“No, I know that.” She turns and heads for the coffee machine, and I follow her over there, because while I want to listen and be here for her, I could still really use another jolt of caffeine. She pours a mug and hands it to me before pouring another for herself.

I smile at the gesture. “Thanks.”

“All I meant,” she continues, “is that I was always so busy with the restaurant. We both were. But if we’d spent any more time together outside of work, I probably would’ve realized sooner that something wasn’t right. And to be honest, I think I threw myself into my work as much as I did because when we were home together, I wasn’t happy. I hadn’t been for quite a while, and maybe I was trying to avoid admitting it.”

Damn, that sucks. I can’t imagine being married to someone for so many years and then just not being happy with them anymore. That must be a tough situation, especially when you own a business with your spouse.

“She’s still a cheating cunt,” I say, hoping to lighten the mood.

It seems to work, because Addison laughs and holds up her mug to clink it against mine. “Yes, she is.”

“Just so you know... I’m sorry she did that to you, but I’m so happy and grateful to have you here. Seriously, you’re amazing. If I could make you cook all my meals for me, I would.”

Okay, maybe not all of them. Because that would be like cheating on Travis. And I could never give up the excuse to see him at the diner.

She takes her coffee back over to her workstation, knocking her phone to the side as she sets the mug down. “I appreciate you saying that. Coming from somebody who probably can’t even cook a hotdog, I’m not sure if it’s saying much, but...”

“Hey!”

“I’m kidding. Well, not about the cooking.”

Rolling my eyes, I say, “Yeah, yeah. We all know I’m useless at a stove. I might as well let May store her books in there.”

“That seems like a very dangerous recipe for a house fire.”

“So our bonding moment is over, I take it?”

A hint of a smile forms on her lips. “No, really. Thanks for being here to talk me off that ledge. I’d really prefer to never give that woman another bit of my mental energy.”

“I hear that.”

As she gets back to prepping the lunch menu, she says, “Sorry I didn’t clear the new hires with you first. I meant to, but I really needed to get them in here quickly so they can help me for the big Mother’s Day brunch.”

The words Mother’s Day are like a slap in the face, ruining my good mood.