Fried Oreos
an excerpt

"Hello?" Luis's voice glazed over Annmarie's ear.
"Luis? It's Annmarie. The waitress from Rick's."
"I know who you are." Luis said simply. "Why are you calling me now?"
"I just wanted to tell you that I got in."
"I know. I'm just surprised you called me first."
Annmarie was taken aback. "How did you know I'd call you first?"
"Lucky guess? Anyways, when will you be able to come to New York?"
Annmarie's brain raced. "I um.. I didn't know it would be so soon." She wasn't sure how her family would be able to be okay without her. "I mean, what does all this mean? Am I going to be on TV, or do I still have another audition to go through?"
"Neither," Luis said. Annmarie could hear the phone crackle. "You're coming to my loft in New York to be my apprentice." Annmarie blinked, reminded to what Starbucks had told her when she first mentioned the competition. "Annmarie?"
"Yes," she responded automatically. "I'm sorry, no; I didn't think it was that sort of thing."
"Did you really want to be a chef, or were you just joking around?"
Annmarie nodded and shook her head at the same time, realizing that Luis couldn't see her. "I want to be a chef, but I have a family here that I care for." Luis didn't respond. "I'm all they've got."
"And your parents?"
"Dead, and," she thought for a moment. "Invisible."
"Interesting," Luis joked. "Bring your family here."
"They have friends here, not in New York." Annmarie sat down in her chair. She had always wanted to go to New York, but it was out of the question. "Why can't you come here?"
"There?"
"Here" Annmarie stood up again and paced the room, tugging at her ear. "I can't move right now, Luis."
Luis seemed to regard this for a moment. "Deal. I'll move there within the next week, and you'll be my apprentice."
"What about my job?"
"Keep it, if you want, or I can pay for your expenses."
Annmarie thought about this. "I can give my two weeks’ notice tomorrow. What about my family?"
"You can all move in with me. I like big houses, but they do tend to be lonely."
"I'm not that kind of girl, Mr. Beason."
"Nor am I that kind of man, Ms. Gardner." Luis chuckled, which brought a smile to Annmarie's face. "Is that a good enough compromise for you?"
Annmarie paused, looking for any loopholes in their deal. "Yes, but it is still up for revisions?"
"Like any good verbal contract. I will see you in two weeks, Annmarie."