"You're mad. Bonkers. Off your head.....But i'll tell you a secret.....some of the best people are."

~Alice in Wonderland

~~~~~

Kelsey put her hands on her hips and surveyed the bowls of beef stew before her. Tender chunks of meat swam in thick red sauce, with the occasional carrot popping up here and there.

"This recipe was good," one of the chefs commented.

Kelsey beamed. "Really?"

"Who knew saffron would improve the flavor by so much!" he said.

Kelsey could barely contain herself. "Thanks."

She had plans to make some more for dinner that night. As much as Becca complained about her figure, and stuck her nose up at anything below her standard, she had a good appetite. And that was at least one thing they had in common.

Once she served lunch to the zombies, post-apocalyptic survivors, and movie directors, Kelsey made her way back to the kitchen and began cleaning up.

She and Ethan had officially been dating for three days and every time Kelsey thought about it, her stomach fluttered. Nothing really felt different, just more relaxed. They did the same things they used to, talked about all the things they used to talk about, but now it was a different sort of friendship.

Kelsey didn't panic if her fingers accidentally brushed against his hand or have a heart attack if he caught her staring at him.

"Miss...Harris..."

Kelsey jumped and spun around, sending a puff of soap bubbles flying through the air.

"What has gotten into you?" Chef Romano huffed. "I have been trying to get your attention!"

"Oh, I'm so sorry," Kelsey breathed.

Chef Romano lifted and eyebrow. "I need another order of leeks when you take inventory."

"Yes ma'am."

Kelsey continued on with her day, humming softly to herself as she was cooped up in the storage refrigerator, making a list of all the supplies they needed, and making sure to add leeks at the top.

She swept as the other chefs left for the day, and Chef Romano hung around.

Once they were the only two in the kitchen, Chef Romano leaned against the stainless steel tabletop while Kelsey pretended not to notice.

"I am beginning to worry, intern," Chef Romano grunted. "Where's your head?"

Kelsey looked up. "Uh, nowhere?"

"You're not focusing, your thoughts are in the clouds—" Chef Romano straightened immediately, her eyes sharpening like a knife. "You're in love, aren't you?"

"What?" Kelsey laughed. "No—"

"That actor boy! I knew it!"

Kelsey pressed her lips together.

"Oh, this is trouble," Chef Romano muttered to herself. Kelsey knew she was about to get lectured on the value of work ethics.

"Love is the downfall of a woman," Chef Romano sighed. "You're too young—too young!"

"I promise it won't interfere with my work," Kelsey said.

"And to one of those showbusiness ratti too! Oh, my, my, my..."

Kelsey swallowed and glanced around. "Um, I'm really sorry."

Chef Romano met her gaze. "Are you sure you know what you're doing?"

Kelsey realized that Chef Romano wasn't worried about her work productivity, she was worried about her. Her shock softened into a faint smile. "I think so."

Chef Romano shook her head miserably. "Do you not remember what happened mere weeks ago?! I will not have you crying in my kitchen again!"

Kelsey had to hide an amused smirk that tried to inch its way across her face. "I know, chef. I really do. But I think it would be worth it, don't you?"

"Love brings nothing but heartbreak," Chef Romano said. "Best to stay away from it."

"Why?" Kelsey asked softly.

Chef Romano frowned. She paused for a long moment before saying, "Many, many years ago, there was a young man in Poland who had my fancy. We were almost married, but he met a barmaid in Scotland weeks before the wedding. He ran off with her, and left me." She shrugged. "I cannot say I regret it. I went back to Italy, was taught to be the best chef in my culinary school, and made a better life for myself. That is all you need to know." She waved her hand airily. "Bah! I suppose if you love him, go on. But do not come weeping to me if it doesn't work out."

"I understand," Kelsey said. "Thank you."

She made her way home after cleaning up and said hello to Becca, who was perched on the couch watching the latest episode of The Bachelorette.

She tossed her purse onto her bed and kicked off her shoes.

A scream sounded from the living room.

Kelsey flew out the door into the hallway, heart pounding.

Becca was on her feet, staring at her phone, jaw hanging open.

"Becca? What's wrong?" Kelsey asked.

"I can't believe him!" Becca shrieked.

"What?"

"He—he—" Becca gave another mortified cry. "Mack's out with another girl!"

Kelsey gasped. "What?!"

She made her way over to where Becca was standing and looked over her shoulder at the phone.

There was an Instagram photo of Mack walking into a restaurant with a tall young woman.

Becca clenched her phone and threw it onto the couch. "I can't! He hasn't even divorced me yet, and he's already with someone else?!"

"I'm so sorry, Becca," Kelsey said.

"I'm going to kill him!"

"Uh—"

"Where is he, that little rat." Becca grabbed her phone again and zoomed in the picture, peering closely at the screen. "He's at The Terrace! The Terrace! He used to take me there!" She swore angrily and flopped onto the couch. "I just wonder who she is. It's gonna drive me nuts."

She sat up and shot to her feet. "I'm going to find out!"

"Becca? Becca, wait," Kelsey said, grabbing her arm before placing both hands on her shoulders. "We can't do anything brash."

"He's cheating on me!" Becca fumed.

"But we can't kill people," Kelsey reasoned.

"Then what am I supposed to do?" Becca sniffled.

Before she could start crying, Kelsey said, "We're going to find out who this other woman is."

Becca's eyes brightened. "Really?"

"But we can't be seen," Kelsey warned. "And no physical contact. Promise?"

Becca nodded. "Got it."

"It's just a recon mission."

"Understood."

Kelsey grabbed her keys and Becca followed her to the car. Kelsey's mind was a whirl as she turned on the engine. Becca was fairly shaking with rage next to her.

Kelsey didn't want her doing anything she'd regret. Like stabbing her ex. That would be another tabloid she would rather avoid...

"I just, I can't believe it, " Becca said, her voice quieter now as they drove into town. "We were together for four years, Kelsey! Four! And now he can just move on like it was nothing? He hasn't even talked to me since we fought!"

"It's not fair," Kelsey agreed. "But you do need to confront him at some point. Not alone, but either in court or with someone who can protect you. You need to move on too."

Becca nodded resolutely. "You're right! I don't need him! I am so much better off now. I mean, no offense, but I don't have to keep hiding at your place. I could buy half of L.A. if I wanted to, and have guys lined up the minute I snapped my fingers!"

Kelsey didn't have words but nodded anyway. "Uh, yes. Right."

Becca gave a shrill laugh. "What am I even doing?! Jordan Mack doesn't have anything on me, I should've stood up to him days ago! I'm twice the man he'll ever be!"

Kelsey raised her eyebrows and blinked. "Sure."

"Turn left," Becca instructed.

Their car crept into a parking space across the street from The Terrace.

Becca got to her knees and scrambled through her purse. She yanked out a pair of pink sparkly binoculars and began looking through them.

Kelsey's jaw dropped. "You just happened to have binoculars in there?"

Becca tossed her a haughty glance over her shoulder. "Hon, you think I haven't done this before?"

"Oh," Kelsey whispered. Of course.

She was a little in awe of Becca, as well as slightly terrified. Becca was like a can of soda...nice when opened slowly and calmly, but a volcano of chaos and confusion when shaken.

Right now, Becca had been shaken violently, and the aftermath was proof.

She gave a loud gasp. "It's Tina Alvarez!"

"Who?"

"Tina Alvarez. She's won two Oscars. No wonder Mack went for her."

"Let me see," Kelsey said, reaching over and taking the binoculars.

She scanned the outside café before spotting Mack leaning back in his chair, ballcap backwards. He sat across from a tall, thin woman, with short blonde hair and makeup that had seemingly been peeled off the cover of Vogue.

"She's so classy," Becca sighed. "I hate her."

Kelsey cringed inwardly. Tina Alvarez was beautiful. Becca must have been fuming.

The couple stood up and pushed in their chairs. Tina picked up her purse when Mack leaned over and kissed her.

Kelsey and Becca gasped in unison.

"That's it!" Becca raged, unbuckling her seatbelt.

Kelsey lunged over the center console and grabbed her wrist. "Becca! No! Come back here!"

"Let me go!" Becca screeched, trying to bat her away.

"You promised!"

"He is so done for!" Becca jerked away and opened the door.

"No!" Kelsey cried, crawling over to her side and jerking her back into the car.

Becca sat down with a thud and tossed a glare at Kelsey.

"You promised," Kelsey panted.

"He just... he just..." Becca stammered.

"I know," Kelsey breathed. "We just need to rethink this."

Becca crossed her arms and pouted. "Fine."

"You can't just go over there and make a scene."

"Okay, okay! I said fine!" Becca muttered, looking down at her lap.

"You said it yourself, you're better off without him."

"Mmhmm..."

"So we'll work through this calmly, right?"

"Sure..."

Kelsey peered over. "What're you doing?"

"Texting Mack. I'm telling him to go to—"

"No! Becca!" Kelsey shouted, grabbing her phone and tossing it to the back seat.

"Hey!"

"It's for your own good."

Kelsey placed her hands firmly on the wheel and huffed. "You're an absolute mess," she grumbled.

"Well, I'm sorry my husband just locked lips with another woman!"

"I know, I know."

Kelsey drove around and came to a little store she'd spotted a few times on her way to work.

"The Twisty Treat?" Becca asked. "What are we doing here?"

Instead of answering, Kelsey ordered two large ice cream cones and parked at the beach nearby.

"Come on," she said. "Watching a sunset and eating ice cream always makes me feel better."

She led Becca to her secret spot on top of the little cliff, figuring there wouldn't be any paparazzi lurking around anywhere.

They sat, dangling their legs over the rocks and fervently trying to keep their ice cream from dripping everywhere.

"Here's to divorce!" Becca said, holding up her ice cream cone.

"Becca," Kelsey sighed.

"Fine. Here's to friendship. Is that sappy enough for you?"

Kelsey shook her head and laughed. She raised her cone next to Becca's.

"I guess that'll have to do."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hello everyone! Thank you so much for reading! 

~Do you think Chef Romano's worry is valid?

~What about the situation with Becca? XD

~General thoughts on the chapter?

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