A/N: So, remember when I said this would be the last post? That turned out to be a lie. All your comments about Bella's surprise inspired a futuretake that will go up next week. For now, here is an outtake that goes back to the day our happy couple first met. As always, thank you to everyone who read, favourited, and reviewed (we're almost at 500!). And a special thank you to my beta extrordinaire, kneon! Early on in my fic writing adventure, I wasn't sure about a beta, but she's proven to be one of my biggest supporters as I grow! Without further adieu, let's take it back now, y'all!
BPOV
Finally! After ages of pitching my idea to Aro, he'd finally gone along with it. He hated the idea of his beloved restaurant going unused in the middle of the week but was reluctant to open up for Wednesday service. Sure, he'd tried everything - midweek date night specials, happy hours, all the things the fine dining establishment he dreamed of would shudder at. I had been pitching the idea of a beginner cooking class for ages, and he'd finally listened. My fellow sous chef Demitri flat-out refused to teach amateurs, but that was fine. If there was one thing I loved as much as cooking, it was teaching people how to cook. Well, people who wanted to learn. Charlie was hopeless until he finally asked me to show him something to "impress his friends''. Yeah, like he needed anything more than a cold case of Vitamin R to impress Billy. He wasn't fooling anyone with that…
Learning to cook had started as a necessity. I was raised on a beige diet of processed frozen food, more fish than anyone should consume, and leftovers from the Clearwaters. By the time I turned twelve, I'd had enough and asked Sue to show me a few things. What started as trying to get some more fresh vegetables into our diet became a passion I couldn't have imagined. A passion no man had even come close to. Although Alistair had been close…
"Hey, Bells!" Jake called out, knocking me from my thoughts about how long it's been since Al and I broke up. "Thanks for hooking me up with this gig. I could use the extra bucks."
"Rabbit's been giving you trouble?" I laughed, nudging him in the ribs. It was hard to believe the kid I used to babysit now towered over me.
"Please! It runs like a kitten," he bragged. "But if I want to get a degree somewhere better than Peninsula, I need to save up now."
I gave my, for all intents and purposes, god brother a watery smile. Ever since Billy's accident took him off the tribal police force, it had been tough for the two of them at home. It was the same search and rescue that took my dad Charlie off the Forks force, but he'd been lucky. If I thought Jacob would accept it, I'd offer to help with his tuition in a heartbeat, but I knew he was too proud for that. Instead, I just made sure he had a secured job here at the restaurant as a busboy every weekend, as well as offered him this once-a-week gig to help me out. I didn't really need an assistant, but Aro didn't need to know that.
"Don't bad mouth community college, Jake," I scolded. "I wouldn't be where I am without Seattle Central."
"And that's great for you!" He backpedaled. "But Peninsula's not a great option for an MBA."
I smiled and shook my head. I always figured the kid would work with cars, and here he was talking about business school. "Well, Mr. MBA, this quinoa needs to cool and I need some caffeine. And I'm sure the old men do, too." Since Dad was spending the week teaching a Rural Leadership workshop at the Criminal Justice Training Centre, it meant my guest room was out of bounds, and Jake was only here for the evening. Billy claimed he was coming down so Jake didn't have to drive back alone, but it was obvious he was here to give his son a hard time. And for the free meal I made all three of them. "I'm gonna say hi to Leah."
"Can you get me an ice cream latte? Caramel?" He asked, shooting me puppy dog eyes.
"All that sugar's gonna rot your teeth," I laughed, but we both knew I'd bring one back for him. He gave me a toothy smile and grabbed the stacks of bowls and recipe cards to start setting up the stations.
Sitting out at the bar were Billy and my dad bundling knife sets and aprons for my students. I probably could have just placed them out, but the two men insisted on helping. "Hey, guys," I greeted, leaning down to kiss my dad's rough cheek. "I'm grabbing a chai latte. Need anything?"
"From Sue's?" Charlie asked, his ears perking up. When would he realize I knew the two of them were a thing? Leah, Seth, and I had a running pool on it.
"Yeah, but I don't think she's in today," I smirked. "So, drinks?"
"Black coffee," Billy stated though chuckles at my dad's expense.
"Same," Charlie answered gruffly.
"I'll be back." I shook my head and removed my chef coat. I refused to wear it outside of the restaurant or while cooking. I loved that my best friend ran her family's coffee shop only two doors down from where I worked. After Sue's husband passed away when Leah and I were still in high school, they'd struggled with what to do with his life insurance payout. Sue made enough to take care of the family as one of the head nurses at Forks Hospital, and Leah and Seth both easily got scholarships out of high school. It was after a trip to Costa Rica that Leah told her mom she wanted to run her own coffee shop, and Clearwater's was born. When I moved back to Washington after my time with the Disney culinary program, it was Leah who told me about the job opening at Moonlit Bites.
When I entered the familiar coffee shop, there were already two redheads in the store - a young teenage girl heading to the small bank of tables, and an older man at the counter who may be the hottest man I've ever seen. With what was likely the best ass in the world.
"Hey, Bella!" Leah waved from behind the counter. "The usual?"
That's what I loved about the small business touch - having a usual. "Yeah. I also need two large drips for Dad and Billy, and a caramel ice cream latte for Jake."
"I swear, that kid's the only reason I keep that on the menu," Leah muttered with a grin as she punched in my order.
I shrugged, knowing she was right. "Dad tried insisting on coming over here, by the way. I think he was hoping to get a glimpse of the boss."
"I'm sure Mom would have appreciated it!" Leah barked. "That'll be $21.49."
I pulled a few bills out of my pocket and handed them over. "Here you go; keep the change!"
"Bells, you know you're not allowed to tip!" Leah insisted, trying to push change into my hand as Seth called out Mr. McHottie's order.
"I don't care, I'm not taking it." I shoved my hands in my pocket in emphasis and peeked at the gorgeous man now walking towards the table that I'm assuming his daughter had set up at. There was something sweet to see them together; it reminded me of days at the diner with Charlie.
"I swear if I didn't know what an awesome dad Charlie was, I'd insist you had daddy issues," Leah chuckled softly.
"What?" I tried feigning innocence, but I'm sure I failed.
"I saw you check out that guy, and I've known you forever. I know you like older guys."
"And you like sporty girls," I replied, sticking out my tongue. I mean, she was right but she didn't have to say it. I'd never been really attracted to guys my own age, but I think that was from being raised by a dad who treated me like a real person since childhood, and not like an inferior being.
"I do," Leah sighed, looking dreamy. "If I could spend one day in the US women's soccer team locker room…"
"You're a perv," I snickered.
"Vanessa, drop it," the velvety voice of Mr. McHottie stated firmly. Fuck, even his voice was hot.
I sighed and shared a shrug with Leah. I really needed to get back to the restaurant. So much for Mr. McHottie and his spine-tingling voice. "Thanks, Leah! Thanks, Seth!" I called out as I grabbed my tray of drinks. I made my way out of the coffee shop, but not before taking one last look at Adonis. Shit, I think his daughter caught me looking, judging by her smirk.
Once I made it back to the restaurant, I handed out drinks before making my way back into the kitchen to finish prepping for tonight. I pulled the chickens out of the oven and began butchering them into manageable pieces for each table before adding them to the blast chiller to cool as well.
The next hour went by quickly as I set up the ingredients while Jake set up the aprons and knives our dads had worked so hard on. Before I knew it, it was quarter to six - only fifteen minutes until class began.
"I need to grab my knives from the kitchen," I stated and passed Jacob a printed list. "Here are the attendees. All you need to do is check off their names."
"Sure, sure," Jake brushed off, taking the list from me. "I got this, Chef. Relax."
"I need everything to go perfectly," I insisted. "I'm gonna get some fresh air. Let me know when everyone arrives."
He nodded in agreement, and I went back through the kitchen to the alley and inhaled deeply. Everything would be great, I was sure of it. I planned the entire lesson plan meticulously- not too difficult, but not too basic. Aro would see I was right.
I didn't realize how long I was outside until I felt my phone vibrate.
theyre heeeeere
I laughed at Jake's text and popped back inside, grabbing my knife roll from the counter and heading back to the dining room where everyone was assembled.
"Good evening, class!" I announced, calling the class to attention and causing all eyes to land on me. Including a pair of gorgeous green eyes that I'd seen only too recently. Fuck! Mr. McHottie was in my class!