** Writer's Note: Sorry for the long time in between chapters. My life has been hectic to say the least. But, I enjoy writing this. Thanks! - AJLuna
*
Dinner service that night zoomed by. Maybe it was because Audrey spent every free moment stealing glances at Iwan. The way he moved around the kitchen was magnetizing. He seemed to do everything, whether it be frying breaded veal cutlets or slicing garlic, with absolute ease. Which put Dylan at ease, and made the waiters and waitresses less tense.
He also seemed to have an amazing sense of humor. Audrey spent little time around him so she didn't know for certain, but every time she stepped foot into the kitchen, the other chefs were laughing at something he said. She really wanted to hear the joke. She really wanted to just hear his voice.
Before she knew it, another waiter was helping his last table out the door, and the entire staff was cleaning up their respective areas.
Audrey didn't realize how much he feet hurt until service had ended, so she was very glad to be headed home.
Of course, her plan to go home, and sleep late into the next day would be derailed.
Audrey went into the back room, past the kitchen to pick up her purse. She pivoted to be met by a smiling Dylan.
"We are all going to the bar. You have to come, Audrey."
She weighed her options: Go home and have amazing sleep, or go to the bar, have fun, and hopefully get a chance to speak to this amazing Iwan.
* * * * *
Audrey found herself frozen with reservations. She was an assured lesbian. She had been since college. She declared herself bisexual in high school. A massive part of her identity consisted of her being a woman who loved other women. What did this attraction mean for her?
She hadn't even felt an attraction this intense in a very long time. Especially not for someone with a dick. She never thought she would find herself in this predicament.
Now, she's sitting in the corner of a grimy bar, smelling like garlic and oil, nursing a beer.
She hadn't spoken a single word to this man, and he already had her contemplating everything that made her "her". Beer just won't cut it tonight; Audrey needed something stronger.
After finishing her beer, she took 3 rapid fire shots of tequila. Audrey's horizon was starting to sway, and her thoughts were becoming muddled.
"Maybe this is GOD's way of punishing me for hurting Thalia," Audrey mumbled under her breathe.
"Why are you being so anti-social?"
Audrey hadn't even realized that Dylan was sitting next to her.
When she turned to him, his face was oddly close to hers, and he was beaming. He was obviously more drunk than she was. And, she couldn't let that happen.
Audrey simply shrugged at Dylan's question, and walked over to the bartender to request two more shots of tequila.
She put one shot glass to her lips, and tipped her head back. She loved how warm it made her feel. She opened her eyes to grab the other shot glass but it was missing.
Iwan was standing next to her, with what was supposed to be her second shot, in hand. He winked at her before gulping it down.
Whoa. Yeah, Audrey thought he was hot, but no one fucked with her alcohol.
Audrey stepped back attempting to glare at Iwan, but given her level of inebriation, she's sure she just looked stupid.
"You're Audrey, right? Everyone has been really warm and friendly to me, but we haven't exchanged a single word." His voice was deep and smooth.
"I am Audrey. And that was my drink." She slurred. It was hard for her to focus on his face, or her surroundings.
"Well, I saw you ordered two," Iwan leaned in closer to Audrey, and rested his hand on her shoulder. "What do I have to do to talk to you alone?"
At that precise moment, Audrey knew that her mind (and libido) had been playing tricks on her. She didn't like men. They were too forward. Too cocky. And, Iwan was no exception to this fact. She was, indeed, a lesbian.
Audrey shrugged Iwan's hand off of her shoulder, and stepped backwards, intent on not stumbling.
She found Dylan, who then walked her home, and tucked her into her bed before passing out on her coach.
* * * * *
It had been two weeks since Iwan Maguire had been hired at Enzo's, and the kitchen had never run smoother. Dishes were high-quality and came out in a timely fashion. He was a master in front of a stove, and the way he lead the kitchen was effortless. He seemed happy there at Enzo's, and everyone who worked around him was happy.
However, Audrey talked very little to Iwan. When she did, it was about a dish she was waiting on. He did attempt to have small chat with her, and she was very courteous, but she was often too bus trying to get through the busy dinner services to carry any type of conversation with Iwan.
Yes. She still found him attractive, and he seemed to be an overall nice enough guy; but that encounter she had with him at the bar really turned her off. It jolted her back to her senses.
Audrey's life in those two past weeks had been quiet. She worked. She slept. She hung out with Jaime and Dylan. She even ran into Thalia at the same supermarket they had met at for the first time. They chatted for a quick while, and Thalia even told Audrey that she could call her sometime.
