AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Good doesn’t even come close,” I tell her. “Thissauce… it’s amazing. Did you make it yourself?”
She beams, nodding. “It’s nothing special. I’ve been working on recipes since I was maybe thirteen or fourteen. I want to release a recipe book one day, and anyway, you don’t need to hear all this.”
“I’m interested.”
Her smile drops, her tone going dark.
“Really? Why?”
I sense this is it—the first time we’re pulling the past into the present. I can’t think of another reason for her sudden change in mood.
I could tell her I was interested as any step-uncle would be—a polite familial thing, nothing more, but I don’t want to lie. Or maybe that’s an excuse.
“Because I want to get to know you, Layla,” I say gruffly. “I’m interested in you. Your passions, your dreams. There’s nothing wrong with that.”
“I never said there was anything wrong with it.”
We eat without talking, and the atmosphere is suddenly steely and awkward. That doesn’t change the taste of the food, though, and I can’t mask my pleasure in it. She smiles again, a gift. One I’ll never tire of earning.
“It’s notthatgood, is it?” she says.
“Are you fishing for more compliments?” I tease.
She laughs, which is another reward. “Feedback on my recipes is important. If there’s anything you’d improve, you can be honest.”
“There isn’t,” I tell her firmly. “This is restaurant quality. It tastes healthy, too.”
“Are you surprised?” she asks.
I sit back, laying my fork down. She’s doing a lousy job hiding her annoyance, regret, whatever it is.Somethingis happening between us here, a mood she can’t control.
Can I blame her? After what I did?
“Why would I be surprised?” I say.
“Just your tone, I guess. Like maybe you didn’t expect healthy food from me.”
“I don’t understand.”
“It’s nothing,” she replies. “I guess I’m just tired.”
More silence, leaving me to ponder her words. Then it hits me.
“I’d never judge your body,” I tell her.
She flinches and stares at me, and I know I’ve got it right.
“I know you wouldn’t. Anyway, not to get all arrogant, but I haven’t got a problem with my body. I quite like it. Sometimes, I speak without thinking, you know?”
Danger, danger, danger.
This conversation needs to end.
“So do I,” I say passionately.
“Speak without thinking?”
“No. I like your body.”
