Page 67 of You'll Be the Death of Me

“Idoinsist.”

“Well, remember yesterday when I asked for fifteen minutes to talk to you?”

Dell mentally fought through the minefield of everything that had happened since then and remembered he had, in fact, asked to talk to her. She swallowed a lump of guilt. “Yes.”

“And remember how you caught me reading that book while I was spying on Pierrick Moreau?”

“Uh-huh,” she confirmed, and narrowed her eyes at him, unsure where he was going and a little worried about it.

“Well, I applied to business school, and I got in.”

Of all the things he could have said, that might have been the last thing Dell expected. “You what?”

A rare shyness fell over him. His cheeks reddened, and he began to fidget. “You know I love you, and I love the restaurant and working here with you, but I’ve been thinking a lot lately about whatIwant.”

Dell hadn’t even realized she’d stopped breathing until she started again. “Why do I feel like I’m about to get dumped?”

A laugh punched out of Jason’s throat. “No, nothing like that. It’s actually...” He combed a shy hand over his hair.

“Actually what, Jay?” she asked, growing more nervous and truly curious.

“Ugh, why am I being so awkward?” he muttered to himself, then took a sharp breath. He looked her in the eye. “I applied to business school because I want to go into business. With you. I want to be your business partner. I was going to ask you the other day, but you were too busy, and then you died, so I never got the chance.”

A swirl of emotion left Dell unable to do anything but stare at him. Relief, understanding, excitement, guilt. Now that he mentioned it, a few things made sense. His meeting request, himtalking about the menu—that email she saw him reading, saying he’d beenaccepted.

Jason sheepishly pinched his face up on one side. “Do you hate the idea?”

“No,” she said on reflex. “I think it’s a great idea, and congrats on getting into school! I am just sorry I never gave you the time to talk to me about it—or even considered you’d want something more than front of house.”

His shoulders dropped in relief. “Well, I do. I feel like I’ve been riding your coattails long enough—”

“You donotride my coattails, Jay,” Dell was quick to defend.

He gave her a flat stare. “Yes, I do. Don’t pretend,D. I want to do something on my own—and I know being your partner isn’t exactlyon my own, but it’s a start. I didn’t even think I’d get into business school when I applied, but I did, and now I want to see it through. I want to have more of a stake in this place and to help you turn it into something big. If you’ll have me.” He gave her a soft, sincere smile.

Dell was speechless. She was feeling many things, but shame stilled her tongue more than anything. How had she never seen Jason in this light before? He was smart, driven, the most reliable person she’d ever known. Yes, she loved him like a brother, but objectively, he was highly skilled and would make a great partner. And the truth was, sheneededa partner. Pergo was her pride and joy, but it was alotto handle.

“Absolutely,” she said.

“Really?” he asked, his voice pitching up like he couldn’t believe it.

“Yes, really. I could use someone helping steer the ship aroundhere. You already put in enough hours tobea partner. I would love to make it official on paper when you’re ready.”

“I’m going to hold you to that,” Jason said, and stuck out his hand.

Dell slipped hers into it. “I expect you to. And we have a witness.” She tilted her head toward Cole standing nearby.

Jason looked in that direction. “Your guy is here right now?”

“Yes. We are still trying to identify my wrong turn, remember?”

“Right. And you’re thinking it might be that you don’t pay attention to others?”

“Possibly.”

“Hmm. I could see that. I mean, there’s the whole Tommy thing, obviously. And how you often can’t tell your own brothers apart.”

“That one doesn’t count.No onecan tell them apart.”