Too Many Cooks by Dana Bate Read Free Book Online

the best cities in the world with one of the most handsome and thoughtful boyfriends on the planet. How could I not be happy? And if I’m not, what kind of fucked-up creature am I?
    â€œI guess I’m not as happy as I’d like to be,” I say.
    Sam’s expression sours. “What does that even mean?”
    â€œIt means . . . I have to take this job.”
    Sam’s eyes grow moist. “And what am I supposed to do, huh? Sit here with my thumb up my butt for a year while you ‘find yourself’ in London?”
    â€œFirst of all, whatever you do, please don’t sit with your thumb up your butt.” I attempt a smile, but Sam remains stone-faced, unmoved by my admittedly lame joke. “But second of all, I don’t expect you to wait for me. That isn’t fair. I can’t ask you to put your life on hold while I figure out mine.”
    â€œHow considerate of you.”
    I reach out to touch Sam’s shoulder, but he jerks it away. “I’m sorry,” I say. “Really, I am. I’m not doing this to hurt you. But I’ll never be able to make you happy if I’m not happy with myself. I hope you understand.”
    He rips off his tie. “So this is it, then? It’s over?”
    The word rattles in my ears: over . Is that what I really want? And if it isn’t . . . what do I want?
    â€œFor now, I guess . . .”
    â€œIf it’s for now, then it’s forever.” He grabs his briefcase off the floor and heads toward the bedroom. “You’d better find somewhere else to sleep tonight. And I want you out of this apartment by the end of the week.”
    He marches into the bedroom and slams the door behind him.
    With a lump in my throat, I creep over to my laptop, where Poppy’s e-mail stares back at me. Am I ready to do this? Is this really what I want? If I officially tell Poppy yes, that’s it; Sam will be gone from my life forever. We’ve been together six years— six years . I can barely remember what my life was like before I met him. Leaving him will be like losing one of my limbs.
    I stare at the bedroom door and listen as Sam crashes around, slamming drawers, throwing open closets, banging lids. It’s too late. I’ve already told Sam I’m going. If I back out now—if I tell him I’ve changed my mind—things will be even worse. He’ll know I was willing to leave him, and I’ll always curse myself for chickening out. For his sake and mine, I have to follow through.
    I look back at my computer screen, and my hand wanders toward the keyboard. I press Reply:

    Poppy,
I’m in. How soon can I start?
Best,
Kelly

    Then I click Send and sink down in my chair, hoping I haven’t just made the biggest mistake of my entire life.

CHAPTER 5
    â€œHere we are, miss. Miss?”
    I startle awake in the backseat of the car, the jetlag already taking its toll less than two hours after landing in London.
    â€œSorry—I must have fallen asleep.”
    â€œQuite all right, miss.”
    The driver, an Indian man in a smart black suit and aviator sunglasses, steps out of the sleek, black Mercedes and opens my door, gesturing toward the six-story Victorian building behind him.
    â€œPlease,” he says. “After you.”
    My eyes crawl up the building’s façade, which is made of pale gray limestone adorned with ornate balusters, corbels, and carved stone wreaths. A large wrought-iron gate covers the front entryway, its black spindles ornamented with shimmering gold leaves. A window box filled with petunias sits above a gold plaque for Hampden House, the name of the building Poppy sent me when she confirmed all of my arrangements.
    I grab my carry-on and step out of the car, making my way to the front gate as the driver removes my two suitcases from the trunk. I press the bell for the building manager and take a deep breath as I look around, sizing up my new neighborhood. Hampden