one another, I thought it wasn’t just business and maybe you swapped partners or some Jerry Springer shit.”
My dad shakes his head. “You and your jokes.”
It wasn’t really a joke, but I’ll keep that to myself.
“All right.” I move to slide out, but he puts his hand on mine.
“Mind telling me about the shiner? It wasn’t Evan, was it?”
I shake my head. “Nah, just some prick.” He raises his eyebrows in question, but I’m not ready to tell him anything yet, especially since I don’t need a scene at our engagement party tonight. “I’ll tell you later. I gotta go.”
He allows me to leave, and I head to Porterhouse since it’s almost two, crossing my fingers I won’t find her there. She’d tell me something like this, wouldn’t she? I thought we were a team. Then again, people like to hide things from me. Trevor hid his drug problem. Mom hid the fact she was still in contact with Mrs. Erickson. Why would I be surprised if Evan is hiding something from me?
Because you trust her.
I push the thought from my mind as I push open the door of Porterhouse. It’s a fancy steakhouse, so I’m not surprised that she might be meeting a bigwig business guy here. Heading over to the bar, I can see through the opening to the restaurant, but they’ll never see me. And sure as shit, there’s Evan, her dad, Nick Klein smiling next to Evan, and an older man with one of those cowboy ties. Nick appears to run the conversation and keeps touching Evan’s arm.
My jaw clenches and my hands fist at my side.
The bartender blocks my view. “What can I get you?”
“Beer. Whatever you have on tap.”
“Oh, honey, let me get you some ice. Someone got a hold of your face.”
I touch my eye and flinch. With everything going on, I completely forgot about my black eye. She disappears, so I’m happy.
The guy with the cowboy tie pulls something out of his bag and passes it to Evan. She and Vic lower their gazes to read what I’m guessing is a contract. Nick hovers over them, pointing and explaining. He leans even closer and puts his arm on the back of Evan’s chair, pointing with his other finger now. She looks at him and smiles. Mr. Erickson never looks up and continues reading the contract.
They talk, and it’s clear Evan is asking questions because Nick is answering them. He laughs at almost everything she says. Anger fills my veins, singeing me from the inside out. Meanwhile, Mr. Erickson sits there, going page by page, reading the contract as if he’s a lawyer.
After a long pause, Mr. Erickson puts down the contract. They all toast with their glasses, Nick hugging Evan to his side.
I stand and tuck in my chair, having seen enough. She trusted the wrong guy. Or maybe I trusted the wrong girl.
Good luck with Nick Klein, Evan, because Seth Andrews just signed off.
Chapter Thirty
Evan
My dad and I leave Porterhouse, and Nick Klein and Cliff Daniels, behind.
“Let’s take a walk.” Dad motions with his head toward the lakefront.
“It’s a little cold, no?” I say, zipping up my coat and pulling out my mittens.
“Humor me. It’s good for my heart to walk.”
“Okay, but you know Mom will be upset if we’re late. She’s got hair and makeup coming for tonight.”
I should be filled with anxiety about having to pretend to be Seth’s fiancée tonight, but I’ve been counting down the minutes until I see him. After he agreed to continue this arrangement a little longer, the dread over the engagement party and the show filming finally lifted.
“Is this business with Daniels something we should do?”
“You’re asking my advice?” I look at my dad and his eyes soften.
“Yes. You’re an integral part of The Bagel Place and its future.”
I love that he trusts my opinion, but at the same time, I hate that he assumes I’m a part of the shop’s future.
“I don’t know.” I shrug. “I hate the idea of just handing over our recipe and not having anything to do with it. It’s nice to hear the praise from something we’ve made and see our customers’ faces light up on their first bite. As cocky as it sounds, it’s the one thing that’s kept me…” I stop because I would’ve finished that thought with Seth, but not with my dad. I’m not going to make him feel guilty.
“From going? Because The Bagel Place isn’t your dream.” He knocks his shoulder to