There's hardly anything Thierry Fauber doesn't know about food. When an opportunity presents itself, the talented chef risks it all by leaving Paris and moving overseas to open his restaurant.
A series of fateful events and encounters accompany him...
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A long chapter ahead. It explains why Steve hates Aiden, and you already know some things from His Everything. However, I needed to repeat them so the events that follow would make sense. Remember that His Fresh Start is meant to be read after His Everything and Their Forever. Things won't make sense if you skip Aiden and Ellie's books.
***
My dad took off his glasses and rubbed his eyes.
"Lots of work?" I asked.
"Too many projects at once." He squinted at the screen. "And another meeting soon. So, the book arrived well, right?"
"It's perfect. Aiden's gonna love it."
"How's he?"
"We'll have lunch today, and I'll tell you more after we do. I think he's feeling much better, but Leo told me to be cautious."
The camera of Dad's phone focused on the Parisian skyline, and then I saw his face again. "Sorry. New phone. I keep messing things up. Tell me how things went, okay?"
"Will do."
"Oh, and Thierry."
"Yeah?"
Dad sighed. "Listen to your friend. Don't assume Aiden is okay just because he tells you he is."
"Of course, I won't. Talk to you later."
As soon as we hung up, I grabbed my jacket and Aiden's gifts and walked out of the house. Lou must've been waiting for me, and I didn't want to be the last to arrive.
Twenty minutes later, I parked in her driveway. Lou must've seen me through the window because the front door swung open before I put my feet on the porch steps.
"Impatient." I kissed her when I was by her side.
Lou hugged me. "Very. And eager to spend some time together. Come in."
I followed her into the house. "Tonight, right?"
"Yes. I don't think Ellie would mind if I stayed at your place."
Our jobs and what happened with Aiden didn't leave us much time for dates. Plus, Lou's uncle was still staying with her and Ellie. He wasn't at Lou's today, though, and I knew that even before she told me he wasn't home. Louise looked relaxed, and that hardly ever happened in his presence.
We barely had time to enter the living room when I heard the rumble of an engine. Ellie and Aiden arrived, and Lou rushed back to the hallway to greet them.
"Happy birthday! You're officially a young man now," she said to Aiden, hugging him.
His cheeks reddened. "Thanks, Louise."
I didn't want to make the boy even more uncomfortable, so I limited my displays of affection to a brief hug.
"Come in," Lou chirped. "We're ready, but we wanted to give you something first."
