“I’m fine. It’s a month.” I toss off the question, so he doesn’t think he can’t be honest with me later.

Shit, I’m a horrible person. The guy I’ve been dating left this morning, and now, I’m already looking at Todd differently. I blame Tatiana. If she hadn’t stuck these false thoughts in my head last night, then I wouldn’t be thinking these things.

“At least we can hang out more.” He winks.

“I can’t wait.”

I watch the instructor enter the room, and I prepare myself for the strenuous workout I’m in for. She’s cute and petite and everything I’ve compared myself to all these years.

“Lunch before work?” Todd asks.

I nod, thankful the gallery is closed on Mondays. I only have to work at CHOPs tonight.

“Definitely.”

The room quiets as the instructor presses Play on the stereo. She places her headset over her head, and I mentally prepare myself to finish out the class. I will not quit until it’s time to cool down.

The small blonde hops on her bike, and her legs fly as fast as Todd’s.

Isn’t this a warm-up?

“Let’s go people!” she yells.

The room explodes into cheers.

Todd glances over to me, and I narrow my eyes. I know what he’s thinking. I’m going to collapse on this bike in an hour. It’s been at least six months since I’ve worked out with him, but now, with Davis gone, something inside of me has spurred me on to shed a few of these extra pounds.

Midway through the class, my chest heaves, and I try to disguise my breathing to an even pace. Todd’s eyes have shifted my way too often, and I’m actually embarrassed at how out of shape I am. The one good part is my towel isn’t the only thing that is drenched. Todd has sweated out a full bucket, and it’s all soaked into the towels on the floor.

The instructor tells us to turn down our tension, and my ass sits down, happy we’re at the cool-down stage. I’m damn proud that I made it through the entire workout without moving the tension too far down from where I was six months ago.

“You made it. Way to go.” Todd’s hand rests on my shoulder.

“Thank you. It was close for a second.”

“Nah. You had it the whole time.” He faces forward.

I smile at his profile. He constantly believes in me.

* * *

The air is lighter the minute I walk into CHOPs. Shawn casually shuffles between the tables, situating the candle centerpieces and silverware.

“Hey, Lia,” he calls out, raising his hand in greeting.

“Hi, Shawn. I’ll be ready for the meeting in a second.” Once again, I’ve cut the time close to the start of our team meeting.

“No rush. I’ll be in the back room in five.”

He never even looks up to me, so I continue my way down the hallway.

It’s odd to find Davis’s light off and no sign of him being here. A sadness because I haven’t heard from him today weighs in my heart, but I know he’s busy.

The employee room bustles with laughter. Todd chats with another sous chef, but he nods to me. I wave over to him and make my way to my locker. Lucy is already dressed and sitting on the bench.

“Hey, lady.” I smile.

“I’m so excited. Did you hear? The boss is gone for a month.”

“Yeah, I heard.”

“Oh, I’m sorry. I guess it’s not great news for you.” She places a consoling hand on my shoulder.

Shocked, I take a step backward. “Why?” My eyes bulge out of my head.

“Lia.” She sighs.

My body tenses. “Does everyone know?” The heat of embarrassment rushes up my face.

She tilts her head to the side and gives me sorrow-filled eyes. “Most.”

“Shit. I thought we were discreet,” I whisper, opening up my locker.

“Heather saw you guys at Coney Island. Who cares? He’s hot and a great guy.”

My eyes automatically divert to Heather, and oddly enough, hers are on me. She raises her shoulders with a conniving look splashed across her face.

“Bitch,” I murmur. She could have come to me before spreading the gossip.

“Granted, everyone thought she was jealous at first. I mean, she’s had something for Davis from the moment she started. Some thought maybe he did for her, too. Then, you came, and he’s been focused entirely on you.” Lucy checks her cell phone one more time before tucking it in her locker.

“How come I never knew this?” I ask a question I know the answer to. I’m the one in the juicy gossip circle, so I let that one go and ask a more pertinent one. “Were they a couple?”

Lucy’s eyes cast down, and she shrugs. “I don’t know.”

“But?”

“I think so.” Again, those damn sorrow-filled eyes are pointed at me. I hate it when people pity me.

My vision moves to Todd across the room, and he meets my gaze. His smile turns down when he sees how upset I am, and concern crosses his face.

“I’m sorry, Lia.” She’s quiet, so no one else hears us.

I don’t even know why I’m upset. How did I think he’d tell me the truth that I was the first employee he’s ever crossed the line with? That’s an absurd thought in itself. I’ve had previous relationships, and he has, too, but I need this bad feeling in my gut to disintegrate before my mind flies out of control with assumptions.

My phone dings in my locker, and I pull it out. I smile, seeing Davis’s name, and the bad feeling lightens in my stomach.

Davis: Hey, babe. Thinking of you.

My fingers quickly move across the screen because I’m sure Shawn is going to come in soon.

Me: Hey! Missing you.

I place my phone in my locker and change into my shirt and apron. My body buzzes with anticipation of his next text, but as the minutes tick by, there’s no response.

Shawn enters the room and requests everyone’s presence in the kitchen. Although Shawn’s pet peeve is cell phones on the floor of the restaurant, I sneak mine into my pocket, not wanting to miss Davis’s text.

We all reach the kitchen, and Todd takes his position at the prepping station. My lips widen, seeing him in charge while Davis is away. He catches my eye, and we share a smile. I watch him wipe his hands down his pants, and I can already tell he’s nervous from his hands fidgeting with the ingredients.

“As you all know, Davis is gone for at least a month. Honestly, I figure he’ll be gone longer.”

My coworkers peer over to me. I act like I couldn’t care less, even though my insides are churning with the longer part Shawn threw in there.

The room remains quiet, so Shawn continues, “Todd is taking over as head chef in Davis’s absence.”

Everyone claps, and again, Todd’s eyes find mine.

I mouth, Congratulations.

He bows his head in appreciation. I’m soaring because he deserves this opportunity, and I’m truly happy for him.

Todd begins his preparation of tonight’s special and explains the ingredients while Shawn passes out the special menus to the wait staff. I feel like a beaming girlfriend from the permanent smile splashed across my face.

Curt, another sous chef, hands out samples of the prepared tilapia for everyone to try.

I rush over to Todd, wrapping my arms around his shoulders. “Congratulations,” I whisper, gripping him tight.

“Thank you.” He squeezes his arms around my waist.

“I’m so proud of you.” I let go of him.

He kisses the top of my head. “Thanks, Mom,” he jokes.

I slap him.

“Now, get to work before I fire you.” He shakes his head.

I rise to my tiptoes and kiss his cheek. “You deserve this.”

A pink flush fills his cheeks, and he swats my ass. “Go!”

“I’m going.” I touch my ass, as though his slap hurt. “Celebration drinks tonight,” I call out as I leave through the swinging doors.

I startle, finding Heather waiting for me.

“Don’t you think one chef is enough? I mean, leave some for the rest of us,” she sneers.

“Heather, I didn’t know you liked Davis—” I begin to make amends.

But she raises her hand. “Don’t play innocent, Amelia. You knew exactly what you were doing.” She spins around to walk away.