my eyes. A new energy and buzz fills the room. In this world, Ryan is famous. These people all know him and want to be near him. Even now, they are collectively inching their way toward us. Sweat fills my palms.
In the next moment, a man in a chef’s coat rounds the corner. “Ryan! You made it!” he says, crossing to shake Ryan’s hand with a smile so blinding joy punches you in the gut.
“Congrats, David. This place is incredible.” Ryan nods toward the room, and David beams even brighter.
“Well, that means a lot coming from you. And thanks for showing your support here tonight. I know you don’t really come out to stuff like this anymore.” He shakes Ryan’s hand with gratitude in his eyes, confirming my suspicions that Ryan’s presence here is a big deal. David then shifts his gaze to me and extends his hand. “And who is this pretty lady?”
Ryan grins and then wraps his arm around my waist. The action feels both proud and possessive. “This is June, my girlfriend.”
At that title, I suck in a sharp breath. That’s the first time I’ve heard him say those words, and yeah, I guess it’s true given the discussion we had earlier, but it still shocks me. It’s equal parts wonderful and horrifying. It means I’m officially done with my one-date rule.
This is monumental, and I feel like the world should stop for me so I can soak up this moment. It doesn’t.
Despite the shock rippling through me, I manage to offer David compliments on his restaurant and tell him how happy I am to be here tonight. He kisses my cheek and somehow makes me feel just as important as Ryan. I like him excessively, and if everyone I meet tonight is anything like David, I have nothing to worry about.
There has been quiet music playing overhead, but when David leaves us to step out in the middle of the room and make a speech, everything goes silent. Eyes move from Ryan and me to David, and I feel like I can finally breathe. Ryan pulls me a little closer.
“Everyone! Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for coming to the launch of Sonrisa! Translated into English, that word means smile, because I hope that’s all you do while you’re in my restaurant!” He raises both of his hands to his mouth and blows a kiss to the room. “Enjoy!” And then he sweeps himself into the kitchen to the applause of the room as the wait staff begins moving guests to various tables.
To my great dismay, Ryan and I are seated in the very center of the room. I glance over my shoulder and find a brunette with high brow arches staring at Ryan. To my left, it’s a blonde. I bounce my gaze all around the room and find eyes from every color of the spectrum stealing glances at Ryan. A few look at him and then scribble in a notebook. One man is secretly taking Ryan’s photo from under the table. My heart rate picks up, and something feels off.
Suddenly, I feel Ryan’s hand cover mine, drawing my gaze up to him. “Breathe,” he says in a rich warm tone that instantly soothes me. I take a breath and let my shoulders drop. He nods his approval and squeezes my hand. “It’s awkward, I know.”
I lean a little forward. “I didn’t know you were, like…famous famous.”
He grins a little, but it still looks different from the one I’m used to. “Just in this sphere of life. It wasn’t really until the New York Times ran an article about me. After that, I kinda blew up in the foodie world.” He says it like it’s the most casual thing.
I blink at him, trying not to let my mouth gape open so the man with the camera doesn’t catch it and turn me into a gif.
“What was the article about?”
He shrugs. “How I’m the youngest chef in the world to earn three Michelin stars.”
I don’t get a chance to respond because, in the next moment, a short man in a shiny gray suit and a woman six inches taller than him walks up to our table and clasps Ryan on the shoulder. “Well, if it isn’t Ryan Henderson in the flesh. Gotta say, I’m surprised to see you tonight.”
Ryan doesn’t smile. His eyes slowly slide up to the man’s smug face before he looks back to me. “Noah, this is June, my girlfriend. She