Page 68 of Candy Hearts, Vol. 2

CHAPTER 4

JAKE

I found a small table near the buffet. “How does this look?” I asked Spencer who put his drink on the table, and I followed suit. The games were still being played so the line for the buffet wasn’t long.

“Perfect. Should we go ahead and eat?” he asked.

“Sure, then we can beat the crowd.” The two of us walked over and were shown where each station was. This was no ordinary buffet, it was all top choice foods including prime rib, lobster, crab, prawns, and a big variety of salads and hot side dishes. We both wandered around the stations and took a few items from each until our plates were full.

“I don’t think I can fit much more,” I said, and got a better grip on my plate.

“It all looks so good,” he said, and we walked back to the table we’d chosen.

“I’m impressed. When they said buffet, this is not what I was imagining,” he admitted as I sat down across from him.

“Didn’t you eat when you attended last year?” I asked.

“No, mostly I stood to the side and hoped no one noticed me standing off to the side,” he answered with a shrug.

His eyes met mine for a moment before I changed the subject. “You never said where you work.” I watched as he speared some salad with his fork.

“I work downtown at the capitol. Nothing too important, I’m afraid,” Spencer said before taking a bite.

“Do you? That has to be interesting. I’ve been there as a kid, but I keep thinking I need to go back and take a tour.” It was true. I loved exploring the older buildings in the city. There were a lot to see in Old Town but even more to see outside of it.

“I can give you a tour. Just give me some time to set it up. Where do you work?” His eyes met mine and he didn’t look away. He seemed so interested in everything as we spoke, and I liked that there was so much give and take to our conversation.

“I have my own restaurant I opened about a year ago. It’s a small place just past Fifteenth Street.” His eyes widened and I could tell he was trying to figure out which one. There were a few restaurants in that area that had gone out of business through the years. But most of them were back in business with new owners.

“Rust?”

“Yes, how did you know?” I wiped my mouth and tried not to stare at him.

He shrugged like it was no big deal that he knew exactly which restaurant it was out of all the restaurants in the area. “I’m in charge of charting new businesses and helping to fill empty spaces to keep the downtown vital,” he explained.

“That’s amazing,” I said still shocked that he would know.

“I’ve eaten there a few times. It’s actually one of my favorite places to go during the week. It’s too busy for me on the weekend. I don’t remember seeing you there though.”

“I’m the owner and the chef so I’m usually in the back. Weekends I have another chef who helps me out. There’s no way I could do it every day. Plus, I need time for shopping and putting together the week’s menu.”

“You sound very busy,” Spencer said with a grin.

“Just a little. But my sister works with me. She’s the manager and she makes it all look easy,” I said and thought back to her buying me the ticket for tonight and practically forcing me to go.

“The one that made you go tonight?” he asked, and I was surprised he remembered.

“The one and only. She’s a little bossy, and like I said she’s my roommate, but we’re rarely ever home at the same time.” He laughed at that.

“I can relate,” he mumbled.

“Do you have any siblings?”

“I do. Two brothers. They’re both younger than me so I get to be the bossy one, when they allow it,” he said and chuckled.

“Oh my god the youngest is always the worst,” I said making both of us laugh. “I’m in the middle. I have two older brothers. But now we’re adults, they’re both busy doing their own thing. We all get along, but my sister is the baby, and she bosses all of us around.”

“How old is she?” he asked.

“Thirty-two, but she’s still a baby to me.” I loved my sister, and we got along very well, but there were moments.

“My brothers are still in their twenties. The oldest is turning thirty this year. Which reminds me I need to make sure he remembers that.”

“Ah, the moments of our lives,” I said, and our eyes met. His were bright with humor, and I couldn’t seem to look away. I loved our conversation, but I hoped maybe there could be more between us than words, and if the way he was staring at me now was any indication, he might just agree.