Tasteless by India Lee Page A

know,” Sam replied.  “It’s not like she lives in the restaurant, Zoe.”
    “Well I know that, but she mentioned that she walks to work so I figured she was close.”
    “You can actually see her house from the backdoor,” Sam said, pointing behind him.
    “What’s she up to today?” Gemma asked.
    “I don’t know,” he shrugged.  “All I know is that she said she didn’t have plans to use the restaurant, so we’re all clear.”
    “Do you know what her plans are?” Gemma said, looking out at the house in the distance.
    “I didn’t think to ask.”
    “Why didn’t you ask her to join?” she asked, turning to him.  “It seems weird to be like, ‘hey I’m gonna use your restaurant for the fourth, but I’m not going to invite you.’”
    “I just,” Sam shrugged, shaking his head.  “I don’t know.  It just slipped my mind.”  He unwrapped a skirt steak from its butcher paper and fired up the grill, turning away from Gemma.  It had not, in fact, slipped his mind.  He had considered inviting her when she texted back that she wouldn’t be using the space, especially now that they had gotten to know each other a little better.   But he had been feeling just slightly uncomfortable at the thought of Rye ever since their dinner at the Sandrine pop-up.  He had opened up to her more than he really wanted to, but in his drunk and emotional state was unable to stop himself.  Though his own friends knew about his family and their situation back in Hawaii, they didn’t know he had a sister, nor did they realize his restaurant was created in her name.  It wasn’t something he wanted to discuss and he knew his friends were the discussing type.  Sam was nervous that Rye would somehow slip up while they were hanging out.
    “Well, I’m going to go over to see if she’s home,” Gemma said, grabbing Zoe by the hand and pulling her towards the back door.
    “Okay,” Sam shrugged as they left.  He looked up to see Damian and Gavin exchange a quick glance before putting their full attention back onto bacon-wrapping some hot dogs.  “What was that?” he asked, pointing at his friends.
    “Did you need a break from her and work or something?” Gavin asked.  “Are our girlfriends ruining your plans?”
    “I would definitely understand,” Damian said.  “ If you weren’t using her family restaurant to throw your own party.”
    “It’s just as much mine now,” Sam laughed.  “So, whatever.”
    “She’s pretty cool, so I don’t mind,” Gavin said.  “She’s not what I expected in a Somerville chick for sure.”
    “She was kind of shy at first,” Damian began.  “But once she loosened up she was a lot of fun.  And the girls seem to love her.  We should have her out more often… unless there’s a reason why you wouldn’t want that.”
    “There’s no reason,” Sam replied.
    “You know,” Gavin said, taking a bite of a cupcake that he had somehow been keeping in his pocket.  “I think she could actually be pretty if she did something about her… hair or something.”
    “Alright,” Sam laughed.  “If you say so.”
    “Like, there’s something just a little bit off about her,” Gavin continued.  “But she could be really pretty if she fixed whatever that was.  What do you guys think?”
    “Maybe,” Sam said, throwing the steak on the grill.  He and Gavin looked over at Damian.
    “Probably?” Damian said.  “I think she looks fine now so, I don’t know.”
    “Yeah, yeah whatever – all girls that aren’t Gemma look the same to you.  Gag,” Gavin rolled his eyes.  “Do us all a favor and put a ring on it already.”
    “I normally don’t care about this shit,” Sam said.  “But I’m also kind of surprised that you haven’t done that already.”  Damian shrugged.
    “I think he just wants some more time to pass since the last time they got married,” Gavin said.
    “Let’s not talk about that,” Damian laughed.