Chapter 2: He Chose Not to Know Me

Lori

Someone inside heard the commotion and turned to look. As if she'd been waiting for this moment, Catherine deliberately pulled the door wider and raised her voice. "Everyone, come see—our dinner has arrived."

More people gathered toward the doorway. I saw members of the hockey team, saw the girls from school who always clustered around Austin. Their eyes traveled from my black uniform to the food bag in my hands, then to Catherine's face. Someone had already started laughing.

I forced myself to hand over the bag. "Here's your order."

Catherine dragged me into the hall and, in front of everyone, slowly opened the bag.

"Don't rush," she said with a smile. "For such an expensive meal, I should check everything. If something's missing, wouldn't that mean you'd have to make another trip?"

She took out the containers one by one, deliberately slow. Sushi, sashimi, dessert, utensils, sauces. With each item, she glanced up at me, as if savoring my increasingly rigid expression.

I told myself to endure it—just finish the delivery and leave.

Austin was still inside. Once he saw me, he'd come explain. But then I saw what Catherine pulled out next, and I wanted to bury myself somewhere.

It was the condoms and dildo this order had required me to bring.

Austin's teammates instantly burst into laughter.

"God, did Nobu deliver that too? Talk about thorough service."

"Is this custom-made?"

The color drained completely from my face. I reached out to take them back, my voice low. "Catherine, that's enough. The customer requested those."

Catherine dodged my hand and blinked innocently. "The customer requested them? Which customer? Me?"

The laughter grew louder.

I gritted my teeth. "You know whether it was you."

"I really don't," she said, her smile even more angelic. "All I know is these came out of the bag you delivered. Lori, do you deliver these kinds of things too now, not just food? Or is this a personal service you provide on the side?"

Every gaze pierced me like needles. Catherine stood there in the light, beautiful and expensive. The Morris name carried such weight that she didn't even have to try—she could make everyone laugh at me along with her.

Instinctively, I searched the crowd for Austin.

Then I saw him.

He stood in the middle of the living room, holding a beer, wearing the gray hoodie I'd helped him pick out the week before. The instant our eyes met, his expression froze.

Almost by instinct, I let out a breath of relief.

It's fine. Austin will help me.

Catherine followed my gaze, and the corners of her lips slowly curled upward.

"Austin," she drawled. "Why does this delivery girl keep staring at you?"

The laughter in the room gradually died down.

Everyone turned to look at Austin.

My heartbeat pounded harder and harder. I stared at him, almost forgetting to breathe. Say something, Austin. Tell them who I am. Tell them you know me. Tell them I'm not some stranger they can humiliate however they please.

Austin's fingers tightened slightly around his beer bottle. His Adam's apple bobbed, but his gaze never returned to me.

He avoided my eyes.

"Probably saw me at Nobu before," Austin said. "You know how it is—the servers at Nobu all want to throw themselves at me."

I heard something inside me shatter.

Catherine smiled with satisfaction.

"So that's it," she said, turning back to me, her eyes full of the smugness of victory. "Sorry, Lori. I thought you two knew each other well."

I heard a girl beside me let out a long sigh.

"The way she was looking at him, I actually thought there was some story there."

"You're reading too much into it. As if Austin would. He's like the second most sought-after guy at school."

I stood there, fingertips numb, my stomach churning in waves. I wanted to end this absurd humiliation as fast as possible—but then I glanced at the order clipboard I was carrying, and I changed my mind.

"Wait."

Catherine raised an eyebrow.

I held out the bill. "According to policy, the customer needs to sign for the order."

She looked as though she'd heard a joke. "You think I would—"

Before she finished, I had already looked down at the additional notes on the bill.

"Also," I read aloud, "the customer specifically requested a box of condoms and a vibrator be included with the delivery. If receipt cannot be confirmed upon delivery, per the Nobu employee handbook, the employee is required to call the number on file to verify."

Catherine's smile stiffened.

I took out my phone and, in front of everyone, dialed the number on the order.

The next second.

A ringtone sounded from inside Catherine's handbag. Every gaze snapped to her at once. Catherine's face changed dramatically, and she pressed a hand to her handbag almost reflexively.

I slowly lowered my phone and smiled politely.

"Looks like we've found the owner of this order."

I held the signature pad back out to her.

"Please sign here."

I paused, my tone still impeccably professional.

"And if possible, a tip of twenty-five percent or more would be greatly appreciated."