From: Gourmet Adventures Contest

November 1st, 8:30 PM

To: Maria Tomas

Subject: Congratulations!

You are advancing to our final round! You have created engaging content for your viewers, and now that you have gained their trust, you need to take risks. For this round, you will focus on creating four unique dishes, no existing recipes allowed. We are seeking new and inspired creations or personal twists on the dishes you love. The strongest competitors will have a shot at our grand prize trip to Paris.

Best of luck!

***

Maria spun around her room and squealed. Not only was she in the last round, the pressure of cooking and buying fresh ingredients every day vanished. Once the prize money arrived, it would reimburse her food costs and leave her a little extra. She bounded with energy. Who did she tell first? Prae, Sunshine, her mom, Emma, Adrian? They'd all been instrumental to her progress in different ways.

She fired off a few texts and saved a video chat for Adrian. His voice would soothe her after this crappy week.

A light knock came at her door, and Mitch called out her name.

What did he want? To mock her some more?

"Are you all right?" he asked.

"All good," hollered back.

"Why were you screaming?"

"It was a good scream."

"Nice, although I'm hurt I wasn't the first guy you chose."

Maria marched over to the door. The last thing she needed was him spreading lies about her. "There's no man in—" Her words died in her throat as Mitch stood there shirtless, sweat gleaming off his muscled arms and chest. He must have come from the courts. Remember how awful he was yesterday, she thought before forcing out the last word, "Here."

The arrogant prick smirked, leaning on the door frame so they were too close for neighbours. "Then I'm just in time."

She pressed her lips together. "I don't need you to be happy. I made it to round three of my competition."

His face brightened with a grin. "Congratulations! This calls for a drink." He hurried to his apartment and disappeared inside before she could protest.

"Please, no whiskey," she yelled.

"Noted, how do you like rum?"

"Better."

She opened up Sunshine and Prae's excited messages.

Prae: I knew it! I am so proud of you, Maria! Let me know if I can help.

Maria: <3 <3 You're the best. I would never have made it this far without you. I will treat you to an amazing supper soon.

Sunshine: Damn Ria, congrats, you triple threat! Moving abroad, teaching, and slaying a cooking contest. I'm not surprised! What's next ; )

Maria: Thank you so much <3 I have enough on my plate already lol. How was your ultrasound yesterday?

Mitch returned with two cocktail glasses garnished with limes. He'd also thrown on a shirt, both her relief and disappointment.

"For you, my lady." he handed her the cool glass.

She sipped the clear drink, sweetness and lime joined the strong white rum. "This is delicious."

"You sound surprised."

"Can't blame me after that whiskey."

Mitch laughed. "It worked, didn't it? You opened up, even if you were lying through your teeth."

Maria grimaced. Why couldn't they have a chill celebration drink? "What's that supposed to mean?"

"Your ex is an asshole, and you absorbed the blame to make him look like a decent person."

Her face burned. She was sick of this prick. "You don't know what happened!"

Mitch stepped closer to her. "I know there's another woman."

Tears fell from Maria's eyes. Kelsey wasn't the other woman this time. Maria was, and the longer they continued, the harder it was to let go. Each day she waited for Adrian to say he and Kelsey fought or broke up, but it never came despite his affections. If she wanted to embrace her faith, she couldn't keep up the deception. "Why are you such a dick?"

"Because Thailand is amazing and you are wasting it on your ex."

"It's amazing for you," she muttered. White men got away with virtually anything here. She couldn't mispronounce a Thai word without receiving a glare or remark. Her students picked at her mistakes like they didn't trust her to speak English, even though she'd been speaking it her entire life. She took a deep breath, trying to find the calm she'd experienced at the park.

"I didn't mean to piss you off yesterday. If I knew you were dealing with more than your ex, I would have kept my mouth shut. Sorry, that was shitty of me," Mitch met her eyes for her moment with a weak smile. 

"Thanks."

"Teaching will get easier as you adjust to the kids and the age-group. Becca kept bragging about you during camp, so we assumed things were good. Shawn and I can help if we know what's happening."

Maria gazed at his serious face. How could he go from antagonizing her to supportive in minutes? "I'll see how next week goes."

"Have you talked to Sunshine about what's stressing you out?"

Maria shook her head.

"Why?" he asked.

"Thailand was her paradise. I don't want to make her feel guilty that I hate it here. She's anxious enough."

Mitch studied her face then sipped his drink. "Do you really hate it?"

Maria shrugged. "Some days."

"Will you knock on my door on those days so I can make you a drink?"

While biting her lip, Maria fought a smile and savoured her daiquiri. "Maybe, if they're this good."

Mitch laughed. "Great, Shawn would lose his mind if they had to replace you so soon."

"Plane tickets are expensive, so you're stuck with me for a while."

Mitch smiled and wrapped an arm around her shoulder. It wasn't as invasive or flirty as when he'd danced with her or hit on her at her door. It was almost nice. "Good, we're lucky to have you."

They sipped their drinks a little longer until she got a message from Adrian congratulating her and asking if she was free to chat. Her stomach bunched like a wrung cloth. He wouldn't like what she was going to propose.

"Thanks for the drink, Mitch."

He chuckled. "He's quick, I'll give him that."

Maria furrowed her brow. "What?"

"It's your ex, right?"

"That's not your business, but yes." Had he been reading her texts as she sent them?

"You chew your lip when we're talking about him. I figured you had the same response when messaging him."

"Should I be concerned you watch me so much?"

Mitch shrugged and ran his finger along the edge of the glass. "I noticed because it was hot at first, but you shift around like you're scared."

She believed the first part, but did she always seem afraid? "I'm worried about what I have to tell him."

"That you'd rather have a passionate night with your neighbour than listen to his songs?"

"There are moments when I think I almost don't mind you, then you say stuff like that."

Mitch threw back his head and laughed. "At least you're learning not to take me seriously. So what's the news?"

"Why do you care?"

"Because you're stalling, which makes me believe you might actually stand up to him and tell him he's a douche. Which you absolutely have to do."

Maria frowned. "He's not a douche, he's insecure."

"Whiskey, Canadian rye, same difference. Now, spit it out."

Maria closed her eyes and breathed out slowly. If she could share it with Mitch, it'd be easier to say to Adrian. "I won't keep calling him, listening to his love songs, and how much he misses me until he breaks up with Kelsey."

"You almost have it, just scrap the last part."

"Seriously, it's not unreasonable, is it?"

"It's unreasonable that you have to ask this of someone who claims to be monogamous and in love with you."

A thorn burrowed deep in her heart. Even Mitch had more scruples than Adrian and he was sleeping with women behind Becca's back.

"Text him and spare yourself the argument."

"I can't." She buried her head in her hands, imagining him breaking down alone in the apartment, feeling so low that he lost the will to live. Her words had that power if she wasn't careful.

Mitch placed a hand on her shoulder. "Can I make you another drink?"

"No thanks, I'll manage."

She took her phone into her bedroom, popped in her earbuds for more privacy, and lay on her bed. She propped two pillows against the metal headboard, then video called her ex.

He was lying in bed and with a small beard, darkening his jaw. "I miss waking up next to you, Ria." She suppressed her smile. "If you were beside me, I'd run my hand over your soft skin, kiss that ticklish spot on your collarbone—"

"Stop!" Her chest was tight, and she could only picture walking in on him in Kelsey making out at the bar.

"Sweetheart, what's wrong?"

"This is wrong. We're not together, you and Kelsey are."

"Ria, we talked about this. My feelings for her are like a dreary day compared to what we have." He stared into the camera with those steel-blue eyes she tried to resist.

"Then why haven't you broken up with her?"

"She has midterms all week, and she's been in love with me forever. The relationship ending will crush her. Do you want to make her pain that much worse by having her flunk her classes on top of being alone?" His furrowed brow deepened her guilt. 

Neither option was the good Christian thing to do. For once, Mitch was right to suggest walking away. But that would destroy Adrian, and he'd break up with Kelsey, which would devastate her. Then they'd all be miserable. She cared for him and wanted to believe that he'd leave Kelsey when it wouldn't ruin her future.

"Can we stop the calls and the flirting until then?"

He pouted then grew serious. "Did Kelsey say something to you?"

"No, I feel guilty."

He smiled and brushed his hair out of his eyes. "That's one of so many things I love about you."

"Adrian, don't," she said before something else left her lips. 

"It's hard to turn off my feelings for you."

She glanced down then looked at him. He'd done it when she'd wanted to redeem herself for the show she'd missed months ago.

He hugged his arms against his body. "If I stopped calling, would you be okay at work? Last week was awful for you."

Maria nodded. "My coworkers offered to help." He needn't know some of that help involved delicious daiquiris.

Adrian's expression grew more sombre. "You don't need me."

"Adrian—"

"Why would you? You've won your contest, made new friends, got a fancy new job in Thailand. There's no place for me even if I end things with Kelsey."

"That's not true."

"Who could blame you? I was too terrified to ask you to stay in Canada because deep down I knew you'd reject me."

"You rejected me," she mumbled.

"I needed time to process not for you to buy a goddamned plane ticket," he snapped.

Maria tucked her legs closer to her torso and fought her tears. "Please don't take his name in vain," she whispered.

"Religion? Is that where this is coming from? Don't fall for that bullshit. You're smarter than that, Maria," he spoke harshly.

She turned away and bit down hard on her lip, so she wouldn't cry. They'd had this fight way too many times. "I can't do this."

"Hey, hey, Ria, I didn't mean that. I'm sorry." She looked back, and he gazed at her with sympathetic, tearful eyes. "There's so much changing, and with every difference, I panic and wonder if I'm next. I ask myself, will today be the day she trades me in for a more successful and attractive man who can do more than sing her love songs from a distance?"

"I wouldn't do that to you." Even though he'd done it and was still doing it to her.

"These fears eat away at me despite you giving me little reason to doubt you."

Little reason? Why not none? She turned down Mitch almost daily, and although she didn't wish to admit it, she found him very attractive. But bringing that up would feed Adrian's anxiety, especially if he ever learned she and Mitch discussed Adrian and how he treated her. She steeled herself to ask for what she needed again.

"I'm only asking for space until you break up with your girlfriend."

"Why?"

"To focus on my teaching and to not feel like a terrible person after we spend time together."

"You're not a terrible person, Ria. You're overthinking this. We're just being supportive friends."

"You tell a lot of friends you're in love with them?"

Adrian laughed. "Only the ones like you."

Maria shook her head with a small smile. His compliments still made her cheeks flush.

He sighed and pulled his hair into a bun. "Do you think space will help?"

"It'll take the weight off my chest, and with my work stress, I need this."

He bit on his bottom lip. "Okay."

"Really?"

"Yeah, only until I end things with Kelsey, right? Then I can shower you with love and adoration."

Maria nodded and melted further into her pillows.