Page 39 of Keel

Ansley helped her clean the kitchen after they finished lunch. They chatted about the weather, the area, and some of the nearby restaurants. After they had the kitchen clean, Ansley took her hands.

“Listen, if you need anything, don’t hesitate to ask.”

“You and Garnet have been so nice to me.”

“That’s how friends should be.”

Frankie chuckled as she thought about saying something sarcastic, but she held back. Ansley was right. It was how friends should be. The people she knew through Forest had never been friends. But Keel and his friends were real. She just hoped she didn’t screw this up.

Chapter 21

Keel drove home, not looking forward to telling Frankie he would have to leave soon. The mission wasn’t guaranteed, but they were making plans to go if they were called up.

When he stepped inside, he was surprised that the place smelled like a gourmet Italian kitchen. He set his bag down and moved so he could see the kitchen, and Frankie was putting the finishing touches on a dish.

“You didn’t have to cook.”

Frankie glanced up and smiled. “Oh, you’re home. It’s almost done. Like another few minutes.”

“It smells delicious.”

“Thank you.”

He moved to her, and she turned, kissing him before going back to putting meat, tomatoes, cheese, and olives on a plate. “What did you make?”

“Lasagna, and I have some antipasto to snack on before the lasagna is done.”

“Wow. I haven’t had homemade lasagna in ages.”

“Well, I hope you like it. It’s been a while since I made anything this intricate.”

“I’m sure it will be fantastic. I want to take a quick shower before dinner.”

She smiled and nodded before turning to look in the oven. No one had cooked for him like this since his mom. Not even his ex made dinner like this.

He showered quickly, then pulled on shorts and a T-shirt. When he stepped out of the bedroom, the smell was even more intense. He saw that the lasagna was out of the oven.

He rubbed his hands together, excited to try the dish. He grabbed a plate, but Frankie stepped between him and the lasagna. “What?”

“It has to rest for about ten minutes, otherwise it will be like lava.”

He nodded. “Oh, I guess that would be bad.”

“Yes. It’s way too hot to eat. Have some antipasto.”

He was surprised that she’d done so much for him. Having someone care for him was novel. “This is amazing,” he said as he spooned olives and cheese onto his plate. He grabbed a few tomatoes and some meat, then moved to the bar, popping a cherry tomato into his mouth.

The scent of food was making him very hungry. He probably should have eaten more at the end of his workout, but they’d been busy planning.

He needed to mention his potential trip. Thoughts of her throwing a fit made him hesitate. But she wasn’t Shana.

“So I got news that I’m probably going to have to leave town in a few days.”

Frankie turned to him, her eyes narrowed as she nodded. “Okay. Um, let me just go through my thoughts.”

“Of course you’ll stay here. I don’t want you to worry about that.”

She nodded more. “It will be dangerous, so I’m just going to keep calm about that.” She moved to him and put her hand on his chest. “Sorry, it’s just new to me, and I want you to be safe. I know you’re capable, so I’m not worried, but I’m worried.”