Chapter 13
“You’re a good friend.” Caitlin’s maddening words continued to echo in Jason’s brain. He couldn’t figure out why she was constantly on his mind. And her stubborn and regular rejection was starting to add up and put him in a perpetually foul mood. She wasn’t interested in him. That was a fact. Why couldn’t he just move on? It was the smartest thing to do, yet somehow he couldn’t accept it.
Seeing Caitlin in class on Monday morning didn’t improve his mood. Even though he was considered only friend material, he couldn’t help but want more. But before class went into session, she got called away.
Jason leaned forward, tapping Jane on the shoulder. “Do you know where Caitlin is going?”
“Someone at the office wants to speak to her, although I’m not sure about what.”
He settled back in his chair, wondering why they would call her to the office. As far as he could tell, she was a model student.
Jason spent the rest of the class hyperaware of the movements in the classroom. Every time he heard a sound behind him, he turned, expecting to see Caitlin reenter the room. But there was no sign of her. Then when the first hour had passed, he concluded that she wasn’t returning.
After he finished the second demo class of the day, Jason decided to go to the cafeteria to grab lunch. He debated whether he should skip class and drop by to visit Caitlin at her apartment. As he was deciding what to do, he was about to pass the administrative offices. That was when David Molowa stepped into the corridor. Jason saw him first, and his immediate response was to turn the other way. But he was out of luck. As if he sensed Jason’s presence, Molowa looked behind him.
“Ah, just the man I want to see,” David said cheerfully. He waited for Jason to catch up to him. “I was thinking about you today, and then you magically appear. I need to ask you a few questions. Come, talk with me for a few minutes.”
Placing a hand on Jason’s shoulder, he clamped it there so he couldn’t escape. A few students maneuvered around them. Jason could have easily shrugged off the smaller man, but he didn’t want to cause a scene. And though he felt reluctant, he allowed the director to steer him through the office doors.
The radio played in the waiting room and seemed almost too loud. Only one secretary manned the front desk, and since it was lunchtime, most of the other staff members had gone on their break. As a result, the usual hustle and bustle of the office had switched off.
Once Jason was inside his office, Molowa closed the door with a decided click. Moving around piles of books and papers, he maneuvered his way to his desk. “Have a seat,” he said, gesturing to a chair.
Since the last time Jason was here, the interior of Molowa’s office seemed more cluttered than usual, although the mess didn’t seem to bother the man.
“No, I think I’ll stand.” Jason wasn’t here for a social call, and he wanted to leave as soon as possible. “So what do you want to ask me?”
“Let’s not play dumb here, Jason. It’s been more than two weeks, and I’ve yet to hear anything from you.” He laced his fingers together, his gaze leveled on Jason’s face. “Give me a rundown of what’s happening.”
“You want a rundown,” he said slowly, trying to think of a way to stall him. To be fair, Molowa had held up his end of the bargain. The teachers were giving Jason the marks he needed, and none of the instructors in the practical classes hassled him like they did the other students. If he continued to play it right, he would win the top spot at the school, get his job back, and resume his old life. In contrast, Jason hadn’t held up his end of the bargain. Maybe he should’ve felt guilty, but he felt no sense of urgency. In fact, he hadn’t given much thought to the arrangement since they’d made the pact. Of course, he knew it would be stupid on his part to admit this. If Molowa knew that Jason had yet to call Jordan James, he would likely blow a fuse. And this was something that he wanted to avoid, especially since things were running smoothly, and he hadn’t had any trouble with his father.
“I’m in the process of setting something up,” Jason said, looking the older man in the eye.
“So you haven’t spoken to Jordan yet,” Molowa asked with a menacing frown. “I thought that —”
“Don’t worry about it,” he said, his tone smooth and reassuring. “I’m a student, you know. School has kept me busy, but I’m meeting up with him soon.”
“That’s excellent!” Molowa said, thumping his palm on the desk. His mood changed in an instant. And his face shone with anticipation, as if he already imagined his stardom. “So when do you meet him?”
“This weekend. If all goes well, I should have a date set up for you.”
“Good, good.” He rubbed his hands together like a keiki who was about to receive a freshly baked sweet roll. “That’s all I want to know. Once I get my show, I’ll be a celebrity, and then I can kiss this hellhole goodbye.” He nodded to his surroundings. “And it’ll be all thanks to you, my friend.”
“I’m sure your show will do well,” Jason said, his tone diplomatic. He couldn’t care less whether or not the show succeeded, however, he wasn’t about to reveal this to the director. “If you’re done with me, I’m going for my lunch now.”
Molowa let out a contented sigh and sank back in his chair while his hands laced behind his head. “Yes, go have your lunch.”
Jason didn’t have to be encouraged twice. Slipping out of the office, he hurried away in case the other man decided to drill him with more questions.
He pulled out his phone and quickly sent an email to Jordan James. He just hoped he could swing a meeting with the TV producer, otherwise he’d have to return to Molowa with a new excuse.
After his lunch, he had a few minutes to spare before class started, so he headed out early to the practical class. He scrolled through the pictures that he had taken during the demo. One of the dishes that they had to make in this class was crème caramel. He stared down at the picture, the challenge of making the dessert exciting him. He had watched the instructor carefully, noting his techniques and nuances. Of course, the man had years of experience to draw from, and his creation was an example of pure perfection.
Closing his eyes, Jason imagined the steps he needed to produce the custard. A ramekin was coated with caramelized sugar and then a custard mixture was poured inside. After letting it cool in the fridge for several hours, it was then turned over, the caramel sauce oozing over the sides. This custard dessert was delicious, but it was easy to mess up, especially if the sugar burned. The other problem was if the milk was added to the egg mixture while it was too hot, it would scramble the eggs. He shuddered at the thought of finding large, unattractive lumps in the final product.
Walking into the near empty room, Jason chose his workstation. He laid his knife bag on the next station, reserving the spot for Caitlin in case she returned to class. Turning around, he went to the refrigerator to organize the items that he needed. But when he returned to his workstation, he saw that a classmate had moved his bag.
“Hey, I was saving that spot for someone else,” he said, frowning.
“Sorry, brah,” he said. “All the other places are taken.”
Jason looked around the table, and his frown deepened when he discovered that his classmate hadn’t lied. Somehow while he was in the midst of rummaging through the refrigerator and setting up his workspace, he had missed seeing Caitlin entering into the kitchen. Likely she didn’t see him either because she had chosen the station at the furthest end of the stainless-steel table. Unfortunately, Jason had little opportunity to talk with her since the instructor stepped into the kitchen and the class commenced.
Throughout the hour, he tried a few times to catch Caitlin’s eye, but his attempts were futile. She was either occupied with executing her dishes, or she was trading banter with the classmates in her vicinity. He felt bummed that he couldn’t join in the lively conversation. When class ended, he would catch up with her, he decided.
But even as he made his resolve, he found it a challenge to concentrate on his work. His gaze strayed to the alluring redhead more than once. She chatted and laughed easily with the girl who worked beside her, her manner appearing different from when he saw her in the first period. He didn’t know how it was possible, but she managed to sparkle and look beautiful even while wearing the ugly toque and standard issue chef’s uniform. She was unlike any girl that he had ever known, simultaneously classy and tough. And the more time he spent with her, the more drawn he was to her. He couldn’t recall feeling so intensely curious about a female. Perhaps he had fallen for her. He couldn’t say that he’d ever been in love, but maybe this was it. But then he shook his head at the ridiculous idea. Obviously, he had indulged in too many chick flicks, and his brain was messed up. Besides, he reminded himself, he didn’t come to this school looking for a relationship. He came here to get his life back. He’d worked everything out, and including a woman in the mix, however sexy or compelling, was just too complicated.
But even as he thought this, something deep inside him already knew that things were already complicated. Though he didn’t wish it, Caitlin was firmly entrenched in his mind. When he least expected, the image of her pretty face floated into his consciousness. He didn’t know what to make of this since he was used to having girls pursue him. She kept him guessing, and everything he knew about women flew out the window. Maybe he needed to go on a date with her so he could get her out of his system. Likely she wasn’t that different from the women he knew. Then once he realized that, he could move on with his life.
When the class ended, Caitlin seemed in a rush to leave. She hurriedly cleaned her station, gathered her belongings and headed out the door before Jason could catch up to her. But he was still determined to talk with her. The idea of asking her out now appealed to him, and he resolved to do it today. Gathering his things from his locker, he went to stand outside the women’s change room.
“Has Caitlin left yet?” he asked as Jane exited the room.
“She’s changing and will probably be out in a few minutes,” she said.
“Mahalo,” he said. If he waited a little longer, he’ll get his chance to speak with Caitlin. A few minutes later, the girl who had consumed his thoughts the entire day came rushing out of the locker room. She was balancing two boxes of food, her book bag, and her knife case.
“Caitlin,” he said.
She started at the sound of her name and almost stumbled. “Oh, I didn’t see you there, Jason,” she said, her voice breathless.
“Here, let me help you.” He took the boxes from her.
“You’re a lifesaver,” she said, sounding relieved. They started walking toward the school exit. “Someone from our class didn’t want to take the food they made home, and I just thought it was a shame to throw it in the bin.”
He opened the door for her, and they stepped outside. “I was wondering if you —?”
“Oh, my ride’s here!” she interjected as she peered over his shoulder. “Sorry, Jason, I really can’t talk right now.”
Her bright eyes slid to the curb. A gray Maserati pulled up. Opening the passenger door, she took the food boxes from his hands.
“Thanks for your help, Jason,” she said almost as an afterthought. She then turned to the driver and said happily. “You’re so great for picking me up at such short notice, Nate.”
“You know I’d do anything for you, Caitlin,” the man at the wheel said. He was possibly a year or so older than Jason. He possessed a lean and sturdy build, and he oozed a cool confidence of someone who had his act together, someone who was nothing like Jason.
Caitlin laughed and slid into the car. She seemed very familiar with this man, and a dark feeling twisted in Jason’s gut. This had to be her boyfriend.
“I’ll see you on Monday, Jason,” she said, waving.
The man nodded at him. His expression was unreadable under the reflective sunglasses. And before Jason could say anything, the bastard roared his engine and took off.
Jason clenched his fists as he watched the sports car disappear from the driveway.
“You’re an idiot,” he said, kicking a pebble that lay near his foot, watching it as it skidded across the roadway. What the hell was wrong with him? He was trying to make a move on a girl that wasn’t even remotely interested in what he had to offer. There were other more willing girls available, so why was he obsessing over this chick? It didn’t make any sense. Jason felt dumb for even trying to vie for her attention. In truth, he should have given up on her long ago. Yet even if he intellectually knew what he needed to do, his heart refused to go along with it.