Page 81 of Forgotten Prejudice

“Want some coffee?” I asked after pulling a cup out of the cabinet.

“Already had some, but thanks.”

A few minutes later, I joined him by the table to drink my espresso. Aiden was back to reading, so I pulled out my phone and scrolled through some unread messages. I saw a text from Zoe, letting me know Paris was excited to spend the weekend together.

“Mind telling me what’s going on between you two?” Aiden asked, getting my attention.

I closed my phone and moved to look at him, my brows raised in surprise.

“Nothing, really.” My voice came out too low, and I coughed to clear my throat. “I mean, not yet, anyway.”

Aiden’s expression hardened, and he leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms over his chest. “Whatever you do, take it slow. I don’t want to see him getting hurt again.”

Oh, shit. So that was what this weird atmosphere was all about? For weeks, I thought Aiden was still angry about that incident while, in fact, he was just worried I’d hurt Ash. I should have realized it sooner, considering how protective Aiden was over his nephew.

“Of course. You know I’d never hurt him.” The seriousness on Aiden’s face and the tension pulled between his pinched brows made me correct myself. “Again. I would never hurt him again.” When we were teens, I didn’t only hurt Ash but fucking wrecked him. It felt so long ago that sometimes I forgot those days.

“I’m very serious, Kai. Ash has been through… a lot.” It sounded like he knew things I didn’t. “And what he needs right now is a friend, not a…” With a sigh, he took off his reading glasses and rubbed the bridge of his nose. “You know what I mean.”

“Actually, I don’t, Aiden.” I didn’t mean to get angry, but him suggesting I was doing something wrong pissed me off. Ash came to me seeking comfort, not the other way around.

Getting up from my chair, I took my empty cup to the sink and quickly washed it. I then grabbed a paper towel to dry my hands before turning to look at Aiden again.

“I’m trying to be there for Ash, just like you and Mel are.” I tossed the used paper into the trash can.

“I know.”

“So what’s the problem?”

Saying nothing, Aiden continued to look at me, his eyes holding an emotion I couldn’t quite tell. As seconds passed, the crease between his brows only deepened. But then, his expression softened, and he sighed.

“I just don’t want any of you boys getting hurt. That’s all.” He got up. “I guess what I’m saying is think before you act, okay?”

“Sure,” I answered half-heartedly before grabbing my keys and going out.

While my conversation with Aiden bothered me for a while, it was soon forgotten as work kicked in. The kitchen was always one heck of a madhouse, and with the amount of work we had, no wonder I had no time to think about anything but the dishes I plated.

“Yes, Chef!” my line cooks answered me in harmony after I yelled at them not to burn my fucking sauce. I might have wrecked other shit in my life, but ain’t no fucking way I would serve my customers uncooked chicken and burned sauce.

Working always made me lose track of time. Putting on my black apron and getting behind the stoves did the job, and while I loved working in this restaurant as the head chef, I also yearned to open my own place eventually. I knew that day was coming and hoped it would be sooner rather than later.

A new chit came along, and I took the pencil from behind my ear to go over the order.

“One salmon, two carbonaras, and one lobster,” I ordered my staff before pinning the chit next to the other orders and going back to plating.

“Sorry, Chef, but there’s someone in the restaurant who says he knows you?” one of our waitresses, whose name I couldn’t remember, told me.

“Who gives a fuck,” I snapped at her. I hated being bothered while cooking.

“He said to tell you his name is Ash?”

I perked my head up. “Ash?” I spat his name, my heart stopping in my chest.

“Y-Yes.” She couldn’t hold back from smiling.

Considering my reaction, I had it coming. But more importantly, Ash was here?

“Rena, take over the pass for me,” I told my sous chef before leaving my kitchen and going out to the front of the restaurant. To my surprise, Ash was really there.