Chapter 17
17
Patrick
I don’t even bother going to my house. I’ve had hours to play over the last interaction I had with Jaylen this morning. Her being upset is perfectly fine, but when she pulled away from me. That was a kick to the gut. And her dig about me not coming back until the next reunion was completely valid. What else could she think? I stayed away for fifteen years.
Parking in my normal spot, I turn off the truck and slam my door shut. My feet hit hard against the pavement as I storm into Out of the Ashes. Eric sees me and motions me toward the office. He knows the conversation we’re about to have, is best behind closed doors.
I close the door behind me and whirl on him. “What the fuck happened?” It’s not often I lose my temper, but this has put a kink in the relationship I was trying to build while I was back home.
Eric raises his hands in defense. As if I would actually hit him. I’m not that big of a dick. “Viv placed the food order, but when it got here it wasn’t right. The vendor said she got it wrong, and she said he did. I tried to smooth things out, but he won’t talk to anyone but you and Angie.”
“Well, where’s Angie?” This is her bar. She should be here to handle it.
“Dylan’s mom had a nasty fall, and they had to take her to hospital in Dallas.” Fuck. Now I feel like an even bigger asshole.
“What about Carlos?”
“The vendor doesn’t like dealing with him either. He said that Carlos has an attitude problem.” Before he met Caroline, maybe. Now, he’s probably the calmest person here aside from Eric. “Fine. I’ll call him.”
“I’m sorry, man.” Eric takes a couple of steps toward me before he stops. “I did everything I could to keep from calling you. I know you were trying to work things out with the girl who got away. How did that go?”
I take a few deep breaths. It’s not his fault. He tried all the right avenues, and I know that. As annoying as he is, he’s a good manager. “It was going great until you called me this morning. Now I’m pretty sure she thinks I’m never coming back.”
“Are you?” He looks around. “Aside from this inconvenience, we managed fine without you.”
“To see her, yes.” I plan on leaving as soon as I get this sorted out. There are still a few more days until I am supposed to be back. “But I don’t know that I’d ever move back there. I could get a job in New Orleans, but that isn’t my scene.”
“You’d be surprised what you would do for love.” He’s speaking from experience. He got two teenagers when he and Joan made things official.
“True.” I run my hand through my hair. “Is it busy out there? I didn’t even bother looking.”
“Nope. It’s a slow day, thank God.”
“Good.” I grab the phone off the office desk. “Can you search around for other food vendors? I’m going to check the list Vivian sent over and we’re likely going to find a new vendor. I just have to run it by Angie and Carlos.”
“Absolutely.” He gives me a salute before he walks out the office door, closing it behind him.
This is such a mess. But as soon as I meet with this guy, I’m getting in my truck and driving straight to Jaylen’s.
Meeting with the food vendor did not go over well. I confirmed Vivian’s order. It was correct, what he sent over wasn’t right at all. Needless to say, we don’t have a choice but to go with someone else. I refuse to let my cooks be treated the way he treated me and her. Maybe Hudson is right. I do have the patience of a saint. Because I wanted to punch that guy.
Rubbing my temples, I shoot a text to Angie and Carlos letting them know what’s going on. I have a list of possible vendors printed out, and meetings set up with them for Monday morning.
It’s already almost five and I’m not going to get to Louisiana until late. As much as I hate fast food I’ll grab something on the road. I push the chair back and close down the computer. These are Monday problems and I have no intention of dealing with any of them right now.
I walk out of the office, down the hall, and into the bar. What the hell? I blink my eyes to make sure what I’m seeing is real. “Jaylen, what are you doing here?”
“I felt bad for what I said this morning.”
“So, you drove all the way here? You could have called.”
Eric’s eyes are bouncing between me and her. We also have the attention of the entire bar. “You didn’t text me letting me know you got here. I assumed you were pissed, and had every right to be. I wanted…I needed to make sure you were okay.”
I close the distance between us. “I’m fine. I was actually about to get on the road and head in your direction. You’re it for me. Always have been. I know our locations aren’t ideal, but we’d make it work.”
“I know that.” She places her hands on my chest. “I knew that as soon as you dropped me off, but my heart was a different matter entirely. Is there somewhere we can talk privately?” She glances around the bar, all eyes on us.
Nodding, I grab her hand and pull her into the kitchen. “I’m sorry you came all this way.”
“Don’t be,” she leans against the sink, “I actually have a secret. I’ve been applying to schools in this area for months all in the hopes we could make things work.”
“Oh yeah?” I move directly in front of her. Arms on either side.
“Yep. And if you’ll have me for the weekend. I want to explore your town.”
“I plan on having you for more than the weekend.” I lean down and press my lips against hers. Grateful we’re going to work this out.
She pulls away and her eyes lock on mine. “Good because I plan on having you forever.”
After all this time, I thought she didn’t care about me. Maybe I should have gone home sooner because now we have a lot of lost time to make up for.