Page 73 of The Chef

I don’t want to be just another girl.

But I’m ready to resign myself to that fact.

There’ll always be another Cleo Dash. I’m just a waitress who’ll be fun for a few weeks.

Then he’ll let me go.

Just like every other guy.

I just like him, that’s all.

I’ll just enjoy this moment and let him go when the time’s right. When he runs off.

But I know I’ll get my heart broken. It’s too late for me.

I like him.

It’s too late for me for this to be clean and swift.

I’ll be heartbroken over Cliff Finn and I know it.

I hear the glass door slide open behind me and I turn to see Cliff stepping out into the night air. He’s completely naked, but he doesn’t seem to care. His old cocky confidence. No one else can see him out here but me. It’s just Cliff, the waves, his naked body, and me.

No matter what light I see him in, he’s utterly gorgeous.

“What are you doing out here, Bay?” he asks, bleary-eyed.

I lift up the half-eaten cheese platter in response, shrugging.

I’m guilty as charged.

“Oh,” he replies, smiling. “You’re very cute.”

“And you’re beautiful,” I say.

“Shut up, you.” Cliff strolls over and embraces me in a tight hug from behind. “What are you doing with my hoodie? That’s mine.”

“It’s mine now,” I snigger, and Cliff kisses me on the cheek.

“Yeah, you’re very cute,” he says.

“Now it’s your turn to shut up.”

“How was your break, Miss Dover?”

“Even better because you were there,” I reply.

“Oh, I know.”

“But I need to get back into work in the morning. I can’t spend too long away from Rockpool, everything has to be just right for the re-opening.”

“Just relax, Bay. Just let me hug you. Everything will be alright.”

At his urging, I lean back into his embrace, but my mind still races.

I hope everything will be alright.

Even though I know he’ll let me go someday soon, I just can’t resist him. I can’t stop my heart from falling from him. I know it’s wrong, but it feels so right.