Page 21 of Mariah

“You’re very welcome,” Chef said, squeezing her extra tight. “And on that note, let’s eat before it gets cold!”

“Can you eat with us?” Mariah asked shyly. “You can sit by me.” She knew he still struggled with his feelings about Littles and she wasn’t sure he would say yes. She tried to tamper her hope and prepare herself to hear a no so she wouldn’t be disappointed.

“Well, considering I already set a plate for myself at the table, I think I better,” Chef answered.

Mariah’s chest swelled with happiness. She rushed to the table and sat, pulling out the chair next to her.

Chef Graham sat with a chuckle and leaned to whisper in her ear. “Little girl, you’re supposed to wait and let me pull out the chair for you.”

“Oops. Sorry,” Mariah sing-songed. “If there’s a next time, I’ll try to remember.”

“I hope there will be a next time.”

Mariah giggled. “Me too.”

Baze and her friends joined them at the table and Casey and Angelica served them. Mariah did her best to eat her salad, because she knew Baze would expect her to, but she was excited for the macaroni and cheese, not just because it was her favorite, but also because Chef Graham had listened and done something special for her.

The macaroni was flawless. Creamy and rich, with just the right amount of seasoning and the crumb topping was absolute perfection. Mariah moaned out loud when she tasted the first bite.

“Does it hit the spot? Did you get the comfort you were craving?” Chef Graham questioned her the second she finished chewing, watching her intently.

Mariah couldn’t stop herself from scooping a second bite before she answered. “Mmmm… yum… it’s so good,” she answered around a mouth full of noodles and cheese.

“Didn’t anyone ever tell you it’s impolite to talk with your mouth full?”

She swallowed. “Didn’t anyone ever tell you it’s impolite to question people while they are trying to enjoy their dinner?”

“Touché.” He smiled. “I’m glad you are enjoying it.”

“I’d have enjoyed the macaroni alone, just because you made it for me, and it is such a sweet gesture. But the fact that it came with a promotion that I didn’t even deserve, and”—she swept her hand, gesturing at the fancy table and all her friends—“all this, it makes it that much better. I can’t even remember the last time anyone made me feel so special.” Her voice cracked on the last words and her eyes welled up with tears.

“Well, you deserve to have nice things done for you. And you deserve the promotion. Mushroom incident aside, you are extremely competent and easy to work with.”

“Thank you. I just… I just feel weird about accepting the promotion with… things… still hanging between us.”

“Ah. The maintenance, you mean?”

Mariah nodded.

“You made me think a lot today. And honestly, I’m still thinking. Can we talk about it tomorrow?”

“Well, I’ll still be there fifteen minutes early,” Mariah pointed out.

“Make it thirty. Now, ignore me, and enjoy your dinner.” He nodded at her plate. “Eat up before it gets cold.”

She savored every bite.

Graham

His mind had been racing all day, from the moment he’d bent her over the chair in his office and paddled and plugged her bottom, during the heartfelt conversation they’d shared afterward, and while he’d cooked up her surprise promotion dinner. And while a lot of things were becoming clearer, he still had a lot of questions.

He needed to think things through out loud, with someone who knew exactly what he’d been through and where he was coming from, but also someone who wouldn’t just tell him what they thought he wanted to hear. He needed to call his brother. He made the decision while he walked back to his room and dialed while he was still unlocking the door.

Pierce answered on the second ring. “Ready for me to come rescue you yet?”

“Hardly,” Graham scoffed, closing the door behind him and sinking onto the couch. “What would you say if I told you I’d met a Little?”

“I sort of assumed you’d meet a lot of them in a place like that.”