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I get everyone some cold beers from the fridge before I return to the kitchen to prep and listen to them chatting and laughing about the pub, football and politics. When they’ve finished hanging the door and washing the debris from their hands, they sit at the island. Jack points to the dining setting in front of him.
‘This is amazing. I don’t know what to touch first.’
Caleb jumps to the rescue and carefully explains the setting. Both Tim and Jack start laughing halfway through and he happily tells them both to eat with their hands like the animals they are. I like their dynamic.
‘Would you like your sake hot or cold?’ I ask, pointing at their sake cups. ‘I also have some Japanese pale ale, if you prefer.’
Caleb looks confused. ‘I thought we were having steak and chips?’
‘You are,’ I reassure him.
I toss four steaks on the four Japanese hot lava stone slabs and watch them sizzle. After about a minute, I flip them over, and then move one stone on its wooden blocks in front of each guy.
‘Careful, it’s really hot.’ I serve the accompanying fries and finally go back for the sake and pale ales. ‘Bon appétit, gentlemen. Thank you.’ I raise my warm sake cup and three pale ales head skyward.
Jack, who has been extremely quiet up until now, lets out a gasp after his first mouthful.
‘Oh. My. God. What is this? This can’t be steak. It’s incredible.’
I’m thrilled. ‘Thank you. They’re A5 Grade Ozaki Wagyu beef sirloins, with wasabi chips and ginger miso gravy.’
‘This is so much better than the pub,’ Jack continues to enthuse. ‘Can I try the sake?’
‘Of course.’ I grab an additional sake cup and pour him one cold and one hot. ‘Most people prefer either hot or cold. I have to say, I like both.’
Jack takes a swig of each. ‘Oooh – hot!’
We all laugh.
‘This is delicious, Ariella. Thank you.’ Tim winks at me. ‘I’m glad we skipped the pub tonight.’
‘I’ll happily cook for you on some Mondays if you want to swing by when I’m trying stuff. Caleb can have a break from suffering alone every day.’
They both stop eating and look at Caleb in disbelief.
‘You eat like this every day?’ Jack asks incredulously.
‘Not this exactly – which is amazing, Ariella – but she’ll try different recipes and I give her feedback.’
‘How generous of you,’ Tim says sarcastically before turning to me. ‘You don’t have to cook for him every night, you know.’
‘Oh, I’m used to it. I cooked Jasper whatever he wanted every night.’
‘Every night?’ Jack clarifies.
‘Apart from weekends. Jasper only liked specific dishes and I’d cook them depending on what he was feeling like in the morning.’
‘What if you were out?’ Tim asks.
‘We didn’t go out during the week. He worked late most days, so—’
‘No, what if you were out alone late and he got home before you?’ Tim presses.
‘Oh, that never happened. He didn’t like me being out on my own. I came straight home from work because I was never really sure when Jasper was going to be back, so I’d cook what he wanted and wait.’
‘How long were you together?’ Jack asks.
‘Four and a half years. We’ve only lived together for two, though.’ I can sense an atmosphere developing. ‘Why are you looking at me like that?’ I laugh nervously.
