43

“Jenner, hi,” Alyssa said, leaning forward across the desk in her low-cut dress. “It’s a little early for you, no? I usually don’t get to see you until way past sunset.”

“Alyssa …” The only negative of sleeping with the hostess of my favorite restaurant was having to see her every time I came in. “I’m in a rush. Any way I can place an order and you can have the guys quickly put it together?” I reached into my wallet and pulled out my credit card and a hundred-dollar bill, slipping both in her hand.

She glanced down at her palm, a grin moving across her face. “I’m sure I can work my magic. What do you want?”

Because I came here so much, I knew the menu by heart. I grabbed a piece of paper from the top of the desk and a pen, and I jotted down my order.

She reviewed it and said, “I’ll be back.”

While I waited, I took out my phone, scanning through the messages that had come in.

Dominick: How do you like your surprise?

Me: You’re behind this? Jesus, I couldn’t figure out why you were so a