how much better his life would be with her by his side. He knew he didn’t have any right to feel as hurt as he did. They had made a promise to keep things light. He was the one who didn’t stick to the rules, and that wasn’t her fault.
If he was honest, he would have done exactly the same thing if he’d been offered a job he couldn’t knock back. In fact, he had done the same thing. It was just shit timing all around. After a week of tossing and turning, he’d settled on feeling disappointed, refusing to admit that heartbroken was a more accurate description for the way he felt.
He dropped to his knees and looked under his bed. There was his shoe, thankfully unharmed, along with a half-chewed cushion and one of Kevin’s cat toys. Wiggling backwards, he sat on the floor and held the small felt mouse in his hands. It was Kevin’s favourite, the only toy he ever played with. He must have lost it under there. Ethan leaned against his bed, turning the mouse over and over.
Why hadn’t Hazel told him about the job offer when she first knew about it? As if he’d ever hold her to a dog-minding contract when her dream was on the line. Her opinion of him obviously hadn’t changed as much as he thought it had. He really had to stop falling for women who didn’t want to be with him. He’d struck out two for two.
Pathetic, James. He scowled as he got up off the floor.
But he didn’t believe that whatever it was between him and Hazel was nothing. The night he’d spent at her place, snuggled in bed watching Bake Off, that wasn’t nothing. That was a huge something. That was when he’d realised he was in love her. He’d nearly told her, but now he was so glad he hadn’t. Then again, maybe if he’d told her…
Ethan tugged on his sneakers with a grunt and checked his reflection. His white western-style shirt fit him like a tight hug, its glossy pearl buttons undone to midway down his tanned chest, and his black skinny jeans were glued to his thighs. He ran his hand through his hair. It was a bit lighter than usual, all the swimming and sunshine highlighting the gold in the light brown. Then he checked his flawless stubble and nodded. He looked good. No, he looked great. He looked like the movie star he was. He was about to achieve everything he’d ever worked towards. There was no reason for him to feel sorry for himself. No reason at all.
‘Hands, please,’ Hazel called as she wiped down the edge of the dish. It was her last meal for the night. Thank fuck. The opening party at the bar next door had spilled onto the beach behind them, and the buzz had vibrated through the restaurant all night. Chef Max had been right, there had been a lot of extra foot traffic, which Hazel was happy about because it kept her busy. Though no matter how busy she was, she hadn’t managed to forget that Ethan was right next door. So close, but no longer in reach.
Now she just wanted to get out of there without seeing him. Or maybe just without him seeing her. Because she would kind of like to see him one more time…
‘You finish up, Hazel,’ Max said, making her jump. ‘I have to wait for my wife.’
Hazel nodded, grabbed her backpack from the storeroom and stuffed her apron inside. She’d been dreading this moment all night, knowing she’d have to leave the restaurant with Ethan only a few footsteps away. She said goodnight to the rest of the kitchen crew, then ducked out through the restaurant and onto the street, just as Ethan stepped out from the bar and onto the red carpet lining the footpath.
She froze, blinking at the bulbs flashing around him. She’d never seen him in all his movie star glory before, shining so bright it was if he was made of diamonds. He looked like the superstar she was sure he would soon be, striding across the path, absolutely spectacular, while she stood in her food-smothered uniform and chunky safety boots.
Ronnie stepped out behind him and linked her arm with Ethan’s. Ethan bent down and kissed her full on the lips as cameras flashed and Hazel stared. He helped Ronnie into the car and just before he got in, he stopped and slowly turned. Hazel jolted as his eyes met hers. They stared at each other, motionless.
Everything froze. The sounds around them fell away, the stars dulled, and all Hazel could see was Ethan.
She willed her legs to move so she could turn and run, or her hand to move so she could wave and smile. She had no idea which she wanted to do, but in the end it didn’t matter because her body was capable of neither.
He frowned and his foot dropped back onto the pavement, his body turning a fraction, as if he was going to come towards her.
Her ribcage tightened, her breath jamming in her throat as she watched him.
A tiny smile curved on his lips, and an answering smile lifted on hers. Then he winked, climbed into the car and disappeared into the night, and out of her life.