Calvin nodded. “I like cooking.” He dropped the diced potato into the pan and added some spices.
I stupidly did nothing but put two slices of bread in the toaster before realizing coffee would be a good idea and started a pot. Watching Calvin was far too great a pleasure over offering to help. He had his sleeves rolled back, showing off the cords of muscles in his arms. He hummed quietly while he worked.
It was relaxing.
And honestly a little upsetting at the same time.
I was falling for him hard and fast. I liked Calvin. A lot. He was hot and smart and quickly becoming everything I’d wanted in a partner. But I had no idea how deep it went for him, and talking about it only felt like it would shatter the precious moment.
“Sebastian?”
I shook my head and glanced up to see him watching me. “What?”
He smiled in that cute, lopsided way. “Do you like onions, I asked.”
“Oh, sure.”
He added the chopped onion to the eggs. I grabbed jam from the fridge when the toast popped. If I wasn’t careful, I was going to fall in love with this little domestic moment. I’d always wanted this. Maybe it was stupid, but sharing the chores and cooking together, spending time with someone in a comfortable, understanding silence—that was what I wanted in life.
Toast sufficiently jammed, coffee perked, and eggs hot, we sat down to eat.
“How is it?” he asked, taking a bite.
“Really good. You want to come by and cook more often?”
Calvin smiled at that. “I find cooking to be relaxing. I need that sometimes.”
“I can imagine.”
He made a face and nodded, taking another bite.
I watched him for a moment. He seemed to have tensed up. “I thought you were an asshole when we first met.”
Calvin laughed. “And now?”
“You’re still an ass. But you’re a great cook, so you can see how I’m torn,” I teased.
“I thought you were a sarcastic shit and your mouth was going to get you in serious trouble.”
I arched a brow. “Oh boy. And how about now for me?”
“It’s still early.”
“What?”
Calvin took a sip of coffee. “Plenty of time left in the day to still get in trouble.”
I snorted and took another bite. “Have something planned for me?”
“I can think of a thing or two,” Calvin said.
I didn’t know how to respond to that. Would he think me dramatic if I asked about his feelings before sex? Because for sure I knew we were going to be fucking. It was only a matter of finishing toast and eggs. But were there any feelings to even be discussed?
I thought about the phone call I had made after being hit.
Sweetie.
Neil never called me sweetie. Or baby, for that matter.
