Unraveled

Chapter 2

The voice came from a man with sharp blue eyes and a sly grin, polishing a wine glass with practiced ease. His name tag, pinned to a neatly tailored vest, read Aubrey. The name stirred something in Caleb's fractured memory, hinting at a bond that felt both distant and painfully close.

"Sorry," Caleb managed, his voice rough. "I had...things to sort out."

Aubrey raised an eyebrow, a mix of skepticism and genuine concern. "Looks like those things hit you pretty hard. You alright?" he asked, setting down the glass and leaning in. His presence, oddly grounding, seemed to steady Caleb.

"Yeah, just...one of those mornings," Caleb replied, forcing a smile that felt foreign.

Aubrey nodded, satisfied for now. He tilted his head toward the back, where Marco—their intense boss and head chef—was likely simmering with impatience. "Brace yourself for the storm blowing in from the kitchen," Aubrey warned, chuckling.

Before Caleb could respond, Marco came barreling from the back, his face dark with irritation. The kitchen door slammed shut as he marched over, his brow furrowed in a way that promised a lecture.

"Montgomery!" Marco's voice cut through the air. "You've got some nerve showing up after disappearing for days without a word."

Caleb's throat tightened, the weight of Marco's gaze demanding answers. But how could he give them? Even basic details felt like they were slipping from his grasp.

"I—" Caleb began, but Marco cut him off, throwing his hands up.

"No excuses, Caleb. Do you know how short-staffed we've been? How much time we've spent covering for you?" His voice dropped, but the anger was clear. "You'd better start pulling your weight again, or you're out."

The sting of Marco's words hit hard, and Caleb's pulse quickened. Before he could muster an apology, Aubrey stepped in, raising a hand to calm the tension.

"Hey, Marco, cut him some slack," Aubrey said, his voice easy and smooth. "He's been dealing with personal stuff, but he's back and ready to make it up to you. Right, Caleb?"

Aubrey's grin was reassuring, but there was something more—a glint of concern that Caleb couldn't quite place. Grateful for the lifeline, he nodded, even though he hadn't yet pieced together his own truth.

Marco let out a sigh, frustration fading under Aubrey's influence. He waved a dismissive hand. "Fine. But don't make a habit of it, Montgomery. I need everyone at one hundred percent, got it?"

"Got it," Caleb replied, relieved the confrontation was over—for now.

As Marco retreated to the kitchen, Aubrey turned back to Caleb, his playful smirk softening. "Looks like I saved you there," Aubrey quipped, his tone gentler. "You owe me one."

Caleb chuckled, tension loosening. "Yeah, I guess I do."

Aubrey's grin widened, and for a moment, the storm inside Caleb calmed. Something about Aubrey—his ease, his confidence—anchored him, even as he felt adrift.

"You sure you're okay?" Aubrey asked, his voice serious. "You don't seem yourself."

Caleb hesitated, tempted to confide in him but held back, afraid admitting the gaps would make them too real. He forced a smile.

"Yeah, just a rough few days."

Aubrey didn't push but gave Caleb a lingering look, as if he wasn't entirely convinced. After a pause, he picked up another glass, slipping back into his routine as if the exchange had barely registered.

"Better get to work before Marco changes his mind," Aubrey said with a wink. "And don't worry, I've got your back."

Caleb followed Aubrey's advice, standing a little straighter as he turned to the bustling restaurant. The Gilded Plate was alive with the sounds of conversation, laughter, and jazz threading softly through the air. The scent of seared scallops and rich truffle oil drifted from the open kitchen, pulling Caleb forward, led by some deep instinct.