Chapter 10
Alec
I’ve been looking forward to seeing Coco all day. I have some exciting news that I hope doesn’t freak her out.
I’ve missed her so much the last two days, and it’s made me realize that I can’t do this anymore. I can’t keep living for the restaurant and my career. I still love cooking, but I love Coco more. I need to see her, to spend my days with her, so I’ve been working on some changes.
I was hoping she’d come to the class early so we could hang out for a few minutes and talk, but she arrived right as I was starting the class.
She’s been behaving weirdly too—quiet, distant, avoiding my eyes. Now that I think about it, I didn’t hear from her earlier today or at all yesterday.
Is she avoiding me? Did I do something wrong?
I move to her table, hoping to catch her eye, to see her smile, to settle my growing unease, but she barely glances at me. She’s not saying much to Pearl either, which is strange. Pearl keeps shooting me questioning glances. I shrug at her. I’m not sure what I did either.
I stick close to her while I teach, but nothing changes. Coco never smiles at me; she barely looks in my direction. She’s clearly not focused either because she burns every single dish she touches to a crisp.
I’m plagued with nerves as I wrap up the class and dismiss everyone. My eyes are locked on Coco, but she doesn’t look at me. She seems to be in a rush, but she has to know that I won’t let her leave without talking to her.
I cut into her path before she can bolt, making her draw up short.
“Hey,” I say. “Can we talk?”
She swallows hard before meeting my gaze and nodding reluctantly. I wait until everyone has left before I cup her elbow and steer her up front to my table.
Coco seems so sad as she turns to face me, and my mind races with what could possibly have put that look on her face.
“What happened?” I ask gently.
She takes a shuddering breath. “I can’t do this.”
I frown. “Do what?”
“I can’t date you.”
“Why the hell not?” I ask in bewilderment.
“I’ve thought about it, and I’ve realized that this isn’t a good idea.”
“You’re wrong. It’s a great fucking idea. You know we’re good together. I know you can feel it too.”
“No,” she chokes out.
“Why not? You at least owe me an explanation.”
“I… We just don’t fit,” she says weakly.
That’s not good enough. “Coco!” I snap.
“I want a different partner! I want a boyfriend I can fall asleep next to. I want someone I can see for more than a few hours here and there. I want someone to go to parties with. I—”
“I know,” I cut her off, but she’s on a roll.
“Think about if we have kids! What’s going to happen? You’ll never see them? Never be able to spend time with them?”
I smirk. “You’ve thought about us having kids?”
She glares at me. “I’m serious, Alec! I don’t want to basically be a single mom. I don’t want people to think I have an imaginary boyfriend because they never get to meet you. I don’t want to have a boyfriend and still go through life alone!”
“I know. You won’t.”
“I will if I stay with you,” she whispers, finally running out of steam.
“No, you won’t. I’ve been making changes.”
“What changes?”
“I finalized the menu here, thanks to you.”
“Me? What did I do?”
“You’re my muse.”
She blinks up at me.
I grin, stepping closer. “I hired a new chef to run Palmer’s. Actually, I promoted Sarah, my sous chef. I’ll have to help out a day or two a week for a bit, but I won’t be away for six nights of the week anymore.”
Coco raises an eyebrow. “And what are you going to do with all your new free time?”
“Well, I’m going to spend time with my girlfriend,” I tell her. “But I’m also going to open a brunch spot. That way, I’ll be working earlier and be off when you’re off.”
“I can’t ask you to do that,” she protests, already shaking her head.
I close the remaining distance between us and pull her into my arms. “I know. You didn’t ask. I’m choosing you, Coco.”
“What if brunch isn’t enough?” she asks, but I can see the hope shining in her eyes.
I’m doing what her mother should have done. I’m choosing her. I’m putting her first. I’m loving her unconditionally.
“It will be. I can still be a chef and be yours. That’s what I want.”
“Alec—”
I shake my head, cutting her off. “It’s what I want,” I promise. “I love to cook, and I’ll still be doing that. I also love you. I can’t lose you, Coco.”
Her eyes widen when I say those words.
I press our foreheads together. “I love you. I know it’s fast, and you don’t have to say it back, but I don’t want to pretend that I don’t feel this way about you. This thing between us is right. We’re made for each other.”
“I—”
“You don’t have to say it right now,” I repeat.
Coco shakes her head. “I love you too. It’s crazy because we barely know each other, but it feels like we do.”
“We’re the same in so many ways,” I agree.
She smiles softly, and it’s my undoing.
I cup her face in my hands and bring my mouth down to hers. Coco rises onto her toes, wrapping her arms around my neck as she kisses me back. The second our lips meet, all the fear that’s been choking me since she tried to end things disappears.
She’s still here. She loves me. She’s mine.
I deepen the kiss, sliding one arm around her waist and pulling her against me. She lets out a soft moan, and I swallow the sound, kissing her harder. Her fingers thread through my hair as if she’s afraid I might disappear if she lets go.
I’m not going anywhere. I need her to know that.
“I choose you,” I murmur against her lips before kissing her again. “Every single time.”
Coco trembles in my arms, and when I finally pull back, tears shine in her green eyes.
“Good,” she whispers, brushing her thumb across my bottom lip. “Because I choose you too.”
I press one last soft kiss to her mouth, then rest my forehead against hers. For the first time since class started, she looks happy again.
“So, where is this brunch spot going to be?” she asks, grinning up at me.
“I’ve been looking at some places for sale up in Maple Creek. It’s not too far of a drive.”
“Yeah, that’s not bad.”
“Plus, I think we can find a house on that side of town. We’ll go look this weekend.”
“You’re crazy.” Coco laughs.
“Crazy about you.”
I kiss the tip of her nose, making her scrunch it up.
Fuck, she’s adorable.
“We’ll have to come up with a good name,” Coco says as I take her hand and lead her out of the kitchen.
“Oh, I’ve already got that covered.”
“Really? Do I get to know what it is?”
I smile down at her and say, “Coco’s.”