“Just a bite.” He hip-chucked her aside to snag one.
She got all warm inside. Nothing made her happier than someone enjoying her food. Slicing open a lime, she squeezed the juice into the marinade.
“Unreal.” Eddie’s eyes rolled back in his head. “This is…it’s like the perfect marriage of flavors. I can’t believe you’re slumming it with me.”
“Slumming, sure, if your definition is cooking on the beach in Maui for a boss who lets me make whatever I want.”
“Boss.” He chuckled. “Sure, if your definition is a guy whose business has quadrupled since you started cooking in his truck and who doesn’t pay you a dime for it.”
“You buy the ingredients. And you let me live in your house.”
“Yeah, because you keep my belly full of all this goodness. I’d give my last dollar for a tres leche taco.” A grin split his plump face.
Happiness bubbled up. “You make everything okay, Eddie.”
He gave her a warm, affectionate smile.
“Big Eddie, my man,” a surfer called from the pass-through. “What’s on special?”
Anxiety ripped through her. Was that a surfer? Because it sounded an awful lot like her future brother-in-law.
Then, she heard laughter. And that voice was unmistakable. “I’m starving. Get me one of everything.”
Gigi.
Every muscle in her body tightened.
This is not happening.
What was her sister doing here? She’s got an album to finish. She’s supposed to be in the studio.
Big Eddie nudged her. “These ready to go?”
Stunned, all she could do was give the barest of nods.
“Dude, this is your lucky day.” Eddie headed to the customer. “My girl Lu’s here.”
“Lu?”
Oh, yeah. That was him all right. Cassian Ellis. Her sister’s fiancé.
Oh, God.
“Lulu?” her sister called.
She hated lying to her family—hated it—but she’d wanted to come clean at the right time. On her own terms.
She didn’t want to be caught in a taco truck.
Not when they thought she was the chef de cuisine of The Orchid, Maui’s fanciest restaurant.
Setting the knife down, she wiped her hands on her apron. Slowly, she turned. “Hey.”
Cassian cocked his head, confused. “What’re you doing in Eddie’s truck?”
The big man watched her, stepping aside so she could greet her family. “Making tacos?”
Of course, they weren’t alone. No, coming up behind them, her parents trudged through the sand, laughing, holding hands, happy as could be.
Adrenaline burst in her core.
Her sister, she could handle. But her parents?
“Don’t eat too much,” her mom called. “We’re going to have a huge dinner. Lulu’s tasting menu has ten courses.” Her gaze flicked up to the pass-through window. “Lulu?”
Her mom’s horrified expression hit like a punch to the gut.
Her parents reached the truck. “What’re you doing here?”
“Hang on. Let me…” Lulu backed away from the window and made her way outside. Stepping onto the sandy asphalt, she found herself surrounded by her family, and she felt overwhelmed with their curiosity, confusion…their accusation. She did a slow exhale. “I work here.”
“Do you mean part-time?” Her mom’s tone said, I don’t get it. “Don’t they pay you enough?”
“No, Mom. I work here. This is my job now.”
“You left The Orchid?” her mom asked. “It hasn’t even been two months.”
“Come here, sweetheart.” Her dad pulled her into his arms, one big hand cupping the back of her head.
She buried her face in his T-shirt, inhaling the most familiar scent in the world—clean cotton, fresh mountain air, and something she could only describe as comfort—and it made her feel eleven years old all over again. “I’m sorry.”
“Lulu, what’s going on?” Her mom grew impatient. “Why would you quit your job?”
She pulled away. “I didn’t quit.” She felt sick to her stomach, about to say words she’d never imagined uttering in her life. Words she still couldn’t believe were true. “I got fired.”
Her dad led their little group away from the truck and under the shade of a tree.
“Who the hell would fire you?” Her mom pressed a palm to her forehead. “This doesn’t make sense.”
“No, it does.” She wanted a sinkhole to open up and take her deep into the belly of the earth. But since that wasn’t going to happen, it was time to come clean. “I couldn’t handle the job.”
“Couldn’t handle it? You’ve worked in some of the finest kitchens in the world. Chef Jonny, Chef Paul…they adore you. Everyone loves your food.” Her mom turned to her husband for answers. How does this make sense?
He watched Lulu with concern. “What happened?”
“The food wasn’t the problem. It was everything else. The budgeting, the hiring, the vendors…” She shrugged. “They were right to fire me. I couldn’t do it.”
“They didn’t have to fire you,” her mom said. “They could’ve just hired someone to handle the business side of things.”
“That’s the job, Mom. That’s what a chef de cuisine does. And I failed.”
“I don’t believe that. Not for a second. You’re a gifted—”
“Mom.” She said it too harshly and immediately felt bad. But she couldn’t hear it. Not one more time. About her gift, her talent.
“I’m sorry. I know this has to be hard for you.” Chastised, her mom’s tone softened. “When did this happen?”
And now we get to the worst part. “A month ago.”
“A month ago?” Her mom glanced to the taco truck. “You’ve been working here all this time?”
“Yes.” She straightened. Now, that she’d told the truth, she felt better, stronger.
“Why didn’t you tell us?” her mom asked. “I don’t understand.”
“I’ve been working on something. I was going to tell you as soon as I got the green light.”
“Oh, honey.” Gigi pushed past their mom and pulled Lulu into her arms. “That sucks so bad. I’m really sorry.” Into her ear, she said, “But you know you could’ve told me, right? I’m here for you. Always.”
“I know.” It was easy enough to say the words, but the fact was…Gigi had reached the pinnacle of success. Lulu had come close—and then immediately crashed and burned.
“So, what’ve you been working on?” Her mom sounded hopeful.
Lulu stepped out of her sister’s embrace. “I’m not ready to talk about it yet. Give me a few more days to see if it goes through.”
“Are you opening your own restaurant?” Her mom’s eyes gleamed. “Yes. This is what you were born to do.” She sucked in a breath. “Tell me you’ve got Chef Paul backing you. Tell me it’s in Paris.”
“And you’re wondering why she didn’t tell us.” Gigi shook her head.