Page 79 of Cooking Up My Comeback

“Maybe they both are,” Jessica suggests. “Maybe he’s grumpy when he’s scared and charming when he’s not.”

“Or maybe yesterday was performance art designed to get me to agree to risky business decisions. Like his food truck idea.”

Michelle raises an eyebrow. “Food truck idea?”

“He wants to do a preview at the New Year’s Beach Walk. Rent equipment, get permits, serve hundreds of people before we’ve even opened. It could be a disaster.”

“Could it?” Jessica asks. “Or are you scared it might actually work?”

“I’m scared it might fail spectacularly and destroy our reputation before we have one.”

“So what did you tell him?”

“That I’d think about it.”

“And what do you think?”

I consider this reluctantly. The Beach Walk draws huge crowds. The exposure would be incredible. A chance to test recipes, get feedback, build community investment...

“It could be brilliant,” I admit. “If executed properly.”

“So work with him to execute it properly,” Michelle suggests. “Instead of assuming he’s trying to manipulate you.”

“But what if he is?”

“Then you handle it,” Jessica says firmly. “You’re not the same person you were with Chad. You’re stronger now. You can protect yourself without assuming the worst about everyone.”

“Can I? Because yesterday I melted the second he was nice to me.”

“You’re human,” Michelle says gently. “And maybe you’re ready to let someone be nice to you.”

We sit quietly, processing the weight of that possibility.

“So what’s your next move?” Jessica finally asks.

I think about Brett’s texts, about his suggestion,about the way he looked at me when he said we’d figure it out together.

“I guess I stop assuming he’s playing games and start treating him like a real business partner. Which means if he wants the food truck thing, he needs to present an actual plan. Budget, logistics, contingencies. All of it.”

“And if he does?”

“Then maybe I’ll stop being suspicious of every nice gesture.”

Michelle raises her glass. “To giving people the chance to surprise you.”

“To not letting fear make your decisions,” Jessica adds.

We clink glasses, and something shifts in my chest. Not the blind optimism that used to get me in trouble, but something steadier and more intentional.

Maybe it’s time to stop protecting myself from disappointment and start protecting myself from regret.

Maybe it’s time to see what Brett Walker is really made of when I stop making it easy for him to hide behind grumpiness.

And maybe it’s time to see what I’m made of when I stop hiding behind sunshine and start showing up as my whole, complicated self.

Because if we’re really going to be partners, he’s going to have to handle more than just my easy, accommodating side.

Starting tomorrow.