Free Love Simmers by Jules Deplume Page A

me
hurt you! I won’t let you fuck this up,” I threatened, ignoring his
resulting chuckle.
    “ Sorry to hear
about your attack. But look, don’t worry about it, I’m sort of
seeing someone special myself.”
    I sighed in relief and hoped
that would be enough to calm Nate.
    Tommy wrapped an arm around my
shoulder, handing me a bag from my favourite chocolate store in the
city.
    “ Get well
gift,” he shrugged and I felt bad my reaction to his presence had
been so negative.
    “ Thanks and I’m
sorry I tried to send you away like a dirty little secret,” I
apologised and he laughed.
    “ I’m always
happy to be your dirty big secret,” he winked.
    “ Tommy,” Nate
said quietly from behind us. I stepped out from under Tommy’s
arm.
    The two brothers’ eyed each
other carefully, their relationship always somewhat strained. These
two took sibling rivalry to a whole new level. Though they showed
up to each other’s events and supported one another there was a
competitiveness that kept them apart.
    “ Incredible
place,” Tommy praised.
    Nate pulled me under his arm in
a move so territorial we may as well have been on the plains of
Africa.
    “ Thanks.” Nate
was a man of few words at the best of times. And this was not the
best of times.
    “ I’m happy for
you two,” Tommy appeased him, “Logan said you were together. I
think it’s great.”
    I felt Nate relax slightly
beside me as if the fact I had announced the relationship comforted
him.
    “ Thanks. I hope
you enjoy tonight. I’ll see you later,” Nate said, giving Tommy a
brief hug before walking his brother out. He was back beside me
moments later.
    “ You told him
we were together?” He asked me carefully.
    “ Was I meant to
hide it?” I replied.
    “ I thought for
the sake of your TV image you might not want it public knowledge
that you’re dating someone from your home town. Your flirty, single
image has to be maintained after all,” he said and I realised he
thought I didn’t want it getting out I was with him. I was proud to
be dating him.
    “ I want
everyone to know how smart and sexy my boyfriend is,” I reassured
him, loving the way he pulled me into his arms. “Consider me
rebranded as a woman in a committed relationship.”
    “ That’s good
because I want everyone to know that the sexiest chef on TV is
mine.”
    We walked into the kitchen
where Ollie stood chopping herbs.
    “ Ugh,” he
mocked as he looked up and saw us holding hands and
smiling.
    “ I know, it’s
kind of embarrassing,” I admitted, my appetite flaring as I saw all
the delicious foods around me.
    “ We almost
ready?” Nate asked, his voice full of anticipation. They’d been
preparing for this night for months. It was almost a year ago that
they’d decided to open a place together. Tonight was the
culmination of all their hard work.
    “ We’re on
schedule for the doors to open at six sharp,” Ollie smiled
brightly, his body tense with excitement. I’m sure this moment for
them was like when I stepped onto the set of my TV show for the
first time. It was a sense of fear, excitement and apprehension. I
was sorry that I wasn’t apart of this place like they
were.
    “ I better get
home and change,” I said, leaving Nate and Ollie alone to have a
beer in celebration of their achievement. Their bromance was
redic!

Chapter Fourteen
     
    The place was at full capacity
for opening night, the bookings having been made weeks ago. There’s
nothing the people of Chester loved more than a new restaurant
opening. Sails had been the most talked about event for the last
few months. Not much happened in Chester. And everybody loved Nate
and Ollie. As a result of recent events the media was present. The
boys couldn’t ask for more.
    “ The food is
ridiculous!” Maddie said from across the table.
    My mum smiled beside her, her
face radiant as she enjoyed her son’s big night.
    “ Both my
children can cook. I have no idea where they got it from,” she
wondered