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giovanni

Stop Playing With Your Food

I’m on a high from my flirt-fest with Sophia this morning. Nothing could ruin my good mood.

Under a bright stage light, wearing nothing but board shorts and a waist apron, I wash Calrose rice for a ballroom of captivated onlookers. What can I say? My fans expect what they see online, cooking with a peep show.

“This medium-grain rice is preferred in Hawaii,” I say into the hands-free microphone near my lips. Large-screen TVs make it easy for everyone to watch the details up close.

“I use the pinky-finger method to know how much water to add,” I say as I pour water into a rice cooker.

“I can think of something else you can use the pinky for!” someone yells.

Everyone laughs, and I can’t help but chuckle, too. Their naughty comments keep me on my toes.

“There are many fun adult toys for that.” I flash them a salacious grin.

The crowd squeals with delight, and when they calm down, I continue my demonstration.

“With the rice polished, it cooks up nice and sticky. Sticky rice is best because it’s easier to pick up with chopsticks. Not only that, but it makes a perfect bed for our beautiful fresh ahi.” I lower the inner pot into the body of the rice cooker and seal the top.

“I’d lay down in a rice bed with you!” someone new hollers.

“Let me get my foreplay in first,” I tease them back.

Their laughs turn to catcalls and whistles.

Tonight, I’m in rare form, making jokes while sharing anecdotes and cooking secrets. The crowd is eating up my stellar mood and the fun energy. Dance music plays low in the background. A large disco ball rotates in the ceiling. Tiny spinning mirrors reflect off the walls.

With an iPad gripped to her chest, Casey shoots me an enthusiastic thumbs-up. It’s her highest praise. My mood ratchets to a new level.

“This spicy poké marinade is simple but includes the staples.” I rattle off all the ingredients and continue. “Some items are hard to find on the mainland, but you’ll find links to everything you need on my website. All are Hawaiian-owned businesses, and one is straight from my family’s kukui tree grove.”

I proudly gesture to a smiling Tina in the front row. She looks lovely in a maile lei crown and a vibrant green-and-white flower-patterned caftan from Manaola. When the crowd applauds, she stands and shakes her shoulders to the music, which elicits her own catcalls.

“You can see where I get my moves,” I say.

She blows me a kiss and sits beside Jaz, whose face cracks into a rare authentic smile. Well, it may not be a full smile, but it’s not boredom, so I’ll take it.

Jaz may not be my blood relation, but we are linked by shared experiences growing up on Tina’s farm. And, of course, by the person we love most—Tina. We would do anything for her, as would any of her fosters.

There’s only one other person I wish were here, but I haven’t seen Sophia since she left the house for the beach earlier. I forgot to ask about her plans for the day, though I’m still not sure she’d tell me.

She’s been playing it very cool all week, while I’ve been playing it very uncool. The issue is, I am completely obsessed with her, and I can’t hide it anymore.

Matt wanders through the crowd, filming reactions, but he’s been hovering in one spot longer than necessary. Behind his silhouette, I make out a woman with blond hair. At the sight, my heart flutters.

Though I’ve never felt nervous for Sophia to watch me at work, all of a sudden I do. My temperature rises a few degrees until Matt shifts, and I discover it’s someone else.

That one moment of hope took me so high before disappointment body-slammed me. It only reiterates what I’ve been feeling all week. I’ve got it bad. But now, I’m ready to make it clear to Sophia that I don’t want to be friends.

I want more.

Sure, she could reject me. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t afraid of a potential crash-and-burn. But what if we flew? What if we soared! I’m so wound up at the thought, I can’t take any more. Something’s got to give.

With my head back in the game, I wash my hands as I explain each ingredient for the marinade. One at a time, I add them into a mixing bowl. Just as I pick up my whisk to blend everything, I glance at the crowd, and someone new catches my eye.