Chapter Four
WHEN I STEPthrough the glass doors, an air of nostalgia washes over me. I can’t wrap my mind around why Abby picked this restaurant, of all places. She could have picked anywhere in the entire city, but she picked my favorite spot. If I didn’t know any better, I would think she’s trying to butter me up for something. But we are way past that point.
I can’t deny there was some damage done to our friendship today. First, she brought in Raven to replace her, when any other option would have been better. And second, she didn’t defend me when Raven tore me to shreds in her office.
I scan the restaurant. The usual glimmer of joy in my chest when I’m here is replaced with anxious nerves. When my eyes land on the three of them, my heart drops. With forced steps, I make my way towards the table. I would rather be anywhere but here. My eyes catch with Abby”s and a smile lights her face as she waves me towards them. Even her warm welcoming smile can”t get my feet to move any faster. Once there was a time when I would have run to that smile. Now all I want to do is dart in the opposite direction.
I can”t help but notice how the group falls silent when I step up to the table. Raven”s piercing eyes travel up the length of my chest before she meets my gaze. Something about the way she stares sends a shiver down my spine. I don”t know what it is about her, but she sets me on edge and I don”t like it at all.
Forcing a sigh of exasperation to stay behind my lips, I notice the only open chair is beside Raven. I guess at a table for four there really is nowhere else to sit but next to her. Pulling the chair back, I sit down. Everyone still has menus in front of them and I”m relieved that I”m not late. I should have known they would all come together. Raven and Abby were always inseparable back in the day. I guess I shouldn”t be surprised that is still the case.
”We are so glad you could join us.” Abby”s smile doesn”t quite reach her eyes. Her words are welcoming, but they remind me I am not here of my own free will. The air at the table feels anything but friendly.
I don”t say all the words that roll around inside my head, because that”s not who I am anymore. I don”t say every word that pops into my brain regardless of the consequences like I would have before. So I say the only words that feel right. ”Thanks for the invite. It”s nice to see everyone in a social setting.”
I can sense the eye roll from Raven beside me more than I can see it. Tension rolls off of her in unseen surging motions, crashing into me like waves on a shore. Irritation buzzes under my skin, because I don”t like how hyper aware I am of her sitting beside me. Every shift of her hair sends a ripple of annoyance run down my spine. I want to grab her by the chair and push her to the other side of the table, just to put some distance between us.
Picking up the menu, I scan over it. Trying to do anything but meet the awkward glances being passed around the table. They think my attention is fixed on the menu, but I”m discretely watching them exchange looks because they think I can”t see them.
Spencer clears his throat and I look up from the menu in my hands. He gives Abby and Raven a pointed stare before turning his attention back to me. ”Abby says this is one of the best restaurants in Aspen. What would you recommend?”
My eyes flick between the two women, trying to figure out what made Spencer shoot them such a look, but I come up empty. I’m no better at reading this situation than Raven thinks I am at running a charity.
”You can never go wrong with a good steak or burger.” I cringe at my words. I sound disingenuous even to myself. My head shakes, and I add. “Everything here is good. The chef is fantastic. I promise anything you order will be phenomenal.”
I glance my eyes back down at the menu, even though I have it memorized. “And if there’s something special you’d like, I’m sure West would prepare it.”
A forced laugh tumbles from Raven’s lips, and as much as I don’t want to look at her, the noise draws my gaze. She rolls her eyes blatantly at me this time, flipping her long glossy black hair over her shoulder.
I glance around at the occupants of the table, surprise lighting my face. I hadn’t meant that as a humble brag, but one look at Raven tells me everything I need to know. That’s exactly what they think I’m doing. Discomfort weighs heavily on my chest.
A hint of regret and embarrassment simmer beneath my skin. I can’t remember the last time a group of people made me feel more out of my element than these three. A part of me wants to bolt from the table, while the other part wants to stand my ground.
Saving me from saying something else stupid, our server steps up to the table. “Good evening. My name is April. I’ll be taking care of you this evening.”
With shortcut blond hair, she wears the same outfit all the servers wear here: black slacks, a white button down, with an apron wrapped around her waist. My attention falls on the empty pockets, then moves to both of her empty hands. Raising an eyebrow, I realize she doesn’t need to write our order down. She’s confident in her ability to remember it.
Forcing a nonchalant smile to my face, I meet the server’s gaze. A flicker of acknowledgment flashes across her face, causing her eyes to grow slightly wider as she takes me in. She can’t place who I am, but she knows she’s seen me here before.
She would be shocked if she knew she was standing in front of the owner of this restaurant, not just a friend of the chef’s. But I keep that information to myself, least I humble brag again by accident.
A shy smile lights her face, and her eyes move to the floor before meeting mine. “What can I get started for you?”
Something about the faint hint of pink on her cheeks bolsters my drooping ego. At least, my charm still works on some people. Even if it doesn’t work on the people I’m currently sitting with.
After we’ve all ordered, she steps away from the table, and my eyes move back to the others. Abby shakes her head when our gazes meet. “You haven’t changed one bit, have you?”
Irritation burns through me, but I keep my face calm. “I don’t know what you mean.”
I turn my attention to the napkin in front of me, twisting it with one finger. Doing anything but meeting her gaze.
A laugh escapes her, and I can’t help but glance up. “You’re still charming ladies left and right.”
My brows raise at her words. My gaze shifts across the room to where our server stands near the kitchen. She’s looking at me. This would have once caused me to smile, but now it just leaves me feeling hollow. I shift my attention back to our table. “If you say so.”
Slipping my hands beneath the table, I clench them into fists. Just because I was nice to our server, that must mean I’m the same playboy I’ve always been. If I had been cold, would she have said I was a jerk? What will it take to show her I’ve changed?
Forcing my hands flat against my leg, I turn my attention to Spencer, because he’s the only one at the table who doesn’t see me as a blundering playboy. “So tell me, Spencer, how is the company doing? I’ve sent a few clients your way.”
Spencer folds his hands in front of him, going almost imperceptibly into his business persona now that I’ve brought up work. A small twinge of regret nags at me. I didn’t want to make tonight about business.
“Yes, we have received several new clients who’ve said you recommended them. They’ve offered Abby a chance to start her own portfolio of clients.”
For the first time tonight, a genuine smile lifts my lips. “Glad I could help.”
And for once, I actually mean those words. I want Abby to be successful at whatever she wants to do. She’s my friend, and when she is happy, I am happy for her as well.
Once our food arrives at the table, Abby jumps into the conversation, and things finally ease into a comfortable banter between the three of them.
Settling into my chair, I watch silently as the conversation engulfs them. It’s easy to spot the odd man out in our group. This situation is new to me. I’ve never been this person before. The one who sticks out - the one who doesn’t fit in.
I have never felt more like a third wheel in a group of four before. I didn”t even know that was possible. But it’s what”s happening right now and I can”t escape it if I tried. It”s like I”m dating Abby all over again and I no longer exist the moment Raven has her attention. Except Spencer is here too, but he fits seamlessly into the conversation where I don’t.
Ignoring how they inadvertently exclude me, I turn my focus to the food sitting before me. As always, West has outdone himself. The presentation of such a simple meal of steak, potatoes, and broccoli would normally look like it was just thrown onto a plate. West’s attention to detail makes this restaurant stand out. It’s why I hired him in the first place. Just one taste of his spectacular skills and I was hooked. If I had wanted to hide him away from the world, I would have hired him on as my personal chef. We both agree his skills were meant to be shared with the world. Not hidden away in a luxury kitchen for only me to enjoy.
Just one bite has my eyes threatening to roll into the back of my head. No one makes steak the way West does. He is an artist behind the grill.
I watch as the others take their first bites and similar looks cross their faces as well. Surprise followed by delight over the flavors. Spencer is the first to speak to me again. “Wow, you were right. This place is good.”
I try not to let his compliment boost my ego, because the compliment isn’t for me. It’s for West. And without West, this place would be nothing. I would have recommended it myself, had I been given the option, but it doesn’t matter. We could have eaten anywhere tonight, and it would have been uncomfortable. At least this way, I get to enjoy one of my favorite meals. A part of me can’t help but think that’s why Abby chose this restaurant. To appease me. Well, it didn’t work - not entirely.
When April comes back to remove our plates and take our dessert orders, her eyes linger on mine for a moment too long. Raven stiffens beside me, and I shift in my seat to face her. Extending one arm over the back of my chair, I swirl the wine around in my glass. The wine makes me bold, and I don’t look away, even though I should.
After April leaves, Raven says nothing for a long moment. She’s blatantly pretending that I’m not looking at her. She’s quiet. Too quiet. And every moment that she doesn’t speak, I grow more nervous. The possibility of what is brewing inside her vicious head sparks my curiosity. I want her venomous words to light a fire in me as much as I want to go home and read a good book.
“Can I help you with something?” Her words are meant to scold me for staring, but they do nothing more than force a smirk to my face. I can tell by one simple sentence, I annoy her as much as she annoys me.
“Actually, you can.”
Her eyes flick up in surprise, as do Abby’s. Apprehension fills her face over what I’m about to say. Her lack of faith in my conversational skills annoys me. Why does she walk on eggshells every time Raven and I interact? If we don’t get along, it’s not the end of the world or the end of our charity.
In that moment, the most devious idea plants itself in my mind. I don’t have to convince Abby that I’m good enough to run our charity alone. I just need to annoy Raven enough until she gives up on her own and quits. Then Abby will have no choice but to step back and let me run things by myself. Like I should have done in the first place.
“I’d like to get together and discuss the changes you proposed at the meeting this morning. If you think things have been too lax or not aggressive enough, I’d like to hear your ideas on how we can fix that.”
Surprise lights the faces of every person at the table and Raven opens her mouth, but doesn’t speak. A thrill runs through me as the faintest hint of pink flushes her cheeks. She is absolutely stunning when she’s at a loss for words.
I force that thought from my mind, because this woman is my adversary, and nothing more.
Abby steps in, speaking for her friend. “Raven has a lot of good ideas. Blake, I’m really proud of you for being open to them.”
With a shrug of my shoulder, I take a sip of my wine. “Why wouldn’t I be? Anything that helps the foundation grow is something I want to get behind.”
A hint of suspicion flashes through Raven’s eyes, but she says nothing to voice her thoughts. “I would love to go over my plans with you.”
The smirk on my face grows. “Great. How does tomorrow sound? Eight AM. Your office.”
“That sounds perfect.” Fury burns in her eyes, turning her whiskey brown irises to molten lava. Satisfaction stirs beneath my skin. Maybe getting to her is going to be easier than I thought.
I just know my request is eating her up inside. I wonder how late she’ll be up tonight preparing a presentation for our meeting. It’s an educated guess, but my instincts tell me that’s the type of person she is. I may not know Raven very well, but I know her mother. And her mother would never enter a meeting without extensively preparing beforehand. Let’s just hope the saying like mother like daughter applies to Raven.
A part of me hoped that the tension between us was just a work place thing, but the moment she said those things in her office, all hope of that vanished. There’s no hope for us now. There are only flames.
The fire burning in her eyes lights a simmering rage deep within me. Her anger slices me through with a single stare. I”m not usually an angry person, but something about her pisses me off. It makes me want to lash out anytime she’s around. It makes me want to burn all of her hopes and dreams to the ground, just like she wants to do to mine.
Something about the whiskey flames burning in her eyes makes me irrational. Like I might do something I regret. But if I’m going to push her out of my life, I need to do it discretely and with a plan. I can’t act impulsively.
No matter how badly she makes me want to.