Page 20 of With a Cherry On Top

No.

I’m not even remotely okay.

I shake my head, knowing she can’t see me, and before I can hope to control it, a sob bursts past my lips, then another, and another. Within a second I’m crying uncontrollably, and fuck me, I doubt she’s ever witnessed something more disgustingly pathetic, doubt that anyone’s ever made her more uncomfortable.

Being the weirdest guy on a platform like TOP? Not a great fucking feeling.

“I’m—I’m sorry.” Fuck, I can’t control myself. I can barely keep my eyes open with how desperately I’m sobbing, and the more I try to stop, the more I replay that conversation with Josie. The more I replay what Sadie’s teacher said today.

My baby—my six-year-old princess—needs a shrink. We fucked her upthatbad, and Josie has no intention to help me remedy any of it.

It’s all on me, and I want to fix it more than anything else, but I don’t know what to do.

“That’s okay, Cole,” Cherry whispers. She doesn’t look shocked or annoyed. There’s a little pout on her face, her eyes squinted as she patiently waits for my hysterics to subside. “I asked you what you needed.”

I nod, hiding my face in my hand.

“Maybe you just need someone to sit with you and let you cry.”

CHAPTER 5

The Omelette Test

I’ve got big news.”

I smack the car door shut and wait, the chirping of birds filling the silence as I squeeze the phone in my hand. I know Ian’s voice well enough to anticipategoodnews, but tension coils through me anyway. “Yeah? What’s up?”

“We have a menu.”

“Holy shit.” I tilt my head up, personally thanking every star in the dark sky. “We do?”

“We fucking do, Aaron. Wait?—”

There’s a shuffling noise, then I hear Amelie’s giggles. “You finally have an approved menu,” she cheers, the joyful sound ripping a smile out of me too. Fucking Beatrice must be the pickiest eater ever, because it took five attempts before she agreed to a menu for the next two weeks.

“Anything in there I don’t know how to do?”

“Nah. Well . . . your mac and cheese could use some fine-tuning, but?—”

“Mywhat?” When she laughs, I roll my eyes. I walk around the car and help Sadie remove her seat belt, and then she’s hopping down and running toward my parents’ house. “Funny.”

“You’ll do just fine, Aaron. Ian is saying that he’ll email you the finalized menu, okay? Give it a read.”

“Thank you. I will.”

“One more thing.”

I watch as Mom opens the door and picks Sadie up. They’re both smiling, which immediately lightens the weight on my chest. “What’s up?”

“Yes, I know it’d be easier if I just gave you the phone,” I hear her tell Ian, “but he’smyfriend first and I won’t see him for a month. What am I supposed to say?” Ian’s muffled voice, then Amelie continues, “The client wants to meet you.”

“Yeah, all right?—”

“Today.”

Oh. I’m not supposed to start for another week, but seeing how anal this woman was with the menu, I’m not particularly surprised. “Sure, okay.”

“Ian says he’d come with you, but . . .”