The Best Goodbye (6 page)

“Hey, Rose, you good?” Brad asked, as he stepped into the dining room from the kitchen.

I held up a napkin in my hand and forced a smile. “I have to teach everyone how to roll flatware,” I explained.

He looked around at the others, noticing their lack of concern, then frowned. “Hey!” he called out, getting their attention. When all eyes were on him, he pointed to me. “Y’all need to learn how to roll the fucking flatware, and Rose doesn’t have all damn day. Pay attention.”

Several of the females smiled at Brad as if they’d do whatever he wanted them to do. He was single and attractive, so I didn’t blame them. They stopped gossiping about where Elle might be and listened as I started the first of many lessons that day.

•  •  •

The word was that Captain had broken things off with Elle, and she was at home, pouting. Whatever the case, I was relieved to have a break from her for the next few days. But it was too much to hope that she wouldn’t come back. Girls like her didn’t give up without a fight.

Once everyone was clued in about why Elle wasn’t at work, they seemed more willing to listen to the flatware lesson. Brad checked in on me every thirty minutes or so to be sure I had their attention. I liked that about him. He was helpful and seemed to care. Again, it was a nice feeling. One I hadn’t had in a very long time.

“Hey,” Brad said now. “I tried a new entrée today for the menu. You interested in helping me taste it? We could eat it here or go back to your place and share it with Franny. A kid’s opinion might be good.”

I lifted my eyes to meet his while I polished the tables. I hadn’t heard him come in, but there he was again, being nice. “Uh, yeah. That sounds good. I mean, going to my place. Franny will need dinner.”

A grin broke across his face, making him appear even more handsome. “Great. I’ll pack everything up and meet you back here in a few.” He hurried back to the kitchen.

With a pleased smile on my lips, I bent down to finish polishing the thick mahogany wood of the tabletop I was working on. Captain had said they needed to shine.

“You and Brad seeing each other?” Captain’s deep voice filled the room, making my heart flutter. Frustrated, I shoved the feeling away and stood up to look at him. His expression wasn’t friendly or curious but, rather, stern.

“We’re, uh, friends. I think,” I replied. Because honestly, I wasn’t sure what we were yet.

“You think?” He seemed annoyed by my answer.

Straightening my spine, I held his gaze and gave him back the same annoyed expression he was giving me. “I don’t see how this is your business.”

A smirk touched his lips, and he tilted his head slightly to the left, but his eyes were hard. Nothing like River’s. Not when he looked like that. “Brad’s the best chef in the Southeast. I won’t fire him. It’ll be you that’s gone if things don’t work out. Understood?”

The ache in my chest was back. I hated seeing this side of him. It was something I’d never experienced directed at me. Letting go of the past was hard, but he was making it easier with moments like these. I’d never be able to say goodbye to River—he’d always be a part of me—but I was preparing myself to let go of him.

“I understand,” I replied through clenched teeth.

“Hey, Rose . . .” Brad’s voice trailed off as he walked into the room. “Oh, hey, Captain. I tried out that entrée we discussed. Rose and I are going to her place to test it.” He held up the carryout boxes in his hands. “We’ll let you know our verdict.”

Captain gave a stiff nod and left the room without a word.

I was in a shitty mood. Eating dinner with my sister wasn’t something I wanted to do tonight, but canceling on her wasn’t an option, either. If I tried to back out of it, she’d pout, and her husband would show up at my house pissed. So to avoid the drama, I decided to go.

Pulling up outside their mansion on the beach, I did a quick scan of the cars in the driveway and was relieved to see that it was just us. She hadn’t invited the rest of her friends. Tonight I wasn’t in the mood for all the happy couples and their kids.

When I reached the door, I rang the bell and waited. I could hear small feet running inside just before a
thump
hit the door.

“I got it!” my nephew called out. He was three going on twenty.

The door swung open, and I looked down to see Nate Finlay smiling up at me with a big, toothy grin. His silver-gray eyes were his father’s. Heck, most of the kid was like his father. Blaire couldn’t claim much.

“Hey, Unca Cap,” he said, as he held out his fist for me to bump.

I reached down and bumped his fist, then made sure to “blow it up,” or he’d make me do it again until I got it right. I’d learned that lesson already. “Hey, kid,” I said.

“We’re eatin’ mash ’tatoes,” he announced, as if that was the best thing in the world.

“That’s the only item on the menu he cares about,” Blaire said, walking up behind him. “I promise I made more than just mashed potatoes.”

The smells coming from the kitchen made me hungry. I was ready for some food. What Brad had cooked at the restaurant had smelled incredible, but then he’d used that meal to impress Rose.

Thinking about that pissed me off more. I didn’t want to admit to myself that I didn’t like the idea of Rose with Brad, but fuck if that wasn’t true. Thinking about Addy had screwed with my head. It was making me blur the line with Rose. Hell, I’d barely had a conversation with Rose. I had no claim on her other than that she reminded me of Addy. She brought back memories I’d tried hard to repress.

Telling her I’d fire her had been cold and uncalled for, but deep down, I wanted to do just that. I wanted an excuse to get her away from me. She was possibly the best worker I had, but I was trying to run her off because of my haunted past. It wasn’t fair to her, and once again, I owed her an apology. This shit didn’t need to become a pattern.

“What’s with the frown? Mashed potatoes aren’t that bad,” Blaire said, studying me closely.

Blaire knew nothing of my past, and I wanted to keep it that way. “I love mashed potatoes. I’ve just had a long day. A lot on my mind, with the restaurant opening in a week.”

My sister did not look convinced.

“Ribs are ready,” Rush called from the kitchen.

Blaire grinned again. “I cooked the sides. I put him on the grill.”

Ribs sounded good. “I’m starved.”

“Perfect. Let’s feed you.”

“Mash ’tatoes!” Nate cheered as he ran ahead of us.

The kid had no idea how good his life was. His dad adored him, and his mother loved him unconditionally. His world was so much different from the one I’d lived in. Blaire’s life had started out good, but after her twin sister was killed in a car accident, it had all gone to hell. I was glad she’d gotten a second chance. She deserved it.

Blaire had the life I had wanted for Addy. The one we used to sit and dream about together. Addy would have been an incredible mother. She had a heart so goddamn big it overpowered any evil we had to walk through. If I hadn’t needed her so much, I could have saved her. Gotten her out sooner. But I’d wanted her close to me.

Eleven years ago

I didn’t even go inside when I got home from my date. I knew Addy wouldn’t be inside. Mom was at her newest fund-raiser event tonight. It was the only reason I had agreed to go anywhere without Addy. I knew she’d be safe.

I still hadn’t been able to enjoy myself or the girl, who had quickly gotten naked for me. My thoughts had been with Addy and how I needed to check on her. Thinking of her alone bothered me. She shouldn’t be alone. I didn’t need sex, anyway. I could get that during school hours if I needed to.

I walked around to the back of the house and headed out to the path I knew would lead me to Addy’s favorite spot by the pond. I could see her blond hair in the moonlight before I could see anything else. I loved her hair.

I stepped on a limb and gave my presence away. She jerked, turning around to see me approaching her. The look of fear on her face quickly faded into a pleased smile. The one only I got. I’d watched her smile at other guys. No one got this smile but me. The smile that made her eyes light up and sparkle. If another guy ever did get that smile, I wasn’t sure I could handle it. I’d hurt someone.

“You’re back,” she said. The happy tone in her voice felt like warm butter.

“Yeah, wasn’t much fun.”

She smirked, then glanced away from me, back toward the water. “What, she didn’t put out quick enough?” There was a bitterness to her tone that I didn’t like.

“Uh, no, that wasn’t it. I would just rather be here.”

Addy turned her head toward me slowly, and her eyes looked like they were searching my face for any sign of a lie. “Really?”

“Yeah, really. I’d always rather be with you.”

She chewed her bottom lip a moment, and then a frown puckered her brow. “Then why did you go?”

I wasn’t sure. Because I knew I’d get laid? Because . . . hell, I didn’t know. I would rather be with Addy. I’d always rather be with Addy, but lately, when I looked at her, I thought things. Things I needed to stop thinking. She was my best friend, and she needed me as much as I needed her. We fought a daily battle in that house, and we relied on each other to get through it all.

It was just that when I let myself go, I imagined how it would taste to kiss her lips, how soft her skin would feel. What kinds of sounds she’d make when I touched her under her shirt or slipped my hands down into her panties.

Fuck, I couldn’t think about that. I looked away from her, out at the water. Addy was special. She was perfect and mine to protect. Even from me. “I went because I had guy needs, that’s all. I’m here now. Where I want to be,” I finally answered her.

She didn’t reply, and I didn’t look at her, for fear that my thoughts would go the way I fought hard to keep them from veering.

“You want to go inside and make some popcorn before she gets home?” Addy asked, with a smile in her voice.

My answer had been enough for her. She wasn’t going to press for more. She never did. I turned to look back at her, and I knew then, without a doubt, that she was my center. She was my home. That house, run by parents who were too fucked-up to know the difference, wasn’t home for me. Addy was. She always would be. One day, I’d give her a mansion, and we’d have kids. She’d live like a princess.

“Yeah, let’s go sneak some popcorn,” I replied, standing up and reaching my hand out to her. She slipped hers into mine, and I squeezed it tightly.

The smile on her face was better than any popcorn could ever be.

It was finally the night of the restaurant’s grand opening, and the place was booked solid. For the last week, we had all worked until midnight every night, getting the place ready for the big event. Brad hadn’t come over again, but he had made sure to sneak me things he was trying out for the menu during my break. He even sent me home with a gourmet grilled cheese sandwich and homemade potato chips for Franny a couple of nights. She’d charmed him, which wasn’t surprising. She had that effect on people.

Captain had avoided me. Between all the work and staying away from me and keeping his distance from Elle, he had to be exhausted. Elle had returned, determined to act as if she was fine. We all got to hear about her dates, because she told the girls who cared so loudly that everyone else got all the details, too. If she was hoping to make Captain jealous, she was failing. He was ignoring her.

I almost felt sorry for her. Almost.

“You think Elle would kill me if I tried to make a move on Captain?” one of the other servers, Patricia, asked me, as she cut her eyes over my shoulder and gave a saucy grin in his direction. I glanced back over my shoulder to see Captain surveying the room while he talked to Brad.

“Probably, but do you really want to date the boss? Look at where that left Elle,” I said honestly. It took a strong-minded female to come back after being shaken off by the man in charge, and everyone knew it.

Patricia pouted, and her very pink painted lips looked even bigger than usual. “The only other hottie here is Brad, and everyone knows he has a thing for you.” She turned her attention back to me. “You do like him, right?”

Did I like him? Yes, I did, but we were friends. He was flirty at times, but mostly we just talked and laughed. “Um, well, he’s a nice guy. I like spending time with him, but we aren’t in a relationship or anything. We’re just friends.”

Her dark brown eyes lit up, and she batted her lashes before turning back to the two men. This time, her eyes were locked on Brad. “Great. Thanks!” she said, before heading toward them with a sway to her hips and a determined gleam in her eyes.

I could have stood there and watched, or I could have finished setting the tables and lighting the candles. I chose the latter and got to work. If Brad was interested in her, then good for him. It wouldn’t hurt my friendship with him. At least, I didn’t think it would.

•  •  •

We were each given three tables to cover. Captain wanted to make sure every guest was given the most attention possible. I had two four-tops and a two-top, so I wasn’t overloaded, but the pressure was on to be perfect.

Brad was getting high praise from the diners, and everyone was enjoying the food. It went pretty smoothly, considering it was opening night.

I glanced around to see Captain talking to an older, obviously wealthy and important man who had a beautiful younger woman at his side. I’d have guessed it was his daughter if his hand wasn’t settled on her waist possessively.

The man was smiling and seemed pleased to be chatting with Captain.

“That’s Arthur Stout,” Patricia said, whispering beside me. “The owner of this place.”

Well, then, that made sense. I nodded and headed into the kitchen. Table seven’s order was nearly up.

I walked back to the serving line and saw Brad organizing orders and laying out steaming plates. He had a bandanna tied around his head to hold back his shaggy hair. He looked up and shot me a grin.