Page 107 of A Chef's Kiss for Christmas

“Oh.” The way he winced wasn’t a brilliant sign.

“I wanted to run it by you because I don’t want things to be weird between us.”

“Right,” Lewis said. “Yeah.”

Warren waited for him to say more, but he seemed lost for words.

“It feels as though I’ve already made things weird,” Warren commented eventually.

Lewis released a heavy breath and covered his face with his hands. “This is awkward,” he muttered.

“You’re not okay with it?”

“It’s not really anything to do with me. Anna can date whoever she wants.”

“I get that, but you’re my best mate. If you have an issue with it, I’d like to know now.” It occurred to him that he wasn’t sure what he’d do if Lewis was against it. He hadn’t thought that far ahead.

“Here’s the problem–” Lewis’s phone rang, cutting him off. Looking at the phone screen, he swore softly. “I have to take this…”

“Seriously? You need to take a phone call now? You couldn’t just call them back?”

His thumb hovered over the screen. “I’ve been waiting for this guy at the bank to call me back. It shouldn’t take long. I’ll come and find you in a bit.”

Warren stared at him impatiently, but Lewis swiped the screen and switched to a much more formal tone when he answered the call.

Irritated, Warren left the office. He hadn’t really thought it would be an issue for Lewis.

Back in the kitchen, he struggled to concentrate and didn’t make it ten minutes before snapping at someone. At least Liam looked surprised when Warren bit his head off – maybe that meant his attempts at creating a calmer working environment had been working.

With Liam fumbling to lower the heat on the sauce he was stirring, Warren caught sight of Ivy in the doorway, disappointment clear in her gaze.

“Sorry,” he said to Liam, not even sure what he’d shouted at him for. “I’m not having a great day. I didn’t mean to take it out on you.”

“Okay,” Liam mumbled, returning to his task.

“What’s up?” Warren called to Ivy across the room.

“Nothing. I wanted to ask you something, but it can wait.”

“It’s fine.” He beckoned for her to come in and she joined him at the back of the room.

“How was your time off?” she asked.

“Pretty good.”

“I heard you took Anna to meet your parents?”

“Yeah.”

“Are the two of you still just friends?”

He pushed his hip against the countertop. “I don’t know,” he said honestly.

Ivy smiled. “I think I’ll get the gossip from Anna instead.”

“Probably better. Is that what you came in here to ask me about?”

“No, but you seem busy, so I’ll leave you to it.”