“I don’t like jazz,” I said.“Or classical.Mostly.”I hesitated, suddenly too aware of how quiet it was.“I guess I listen to a little of everything else.”
“Not all classical is terrible.I took a social dance class in college.The waltz is actually kind of fun once you stop stepping on feet.”
He split the casserole into portions and put it onto plates, sliding one toward me, close enough that our fingers almost touched.
“You took a dance class?”The words came out wrong, almost too disbelieving, as if I was echoing him instead of speaking for myself.
“My roommate thought it’d be a great way to hook up with girls.”
“Was it?”
He shrugged, unapologetic.“Worked once or twice.Nothing that stuck.”
I swatted his shoulder, letting my hand linger just long enough to be a mistake.“So that’s why you’re defending classical music now?You’re terrible at small talk.Is this you trying to impress me or make me jealous?”
His mouth curved slow and lethal.“Careful,” he said.“You’re starting to sound like you want to dance with me.”
The look in his eyes lit something feral in my chest, my pulse snapping hard and fast.
“You want to dance right now?”I warned, “Behave or I swear to God I’ll forget every good intention you want me to have and beg you to make me scream right here on this counter.”
The back door swung open.We both jumped, the heat between us evaporating instantly when Josh’s dad marched in, somehow balancing a Jenga tower of Tupperware.
He was basically Josh in twenty years—same build, same sharp eyes—just upgraded to full gray.
“Oh, hey, son.”He deposited the containers on the counter without losing a single one.“Weekly drop-off.This week I’ve got enchiladas and banana pudding.Your mom’s convinced you’re one skipped meal away from starvation.”
His gaze landed on me and brightened.“That you, Erika?Perfect.I’ve got some for you too.Saves me a trip to your place.”
Then he was gone, back out the door before either of us managed a word.
We sat there in stunned silence for a few beats.
Finally, I said, “So… If civilization collapses, we’ll be good on food.”
Josh sighed.“Between this freezer and the one outside, I could feed a small village.”
“What does your parents’ freezer look like?”
Josh pursed his lips like he was choosing his words carefully.“Mostly meat.And pie.And, well, she’s got something stashed in there for every possible apocalypse.Basically, if zombies showed up, we’d survive indoors for several months so long as we can keep the freezers on.”
“Don’t speak ill of your mother,” his dad called from the doorway.He dropped a paper bag on the counter.“This one’s for you, Erika.”
“Thanks!”I said, smiling.“Tell her I appreciate the meals.”
“If zombies showed up, we’d blow their heads off with the arsenal in the second garage.That way we wouldn’t be stuck inside.”His dad grinned.
Timothy stomped in through the back door.“What’s taking so long?You said a few stops and then you’d drop me off to get my truck, Dad.I’ve got to do an estimate for the retirement home’s HVAC today.”His eyes landed on our plates.“Is that the chicken one?”Without waiting, he grabbed Josh’s plate and shoveled a third of it into his mouth.“Yep.Best one.”
“Put his plate down!”I ordered.
Timothy froze mid-forkful.
“That’s Josh’s lunch,” I snapped.
“I can heat another,” Josh offered weakly.
“The hell you will.Timothy, give it back.”When he didn’t budge, I raised my voice.“Do you have any idea how unhinged it is to steal a man’s lunch when he’s got fifteen minutes before he’ll be spending five hours outside in this cold weather?”
