Chapter 85. Chef’s Kiss: pt. 2

I had just finished buttoning the last button on my cream blouse when my phone buzzed twice against the kitchen counter. A forwarded contact from Milika. Mr T. My lips curved before I could stop them. I opened WhatsApp and there she was—her profile picture unchanged for two years: Milika in a red sundress, head thrown back mid-laugh, gold hoop earrings catching sunlight, that perfect gap-toothed smile that always made me feel like the world wasn’t entirely against me. I tapped the voice-note icon, leaned close to the phone, and let my voice drop soft and grateful.

“Miki baby… Thank you so much. I know you’re probably in the middle of service right now, running around with those heavy copper pots, but I just wanted to say—I’m heading out. I owe you one. Actually, I owe you like twenty. I love you, okay?” I blew a small kiss into the microphone and hit send before the nerves could claw the words back.

Bag over my shoulder, keys in hand, I stepped out into the hallway and l