2. Wren
TWO
WREN
By the time we close the kitchen for the night, I’m bone tired. My muscles ache, my feet hurt, and I could use a deep tissue massage. Thank fuck tomorrow is Sunday.
Exiting the kitchen, I glance around at the still busy bar, peeling off my chef’s jacket and taking one of the seats at the bar top. As tired as I am, I need to decompress before I head home.
Florian notices me and leans on the bar in front of me. “What can I get you, friend?”
“Fuck me up. I want to pass out when I get home.”
Florian chuckles. “One ‘fuck me up.’ Got it.”
He begins pouring a concoction of liquor while I glance out at the people who make this place successful.
Following my instinct to apply for this job was the best decision I ever made, and it led to me finally being able to ditch my ex.
I thought it might be weird living with my bosses, but it’s not at all.
They live their own lives for the most part, but come together on Sundays.
It’s been nice to feel like I’m part of something.
There’s no more yelling, no more drunk groping, no more cheating. Just a quiet room all to myself. It’s perfect. Except…
I smile when Florian slides the drink in front of me. I take a sip and nearly choke, thumping my fist against my chest.
“Damn.”
“You asked, I delivered.”
“Good thing I can walk home from here.”
“Bet you could find a chaperone too.”
I take another sip, cringing as the alcohol burns through me. “What does that mean, man?”
“I can’t figure out whether you’re oblivious or not interested.”
“In what?”
He looks at me like I just turned green. “Ridley.”
“I don’t get it.”
Florian chuckles. “Oblivious then. Got it.”
He tries to walk off, but I reach across the bar and grab his t-shirt. “Elaborate. What about Ridley?”
“You really don’t see it?”
“Obviously not. What are you talking about?”
“Dude. Ridley’s been making eyes at you for as long as I can remember. That fine-ass man is into you.”
I pull my head back, shaking it in protest. “You’ve got that wrong. He’s not at all. We’ve been alone a bunch of times and he’s never given me that impression.”
He chuckles, crossing his arms then lifting his head and calling out to Salem, who just left a table.
“Hey guys,” Salem says, leaning against the bar. “How’s it going?”
“It’s going,” Florian says. “I was just telling Wren here that he’s got a suitor waiting in the wings if he wants one.”
Salem scrunches his nose and makes a point of snapping his lips shut. Florian just laughs.
“You know about it too?” I ask.
Salem shakes his head. “I’m not at liberty to discuss.”
I scoff. “Is this something everyone knows but me?”
“Yes,” Florian says while Salem struggles to hold back a grin.
I turn my head and search the place for Ridley.
He’s here as much as I am, and I find him holding a tray and talking to some guys playing pool.
Ridley is insanely hot, defying his forty-plus years of life with all the tattoos, colorful hair, and chill personality.
I’ve never noticed a single glance or any other sign of interest in me, but maybe I’ve been under this cloud of trauma so deep I couldn’t see it. If the guys say it’s true, could it be?
I focus on Salem, grabbing his wrist. “Tell me the truth. Does Ridley like me?”
He blows out a breath, glancing over his shoulder. “He made us promise not to tell you.”
“But he practically walks around with a billboard on his chest,” Florian says. “Not exactly subtle.”
“I didn’t see it.” I shake my head, thinking back over our interactions.
Sure, he smiles a lot, but he’s a friendly guy.
He’s always here to hang out on breaks or walk home later, but that makes sense—he’s got a huge stake in the bar, and he’s not all partnered up like the other guys and whatever Bane and Jerryn have going on.
He compliments me a lot, but I’ve seen him with customers.
He’s a flirt. It doesn’t mean anything. “Yeah, nothing.”
“He knows what you’ve been through,” Salem says, rubbing my arm. “And he respects your need to heal.”
“Oh.”
“Because…” Salem steps a little closer. “Ridley’s not a relationship kind of guy. He’s attracted to you, but I’m not sure he’d be up for more than messing around, you know? He thinks you deserve more and maybe wouldn’t want that anyway. Florian doesn’t know all the inside details.”
The news is shocking. I’ve known Ridley for over a year and never had a clue he was into me that way.
“Oh” is all I manage to say.
“He didn’t want us to say anything so you wouldn’t feel awkward.” He aims that sentence at Florian, who shrugs.
“No one told me,” Florian says. “I thought it was obvious.”
“No.” I bite my bottom lip. “He wasn’t gonna tell me or make a move or anything?”
“Doubtful,” Salem says. “Not unless you showed interest first. He might think you’re not ready or worried about the work relationship or that he’s too old for you.”
I scoff at that. “Has he looked in a mirror?”
Salem grins. “Well I’m a fan of men in the over-forty club, obviously, but yeah, Ridley’s holding up alright.”
“To put it mildly.”
“Are you interested?”
I look at Florian, but he’s distracted talking to a customer.
“I… don’t know. It’s hard to envision going on a date or all that stuff.
I was with Trent for so long, I’m not sure how to move forward.
I don’t want to hit the scene, you know?
Dating apps, hooking up with strangers.” I shudder.
“Not my style. Probably why I stayed in a shitty relationship for so long.”
“I get it. It’s not easy out there.”
“I wouldn’t even know. I’ve just been scrolling through forums reading about the challenges. I figured I’d be single forever unless someone walked in here and changed my mind.”
Salem offers a sweet smile. “Ridley is a great guy. He’s loyal and smart and funny. He’s got a wild streak I’m sure you’ve noticed.”
I nod. “Yeah.”
“And he likes you.”
“But?”
“But like I said, he’d probably only be down for something casual.”
Salem’s warning bounces around my head. Maybe casual would be good for me. Would I even know how to be that way with someone? Ridley’s technically my boss, so if it all went to shit, where would that leave me? I could lose my place to stay and my job. That’s a lot to risk for some dick.
But what if it went well? What if I figured out how to hook up with a hot guy for a few months until I could find my footing again? What if?—
“Hey, guys.”
Ridley’s voice interrupts my thoughts, and my breath catches like I just got caught red-handed.
“You okay?” he asks.
“Yep. Fine. Good.”
Salem scrunches his nose behind Ridley while Florian chuckles.
“I feel like I walked into something,” Ridley says.
“Nope.” I smile. “Busy tonight.”
Ridley’s relaxed smile takes over his face. “Yeah, it’s good. I’m not worried about summer this year. I think we’ve built a good reputation to keep business steady when the university goes on break.”
“And I have the New Onyx socials campaign ready to go,” Salem says. “My angle is to try something new, and we have the partnership with the rideshare company so they don’t have to drive.”
“Hell yeah,” Ridley says. “It’s gonna be good.”
I’m focused on Ridley now, noting the nuisances in his expression and trying to detect if anything Florian and Salem said is true, but I got nothing. He’s not looking at me any differently than the other guys.
“We might want to revisit the kitchen staffing too,” Ridley says. “I know you like to be here, but you’re gonna burn out. I read an article that said it’s super common with executive chefs.” He glances at Salem. “Trying to learn more about the industry.”
“Mm-hmm,” Salem says, grinning and wiggling his eyebrows.
Ridley shoves his arm in response. Is that a sign?
“Wren?”
I blink. “Yeah, Ridley?”
“Did you hear me?”
I nod. “Carlos isn’t ready to take over some of my duties yet. Plus he has the new baby at home.”
“What about Teddy?” Salem asks. “The guy who interviewed with you? I follow him on social and I get the sense he’d be up for a change.”
“To work under me when he applied for the same exec. position?”
“You never know.” Salem shrugs. “He seems pretty cool and took the defeat well.”
“Your call,” Ridley says. “It’s your kitchen, but you should think about it.”
“I will.”
Ridley nods, scratching his bicep before dragging a hand through his currently blue hair. It hangs in his face a little, adding to the younger-than-forty-one vibes. He focuses on my drink.
“Whatcha drinking?”
“I don’t know. I told Flor to fuck me up and he did.” I push the glass toward him. “Wanna taste?”
“Hell yeah.” He grabs it, takes a drink, then sputters, pulling his head back. “Jesus. What the fuck is in that?”
“Secret recipe.” Florian appears next to us with a grin. “After one of those you’ll be feeling no pain.”
“Until the morning when you can’t get out of bed,” Ridley quips.
“Just one,” Florian says. “I wouldn’t serve more than that to the same person.”
I take the glass and drink half of it, flinching as it burns a path through me. “I need to sleep when I get home.”
“Having trouble?” Ridley asks.
“Yeah. Insomnia is a bitch. I try to be quiet so I don’t wake anyone up, but I’m awake most nights.”
“I’m in the living room a lot if you ever come down. I don’t always sleep through the night either, and I like the big screen better.”
“Oh, really?”
“The house is big enough that the TV doesn’t disturb anyone. You didn’t even know.”
“True. Maybe I’ll try that next time I can’t sleep.”
Ridley nods, claps his hand on my arm, then turns and heads out to the patio to check on customers.
I’ve got a pretty good read on most people, so if Ridley likes me, he’s damn good at hiding it.
I didn’t detect even a sliver of interest from him.
I think Salem and Florian are teasing me or confused.
Maybe Ridley had some interest at one point, but he clearly doesn’t anymore.
Which is good. It would just complicate things and muddy the waters. I nod, convincing myself that it’s way better if Ridley isn’t into me. We can keep it strictly boss and employee and I can figure out how to pick my life up off the ground without distractions.
I just wish I didn’t feel so damn disappointed now.