Personal Chef

Chapter 28

As I opened my texts, I giggled at Shawn's name. I'd recently added an emoji to represent how sizzling hot he was, and of course it was food related.

Shawn🥓: everything cool with Ben?

Shawn🥓: i miss you, btw

Me: Everything is fine.

Me: Better than fine.

Me: We had a nice talk.

Me: And how can you miss me if I'm right here?

I was still in the closet, but I knew he was responding by the three dots.

Shawn🥓: I haven't talked to you or touched you for hours

Shawn🥓: you have no idea how badly I want to touch you

I felt myself flush. As I typed out my response, I hoped to god no one was looking over his shoulder.

Me: I want you to touch me tonight.

Me: Every inch of me.

Me: With every inch of you.

His response was immediate.

Shawn🥓: that's it I'm sending everyone home

I smiled, knowing he was kidding.

Phone in hand, just in case we decided to text more, I rejoined the party. I sat with Paige in the living room after I saw that Ben and Karyn had stepped out on the balcony. I wasn't avoiding them but I wasn't really seeking them out, either.

"Ben just told me how understanding you were when he talked to you. I guess you win the 'best ex of the year' award," Paige told me.

I laughed. "What's my prize?"

"Seeing as you're single, I could set you up on a blind date with a nice guy that I work with."

"I'm not looking right now, but thanks."

Paige and I talked for awhile and were joined periodically by other people. I occasionally glanced over at Shawn who hadn't left his spot since we'd been texting. Paige seemed to be hitting it off with a guy I'd never met before, so I decided to leave them alone. Maybe it was tempting fate, but I went to the kitchen and squeezed my way into the small group talking to Shawn. We had a quick intense flicker of eye contact.

I listened as Shawn talked about his experience in Malibu. When someone brought up Kat, I cringed internally, but loved how Shawn said they were definitely done. After ten minutes or so, Shawn started rubbing his temples.

"Are you okay, man?" Pete asked.

"I don't know if it's the tequila or what, but I've got a bad migraine," he said with a pained look on his face.

One of the girls standing near us said, "You need to go lie down in a pitch black room. I get migraines and other than my meds, that's the only thing that helps. Do you have something to take?"

Shawn nodded, wincing as he did so. "I have something my doctor gave me last time."

I looked around and saw that several people had gone home, but quite a few people were still hanging out. I saw Pete checking out the crowd, too.

"Go lay down, Mendes. Chelsea and I can clear the party, right?" Pete offered.

I nodded. "I can stay and clean up the food since it's basically my kitchen."