Love Simmers

By Jules Deplume

Smashwords Edition

Copyright 2014 Jules Deplume

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Cover Design by Tell Tale Book Covers

“
Nate James,
you’ve been giving me that same look for the better part of two
decades now. I can’t believe you’re still pissed I stole your story
in the third grade,” I snapped at him, pushed to the breaking point
by yet another look of exasperation cast in my direction. “If
nothing worse has happened to you since, then I’d say you’ve led a
pretty charmed life, so can we please move on?”

“
Logan, you
think I’m pissed about my story that you outright plagiarized? Not
about how you broke Tommy’s heart last year?” he replied, turning
his back to me as we carried yet another load of supplies into my
brother and his new restaurant. The official opening of their
restaurant was barely a week away.

I’d flown in a few days earlier
to help out with the final preparations and had been doing hard
labor ever since. First, driving all over the region picking up
boxes, and then shifting furniture from one side of the restaurant
to the other. I was on the verge of demanding payment, or at the
very least, protesting. Nate’s constant antagonism wasn’t helping.
I mean, the guy had never been known for his charming,
light-hearted personality but he’d never been this bad. As kids,
his serious, quiet nature had always meant he was the calmest of us
all, far less likely to get into trouble on his own than Ollie and
me. Now, he was no longer even tolerable. He was just an ass,
mostly to me. At least, for Ollie’s sake, he was an intelligent,
business savvy ass. They both had a lot invested in this
business.

“
Your brother’s
not angry about our break-up. Why should you be?” I followed him
into the waterfront restaurant, taking a moment to appreciate the
beauty of the place. It was spectacular. A blend of rustic maritime
charm and modern sophistication that looked straight out of the
pages of Vogue Living. I was proud to have a dinner invitation for
opening night. I couldn't imagine how Nate and Ollie felt owning
the place. It was a huge gamble, but hopefully it would be a
rewarding one.

“
Tommy’s not
pissed because, as usual, you sweet talked your way out of his
anger. Just like you’ve sweet talked your way out of every bad
situation your actions have landed you in since the third grade.”
His voice was always calm. Most people who knew him had never heard
him raise his voice unless they saw him around me. I was the only
person who made him yell, and it was usually in annoyance.
“Including your detention for taking my story.”

“
Tommy’s not
pissed because our break-up was mutual, respectful and mature.
Trust me, I was there.”

I could see his jaw clench in
anger at my words. I’ll admit they came out more annoying than I’d
intended. I may as well have said his brother and I had a conscious
uncoupling.

“
You broke up
with him three weeks after moving in with him.”

“
You’ve lived
with your brother. You’ve seen his bathroom. You should be more
understanding.” I couldn’t for the life of me understand why he was
so angry for Tommy. Tommy and I still had coffee together weekly.
We were both fine about our break-up. Sometimes people break-up
because they just don’t work. No anger, hurt feelings or betrayal
involved.

“
Were you
always this selfish or has being in front of a camera for the last
three years done this to you?”

I smiled in the way I knew he
found infuriating, wanting to get under his skin like he was
getting under mine.

“
Have you been
watching my cooking show?” I laughed at the look of outrage in his
eyes, exactly the same look he gave me when we were five and I
suggested a game of ‘I’ll show you mine, if you show me yours.’ Of
course, in our teen years, he’d begged me to play that particular
game. “Do you want an autograph?”

“
I don’t
understand how someone so small can be so irritating,” he said, his
resolve to be mad at me beginning to waiver like it always did
around me.

I was getting the distinct vibe
though that Nate couldn't stand being alone with me these past few
days. We hadn’t spent that much time together in the last few
years. Not since that night.

“
Was I this
irritating at prom?” I taunted.

“
Probably,”
Ollie answered as he walked out of the kitchen, wiping his hands on
a tea towel before opening the boxes we’d brought in. “Why are we
talking about prom?”

“
Just
reminiscing,” Nate said casually, giving me a warning look to not
to say more. He didn’t need to worry. I could keep
secrets.

“
Logan, did you
pick up the tablecloths?”

“
Yes,” I
answered, rolling my eyes. He’d already texted me twice to remind
me.

“
The
cutlery?”

“
Yes.” I hoped
he wasn't about to list everything in the boxes. It was going to be
a long day.

“
Don’t worry. I
checked already. She hasn’t forgotten anything,” Nate
said.

My brother smiled with relief
that ‘Nate the great’ was around to save us all. I scoffed. It was
almost offensive that Ollie didn’t trust me to get the job done
without needing Nate’s supervision.

You would think they’d be
slightly more appreciative of me. After all, I had taken a break
from my successful career as a celebrity chef to fly out and help
them start their restaurant back home in Chester. Instead, all I
had gotten was non-stop flak. That was my brother and Nate for
you.

Ollie must have seen me roll my
eyes because before I knew his lecturing started.

“
Don’t act like
we’re being unreasonable for checking up on you. I was there almost
every day when you forgot your keys, your shoes, your books, your
homework…”

“
Your pants…”
Nate just had to throw his two cents in. It wasn’t helpful or
appreciated.

“
That was one
time!” I tried to defend myself, “I thought the shirt was long
enough to be a dress.” I paid no attention to their laughter. “I
may have to take this forgetful mind elsewhere.”

I took the mature route and
stormed off into the kitchen, ignoring their mock apologies and
condescending laughter.

“
You know I’m
grateful you’re here right?” My brother tried to save himself from
my wrath as he walked into the kitchen sometime later. Ollie knew I
could hold a grudge like nobody’s business. So could he
though.

“
I know.” I
looked up from stirring the chocolate sauce for the taster dessert
menu to smile at him. I knew he was grateful. Nate, on the other
hand, looked decidedly ungrateful about my presence. He seemed not
to care that this was my home too, and this was my brother’s
success as well.

“
Nate will come
around. I think he’s still pissed at you for leaving.” Ollie
laughed at the look of shock on my face. I couldn’t believe Nate
had the audacity to hold a grudge over me leaving five years ago.
I’d left after high school like three quarters of our friends did.
My aspirations had taken me away. Nate had chosen to stay. He
couldn’t begrudge me for that.

“
Does he often
ask about me?” I tried to appear indifferent, unfortunately my twin
always saw right through me. I couldn't hide anything from him. But
it was okay since he couldn’t hide anything from me. There were no
secrets between two people who’d shared a womb for nine
months.

“
No. But after
you started dating Tommy last year he had a lot to say about you
and none of it was positive.” Ollie stared at me seriously,
“whatever’s gone on or going on between you two, don’t let it
interfere with Sail’s opening. Please, Logan, this is the single
most important moment of my life. I have everything invested in
this dream.”

I walked around the counter to
wrap my arms around him, my head barely reaching his collarbone.
Funny to imagine we’d started life the same size.

“
I would never
do anything that would risk damaging or even complicating what
you’re doing here. I’m so proud of you Oliver. I know this place is
going to be a success, how could it not with Nate and you running
it.”

We hugged for a moment before
getting back to work. Since there was a lot of work to do before
the opening, we had to keep the mushy, motivational speeches to a
minimum. He was trying to run a business here after all.

“
Are you still
glad you came home like a good, dutiful sister?” My best friend,
Maddie, asked me over wine and pizza. To be honest, it was more
wine than pizza.

“
I’ve spent the
entire day organizing the kitchen and bar supplies. When I offered
to help them open the restaurant I didn’t think they would have me
stacking shelves and doing heavy lifting. I thought I would be
sampling the menu for them,” I whined, my feet sore from spending
hour after hour standing. I didn’t even get a lunch break. I wasn’t
cut out for so much manual labor. As a celebrity chef I spent my
days filming my show and writing cookbook. Pilates twice a week and
a short daily run was the sum total of my physical exertion. Ollie
and Nate didn’t seem to realise my limitations. If they did, they
just didn’t care.

“
That bad?” She
asked as she refilled my empty wineglass like a good
friend.

“
I dropped a
glass. You would think I burnt down the restaurant the way that
Nate berated me. I ended up paying for the glass just to shut him
up.”

“
He’s not
warming up to your presence yet?” She sympathised.

Having gone to school with
Nate, as well, she knew his personality wasn’t always
endearing.

“
I’m chilled
from being in his presence,” I said, shivering dramatically. My
melodrama amused her. We both broke into laughter.

I took a deep breath, leaned
back into my chair, and let the atmosphere of my favourite pizza
bar comfort me. I loved coming home. Hanging out with my friends,
my family, this was the best vacation I could take. Believe it or
not, I enjoyed coming home more than I enjoyed my holiday to Bora
Bora last year. When life in the city was lonely and stressful I
often asked myself if my success was worth the price of living so
far from my family and friends. Ollie stayed in Chester and he was
one of the happiest guys you’d ever meet. When he wasn’t stressed
out of his mind over his new business venture of course.

“
The unresolved
feelings between you and Nate are just priceless. I love it. It’s
the inspiration for my new romance novel,” she told me, taking
another bite out of her pizza slice. “The working title is ‘Can’t
Stand The Heat’.”

I didn't ask about her new
novel. Mainly because I was sceptical over whether she would ever
finish one. I’d read the first chapter of nine books in the last
year alone. I’d finally had to tell her I wouldn't read another
first chapter until she had written a second one. It left me with
too many never to be answered questions about countless characters.
If her ability to write a first chapter was any indication, she
could be a great writer if she ever finished a piece of work. And
that was coming from someone who didn’t usually read romances.

“
There are no
unresolved feelings on my part. I’m resolved in my current feelings
of irritation towards him. I remain resolved in my belief that Nate
and I will never get along again. That whatever truce or bond we’ve
had throughout our childhood has vanished,” I ranted, mostly for my
benefit more than Maddie’s.

There had been one night in the
last five years where we hadn’t argued. But, then again, we hadn’t
spoken much that night. Ever since then we could barely be in the
same room together without one, or both of us, snapping. Nate had
never visited me in the city though I had never given him any
indication he’d be welcome. Our estrangement was mutual it
seemed.