AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Good morning,” I say dumbly, my eyes on her swollen lips. “Sleep well?”
“Yeah,” she says with a smile. Her voice is unlike anyone else’s. There’s a richness when she speaks that’s incredible. “Good morning, I’m so glad we’re almost there. I’m starving. Maybe I’ll make some toast…”
Getting up, I surprise myself as I walk to the fridge in the small kitchen. Surveying the contents, I think to myself as I pull out ingredients. I may not cook very often, but I make great waffle nachos.
“Atlas teases me about my cooking skills,” I chuckle as I start working on food. “I don’t make food very often, but I can make waffle nachos really well.”
“Waffle nachos?” she asks with a giggle as she sits at the table.
“Mmhmm. They’re so easy, too. The bacon takes the longest to make.” I shrug. “It’s frozen waffles, which I toast last, eggs, bacon, sour cream, and cheese.”
“God, I’m so hungry. Please tell me you’re making enough to share,” she groans. It’s sad to me that she would have to say that. Who hypes up something like nacho waffles and then doesn’t share?
“Of course I’ll share.” I smirk instead. Her words hurt, but I deserve this. “Do you want coffee?”
I’m already popping a pod in as I make eggs and bacon.
“Sure, I’ll make it now—” Layla looks curiously as the single serve coffee machine starts to work its magic.
“I got you,” I promise. I don’t want to fight anymore, I’m done talking. I want to show her how sorry I am. It’s okay if she doesn’t want me anymore, I’ll take any punishment she wants to dole out to me.
I deserve it for every negative thought I ever put in that pretty head of hers.
Tyler walks out of the bathroom with a yawn, his sweatpants are low slung and he’s shirtless. I guess I can see Layla’s attraction to him, in that he's smart and sexy with the black-rimmed glasses and mussed hair. It doesn’t hurt that he adores her too.
The eggs and bacon are done, the frozen waffles toasted, and the oven is preheated. Assembling it all, I put it in the oven to melt and crisp.
“I smell waffles,” Atlas groans as he gets out of bed and comes to the curtain to peek into the kitchen. “Mav, waffle nachos? Damn, I don’t know when you last made that. It smells amazing.”
Shrugging as if it’s not a big deal, I ignore the warmth of the stares from Atlas, Layla, and Tyler. I put the coffee mug down beside Layla with milk and sugar, going back to make my own.
Draven is the last to emerge from the bedroom, obviously driven out by the smell. There’s an obnoxious amount of food, but it should hold us over for a bit. It’s barely six in the morning, and we still have to check in and unload.
Pulling out the food, I grab plates as well. Tyler comes over to help, looking at me oddly.
“Did you hit your head or something last night?” he asks without moving his lips.
“Nope,” I grunt, beginning to serve. “Make sure Layla gets some first. I can practically hear her stomach from here.”
“I’m considering taking you to the hospital,” he mutters. Layla is sipping her coffee with a happy hum, which is all that matters to me.
Sitting down after everyone gets food, I dig in, enjoying the appreciative sounds made as people eat.
“This is really good,” Tyler admits as he eats. “Why don’t you cook more? I kind of thought you couldn’t.”
Chuckling, I shrug. “When we were on tour withThe Darkest Nights, I didn’t really need to. I got so dependent on Roark’s amazing food. Waffle nachos is like the ultimate late night food or breakfast, so I usually only made it for Atlas and I.”
I guess I only cook for the ‘right’ people. If that doesn’t say something about how I feel about Layla, I don’t really know what does. Quietly, I finish up, but Tyler takes over to wash dishes as we drive through the city. No one else speaks, though I don’t know if they’re as lost in their thoughts as I am.
“Do we have any interviews in Kansas City?” Layla asks, taking a deep sip of water. I take immense satisfaction in how she looks full and happy right now.
If no one fucks it up, that would be great.
“There’s one scheduled for you. Laurence and I worked through what Kyle set up for you, sending our regrets to some of the radio stations because he had originally planned for you to have six interviews in the next two days,” Tyler says in disgust.
“That’s insane,” I mutter. “The label knows better than to burn out their bands. I thought that shit wasn’t happening anymore.”
“Who did it happen to before?” Draven asks.
