He opened his fridge, pulled out a can of cola then grabbed a glass, and sat both in front of her.Then he cocked his head as he returned to his prep.
“I take it you haven’t had much in life.”
Her defenses rose.“I got by just fine.I don’t need your pity.”
“That wasn’t pity or criticism, Juniper.Just an observation.”
Hunching her shoulders, she gave a small shrug.“I got a job now.A real home for Clover.I’m going to make sure she’s going to have more than I got.”
“What do you want to do in life?”
While her mind raced for an answer, he heated up the grill on the stove.
“I don’t know,” she admitted.“I never gave it much thought.You know, long term.”
“Can I ask you a personal question?”
“How much more personal can you get?”
“I’m going to take that as a yes,” he said.“Did you finish school?”
Slowly, she shook her head.“Mama died and I had to take care of Clover.”
“Would you like to go back?Get an education?”
She mulled that over.“Like I said, I don’t know.I think right now I’m still getting used to this new reality.My main focus is making sure Clover is taken care of.That she’s happy and doesn’t turn out like me.”
He stopped and raised an eyebrow at her.“Like you?”
“Yeah,” she replied, glancing down.“Pissed off.I let my father walk all over me because I was scared of him.He held my freedom in his hands and coerced me with threats against Clover.I’m never going to put myself in that position ever again.Where my autonomy is in someone else’s hand.”
For a moment, only the sizzle of the cooking steaks filled the silence.
“My mother wasn’t a nice person,” he said softly.“She was cold and unemotional.Sold herself to make an easy buck, and expected me to do the same.Ended up running away and living on the streets.As much as I despise her, part of me is glad she was like she was.Otherwise, I never would’ve met Corbin.He became my family.”
He’s like me, she thought.
“What’s wrong with people like them?”
“Good question,” he replied.“I’ve buried her in my past, and I’ve lived every moment running from that man she expected me to be.So, when I say I understand, I really mean it.”
He continued cooking, and the silence between them was filled with a sense of camaraderie.Two souls mirroring each other in shared empathy.
Not long after, the food was done and he slid a plate in front of her before sitting down next to her.Delicious scents made her stomach growl and mouth water.Steak, potatoes, broccoli, and salad.
“Bon appétit,” he said.
Slicing through the steak was like slicing a hot knife through butter.It was so tender it was almost ridiculous.One taste and her eyes rolled back as a little moan crept out.
“Fuck,” he whispered.
She opened her eyes and saw he stared at her, his fork halted midway to his open mouth.A flush warmed her cheeks.
“Sorry,” she muttered.
He shook his head, as if clearing it from cobwebs, and shifted a little on the seat.“No, please.Never apologize for those moans of pleasure.”
The double entendre was unmistakable.
