Chapter 11

DAHLIA

The entire ride home is as quiet as a grave, especially since he told me not to speak of what he said.

But I’ve never been known to be attentive or obedient—only when I feel like it.

So I say, “I’m actually happy about my new job. I’m just not clear on the grounds.”

He doesn’t reply, so I speak again, giving him the side eye, “I know I’m supposed to speak well of the restaurant and the food in interviews. I know I will be in commercials and would maybe take a few friendly photos of the restaurant’s best menu. What I don’t get is your plan.”

I look over at him and see that he’s still refusing to pay me any attention.

I nudge at his shoulder, and he turns to me quickly with the usual scowl on his face before returning to the road.

“Why didn’t you tell me your plan was to date me?” I ask.

He stays silent for a while before he replies in his usual baritone, refusing to take his eye off the road. “I didn’t plan for Tate to flirt with