BEST FRIEND’S BROTHER

She wondered why she never told Tilly about the way she felt for her brother. It was weird, because she and Tilly told each other everything. They kept nothing from each other. Tilly parents had even invested in her food truck business when she started it to show their support, but she’d kept her crush on Kaleb a secret. Maybe she was just scared of the way Tilly would react. What if Tilly didn’t like the idea of her dating her brother? Would it leave a mark on their relationship?

She didn’t want that because she valued their friendship so much. But again, what was the point of talking about it when Kaleb wasn’t even slightly interested in her. He’d completely friendzoned her, and she hadn’t even seen him for years…. Well, until that afternoon.

“Urmmm… helllooo” Tilly said on the other end of the line, bringing Sasha back to reality.

“No, ” Sasha said finally, answering Tilly’s question, “I wasn’t going to throw him a party. I was just surprised to see him, that’s all.” Feeling uncomfortable, she changed the topic. “So I guess you’re all caught up. Ready for your tests now?”

Tilly sighed. “Yeah I guess I am. To some extent, but I have done enough reading for today. We can hang out later. How about you come over tomorrow or I can come to your place if you prefer.”

“You should come over. That would be much better” Sasha said immediately, knowing that she wasn’t ready to face Kaleb again. “I’ll see you tomorrow”

She hung up and let out a deep sigh. Just how long was Kaleb going to be around before he went back to wherever the hell he crawled out from?

——–

Sasha grimaced at the vibration of her cell phone in her back pocket as she served up an order of green papaya salad and tom yum to another hungry customer standing outside her food truck. Her delicious Thai cuisine made hers one of the more popular trucks stationed at the Park during the lunch hour.

Sasha was a wonderful chef, and when she’d proposed starting a food truck business, Tilly and her parents had insisted on investing. The love of food and cooking were just a couple things the two of them bonded over. And because they were such good friends, when she had called Tilly that morning, frantic because she’d been down a person, Tilly had been more than willing to jump in and help. It hadn’t been the first time she’d volunteered, and if Sasha needed her, it wouldn’t be the last and Sasha was grateful for that. Her friend always had her back and knowing that it wasn’t easy to have or find such a good friend, she didn’t take it for granted.

The food had been prepared and Tilly was putting them in their packages while Sasha handed them to the customer.

“Here you go, babe.” Tilly handed her an order of pad thai, disrupting her thoughts. “That’s number 66.”

“Thanks.” Sasha accepted it, bagged it and carried it to the window. “Here you go.” She passed the food to the customer with a smile and turned to the next person in line. “Hi, how can I help you tod-”

Oh hell. It was Kaleb.

Her eyes widened as she stared at his cool, amused expression. “What are you doing here?” she asked, and in spite of the “I don’t care about him any more” speech she’d delivered to herself since she saw him two weeks ago, apprehension quivered through her at the smirk glittering in his gaze.

“I came to check out your place,” he ground out. “Tilly told me she’d be helping you in your food truck today so I decided to use the opportunity to come say hello-”

“Hey, man, order and move on. Some of us have to get back to work,” someone yelled from behind Kaleb. And when several more grumbles of agreement followed, Kaleb whipped his head around. Immediately, the mumbling ceased.

Good Lord. That was some superpower. He returned his attention to her and in spite of his glare, she hiked her chin up. “Thanks, but I’m busy though. If you need Tilly, I can go call her for you. I’m sorry, but I needed her today.”

“Relax. I’m not here for Tilly. Trust me, I’ve had enough of her and her troubles and I’ve only been back for two weeks.” His gaze narrowed further, and he growled, “Open the door.”

Before she could reply, he stalked off and disappeared. But seconds later, a hard rap at the side door echoed in the truck. From the grill, Tilly tossed her a “what the hell?” look, and, bemused, Sasha shrugged and unlocked it.

The door jerked open, and Kaleb strode through it. His big body and intense presence seemed to shrink the interior to that of a toy truck.

Sasha stared at him, open mouthed and struck silent. Which wasn’t an easy feat, while Tilly simply rolled her eyes, looking unimpressed. “It’s just you. What are you doing here?” Tilly asked.

“Mind your business,” Kaleb retorted. With sharp movements, he jerked off his coat and suit jacket and hung them on a wall hook. Then he rolled his sleeves up to his elbows and pinned both Tilly and Sasha with that dark glare.

“Well?” he snapped. “Where do you need me?”

Need him? What was happening? Sasha wondered.

“I want to help,” he added helpfully.Exclusive content © by Nô(v)el/Dr/ama.Org.

Tilly recovered first. “I’m not sure you can be of much help, Kaleb” she said, “But let’s see how much your kitchen skills have improved” She handed him a knife. “You get an order of cashew chicken going, and I’ll get the green curry.”

Without a word, he crossed to the sink, washed his hands, then accepted the utensil and started chopping fresh vegetables and chicken like a pro. Tilly again shot Sasha a look, but Sasha shrugged, still stunned and confused.

“You have customers waiting,” Kaleb reminded her, without turning around.

Now the man had eyes on the back of his head as well as cooking skills?

Again…what the hell was going on?

Shaking her head, she returned to the window and the ever-growing line outside. For the next couple hours, the three of them worked like a well-oiled machine.