Her home office hadn’t changed since she was fired—although she had significantly less to do there at the moment—but she supposed she could box up her stapler and some old file folders and carry them down to her apartment’s garage and back, at least for dramatic effect.

“Lena,” he said sternly, “don’t defy me. I raised you to be more obedient than that.” Lena gave a snort of laughter. “No, you didn’t. You raised me to question authority and make my own choices.”

Lena found herself missing her, even after such a short time of knowing her.

Unless, of course, you’re worried about being with me in a kitchen full of knives now that I know you’re rich and I’m the beneficiary?” Her aunt laughed and patted her on the cheek. “Oh, Lena, I’m very worried about being near you and the knives, but not because I believe you’ll intentionally try to hurt me. I’m afraid I’ll just be collateral damage while you’re slicing the roast.”

The rest of it was beautifully smooth, after having been blended by a fully immersed immersion blender.

For a brief moment, Devin’s expression was unguarded. In that small bridge of time, Devin looked genuinely happy to see her, in a way Lena didn’t think she had ever been regarded by anyone before. It was something beyond friendship in the same way Lena’s earlier thoughts had crossed that boundary, and she knew she wasn’t alone in feeling a connection growing between them. If her reaction to seeing a mere inch of Devin’s skin wasn’t enough to make her run back through the swinging doors, out of the shop, and back home to Portland, then the way Devin had looked at her just now should have set her in motion, the equivalent of a starting gun.

“The bridesmaids will probably all look nauseated in the reflection of their green satin.”

“Definitely not in any position to start a relationship.” “No way,” Lena agreed. “That would be irresponsible and—” And something else, but Devin closed the distance between them and kissed her, and Lena forgot what she had been about to say.

all that existed were Devin’s lips pressed against hers. And when Devin teasingly bit her lower lip before sliding her tongue against Lena’s, she forgot her name and birthdate, too.

Besides, by the end of the day, she and her dad would both be so exhausted that they wouldn’t want to do more than poke holes in a plastic cover and microwave a frozen meal. A good, home-cooked…well, they would be there to support Lena, no matter how the food tasted.

“Just don’t try juggling the bottles,”

“Lena dear, now don’t freak out about this.” Lena turned toward her and spread her hands wide. “Who the hell says something like that?” she asked, digging a dollar out of her apron pocket and stuffing it in the stein. It was habit by now. “It just makes the other person freak out even more. We haven’t even served one entrée yet, so what could possibly have happened?” Cheryl put out her hands, palms down, and patted the air. “Just calm down, dear. Oh, I suppose that’s not a helpful thing to say, either, is it? Anyway, your dad is here.” Her dad. Lena had been thinking it was something minor like a bomb threat, or Mount Rainier erupting. He’d said he and her mom might try to come to Leavenworth while she was here, but she hadn’t expected it to really happen. And not so fucking soon, when she still was trying to figure out what the hell she was doing… “Are you freaking out?” Kirby asked. “A little bit,” Lena said, leaning against the counter. “Okay.” He moved behind her and took over at the fryer. “Should I get her a piece of one of Devin’s tarts?” Layla asked.

“What did he order?” Cheryl crossed her arms over her chest. “I’m not telling you.” “You’re not…what?” Lena looked at her incredulously. She couldn’t make every dish perfect tonight, but she could maybe manage one. “You’ll just fuss and bother over it until it ends up ruined.” “I will not,” Lena said indignantly. “You’d totally do that,” Kirby said, and Layla nodded in agreement. “This is mutiny,”

He came over to her and gave her one of his awkward half hug, half pat on the back kind of greetings usually reserved for special occasions.

during their phone call, they had ended each night together. Just on the phone, and one or the other usually fell asleep sometime during the conversation since their days were full and neither seemed to want to end their calls.

Devin watched Lena’s hands as she worked, admiring the dexterous way in which she always seemed to pick up new skills. And she watched Lena’s hair, her skin, the curves of her body. Their relationship was growing in the midst of daily life, but the physical side of it—although not fully explored—was always present between them. Devin loved the little touches, and how they each went out of their way to be close to, and to reach out for, each other.

“I think I’ll have my entire life figured out and on the right track by the twelfth of December,” she said. “About fifty years from now.”

“What a great name,” Jacquie said, picking him up. “I was a Jack once, too,” she said to Layla. “Not anymore, but I still love the name.”