“Yes, absolutely. This was really fun.”
“I’ll email you when I confirm the air date, but I think it will be in a few weeks.”
“That soon?”
“Yeah, we got bumped up on the schedule because the shooting schedule for Billy Watts’s new travel show got gummed up by bad weather.” Aaron rolled his eyes. “He won’t do outdoor shots if it’s raining.”
“I guess the rain would mess up his hair.”
Aaron laughed. “True story.”
“Anyway, I’m really grateful for this opportunity.”
“Oh, no problem. Happy to help anyone I survived culinary school with.”
“And Brad.”
“Sure. He did ask on your behalf. I won’t pry into what’s going on there.”
“Good, because I don’t know. But it was great to see you again, and I’d be happy to judge anytime.”
Aaron smiled. “Sure. Thanks, Lindsay.”
“Is he still here?”
“He hung around to watch the last episode film, yes. I think he’s in the contestant green room. You want me to bring you there?”
“Could you?”
Aaron winked. “Sure. Come with me.”
Brad was alone in the contestant green room. He’d changed out of the show’s standard-issue chef’s jacket and into a T-shirt and skinny jeans.
“So, hey, why didn’t you tell me you were here?” was the first thing that flew out of her mouth. She hadn’t intended to be so adversarial. It was…unhappiness. Loneliness. Shame. Joy. Love. All of her emotions swirled around when she and Brad were in the same room.
“Could you give us a second?” Brad said to Aaron.
Aaron nodded. “I need to clear you all out of here in ten minutes, but I’ll be right outside.”
Lindsay took a deep breath. “Congratulations.”
“Thanks. Sorry I didn’t tell you I’d be here. Aaron called yesterday to ask me to do this. When I got home last night, I kinda passed out before I could call you. Working the morning shift, man.”
“It’s okay,” she said, meaning it. She understood. She was going to have to dial back the hostility if she had a chance of forgiving both of them. “It was nice seeing you cook again.”
“Good. Okay. Thank you.”
She wanted to apologize to him, but she couldn’t quite make her mouth make the words. “That was really all I wanted to say. I liked watching you cook, and it felt rude not to say hi if you were still here.”
“You’ve probably eaten your fill, but you want to get a drink or something?”
“I can’t tonight. A couple of the other judges invited me to get drinks with them, and I want to pick their brains about stuff for the story I’m writing. Rain check?”
He seemed bewildered. “Yeah. Of course. Give me a call sometime.”
“I will.”
He narrowed his eyes. “For real? Or are you just being polite?”
