Page 266 of Barinov

The timer on the oven chimes downstairs. Cade’s eyes widen. “Dinner.”

Before either of us can stop him, he’s already bolting for the kitchen.

“Cade!” I laugh, hurrying down the hall after him with Lex right on my heels.

He throws open the oven and a rich wave of roasted garlic and parmesan fills the apartment.

“Okay.” Cade points to the casserole dish with an oven mitt. “It needs maybe… ten more minutes.”

Lex leans against the island. A soft smile playing on his lips while he watches Cade pace around the kitchen.

“The salad’s already washed,” Cade continues, his words tumbling out in a rush. “Just toss the dressing before you eat or it’ll get soggy. And don’t forget the garlic bread—”

“Babe,” Lex tries.

“The bread’s wrapped in foil. It’ll only take five minutes.”

“Cade.”

“And if it’s overdone—”

Lex gently catches both of his shoulders, stopping him mid sentence. “We’ve got it.”

Cade opens his mouth to argue, looking between the two of us. Then he closes it and lets out a breath. “You sure?”

I step forward, cupping his warm cheeks in my palms. “We promise.”

Lex reaches past him, grabs his car keys from the counter, and presses them into his palm.

“Now.” He points toward the front door. “Go chase your dream.”

A nervous laugh escapes Cade. “You make it sound so easy.”

“It is.” Lex grins. “The hard part was painting all those damn canvases.”

I nod, standing on my tiptoes to press a soft kiss to his cheek. “Tonight, all you have to do is be yourself.”

Cade’s eyes glisten in the warm kitchen light. “I love you.”

“We know,” Lex says, shoving his hands in his pockets. “But we’d still like to hear it after you get the showcase.”

I laugh and add, “So drive safe!”

“Don’t over think it,” Lex mutters, ushering Cade to the door. “And call us the second it’s over.”

Cade nods, taking one last look around our apartment. At the home we’ve returned to. At us. At the magnificent feast he prepared just to keep his hands busy.

“I’ll call.”

He leans up and presses a hard kiss to Lex’s lips first. Then he turns to me, pulls me in by the back of my neck into a desperate kiss that leaves both of us breathless. With one last breath, he turns and heads out the door.

♥♥♥

Lex and I sit side by side at the kitchen counter in silence, listening to the low hum of the dishwasher running. His knee is bouncing a mile a minute. Both of our eyes fixed on his phone lying face-up between us.

“He’s been gone for an hour,” Lex mutters, running a hand over his jaw. “How many candidates were they talking to tonight?”

“Three,” I answer, my own knee starting to bounce. “I’m pretty sure he said—”