She gulped hard and for the moment, the tears seemed to subside. “I think I’m falling… ” And there they were again. Shit. She looked up at Joey who was staring at her. “Promise me you won’t laugh, Joey.”
“Laugh? Honey, you’re crying. Why would I laugh?”
“Promise.”
He squeezed her hand. “I promise.”
She couldn’t look at him when she said it, so she stared at her coffee cup again. “I think I’m falling for Sal. My freakin’ boss.”
“So why does that make you sad?”
She looked up at him and felt guilty now for making him promise not to laugh. His expression was nothing more than complete concern and compassion. “Because he doesn’t even like me as a person, much less a …love interest. Every time I see him, he does or says something that’s even more telling of the kind of person he thinks I am.”
“Like what?”
“Like yesterday.” She told him about how he behaved when she arrived in the morning so excited to show off for him. When she finished telling him about Sal’s comments on him and Taylor, his reaction surprised her.
“I wish you hadn’t told him we were g*y.”
“Why?”
“We could’ve had some fun with him.”
Grace drank some of her coffee, feeling much more in control of her emotions now and so happy she’d told Joey. But she was confused. “How so?”
“For some reason it bothered him right? But it’s none of his business. It might have been fun to lay it on extra thick every time one of us picked you up.”
Grace rolled her eyes. “No, I wouldn’t play those kinds of games. The point is he doesn’t think very highly of me. Obviously. And here I am falling for him? How dumb am I?” She shook her head. “Tell me to get over it, Joey. Tell me what an idiot I am.”
“No because you’re not. Okay, lets think about this. What about him, besides his looks, has you falling?”
“Nothing! I’m telling you. He’s been a total jerk to me, twice now. And the worst thing is while I’m sitting here on my day off talking about him and daydreaming about him every other moment of the day, he’s out meeting girl after girl enjoying a life outside of the restaurant and all I can do is think about getting back there. It’s pathetic.”
“Then maybe that’s it,” Joey said, raising his eyebrows.
“What’s it?”
“Maybe you like the cold, indifferent type.”
Grace laughed. “Great, that seems like the best type of guy to get hung up on.”
“I still think it’s strange that it bothered him about me and Taylor. I mean, why would he care?”
Grace shrugged. “He’s like that. Even Alex and his sister said he’s too much. Nitpicky almost to a fault. Maybe he found it offensive somehow?”
“Offensive to who? Him?” Joey lifted his eyebrow even higher. “You know, that could only mean one thing.”
Grace shook her head. “Oh, please let’s not even go there. I already went over that possibility and it’s too preposterous to even consider.”
“Why?”
Joey couldn’t be serious. “What possible interest can he have in me?” She saw that look on Joey’s face, he was about to let her have it. Before he could, she continued. “He’s twenty-five, Joey.”
“And?”
“He’s been around town and back. The man hasn’t even lived at home for years. He’s into women, not girls. Did you not see that woman he was talking to in the parking lot the other day?”
“The blonde in a foo-foo suit?”
“Exactly. That’s what he’s used to, and apparently into.”
Joey shook his head. “You weren’t there when he first stepped out to talk to her. If I had to make an observation, I’d say the ditz was getting on his nerves.”
“Didn’t look like it to me and neither did the one in the restaurant that same day. It was the same thing, she looked sophisticated and experienced in dealing with men.”
“You have experience.”
Grace gave him a look and sipped her coffee. Joey knew all about her experience or lack thereof. She just hadn’t filled him in on all the detail of why but he knew she was still a prissy virgin.
“Okay, but what planet are you from that you think a virgin wouldn’t appeal to man?”
“I didn’t say that. All I’m saying is he has all these beautiful, sophisticated women throwing themselves at him. Why on earth would he be interested in the little bus riding, wannabe cook from Chula Vista?”
Joey put his hand on his waist. Grace was in for it now. “Oh no you didn’t. No you didn’t just put yourself down, because of this guy.” He shook his head. “Grace, I won’t have this.”
“But—”
“No! I won’t let you turn into this little wimpy hoo-haw, over some guy you just met. I’ve stood there all year and watched you cook the living shit out of every recipe those instructors have thrown at you. You’ve blown them all away time and time again. Are you actually gonna start questioning your talent, your worth because of some guy?” He pointed a finger at her. “You may be riding a bus now. But this.” His finger went up and down in front of her. “This is where it all starts. You’re gonna be great. More than great and why? Because you worked your ass off to get there, unlike Mr. Perfect over there. What did he do besides take over daddy’s already successful restaurant? Wow, he should feel real proud of himself. What a man—”