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“I will.”
“Levi just got home, but I’ll talk to you later. We’ll grab lunch this week, yeah?”
“Sounds good. Just let me know when.”
“I’ll text you.”
“Talk to you later.”
“See you!” She says, and we end the call.
I want what Pia and Levi have. I want someone who loves me unconditionally. Someone who always supports me and is lifting me up. Someone who always has my back.
I’ve never been into dating. I never really had crushes on anyone, either. At first, it was because Pia and I were trying to work and support ourselves, and then I was diagnosed with cancer. I was starting to think that maybe I would never find anyone that sparked an interest in me. That was until the other day when I met Warren.
I know that he has to be the one for me. No one else has given me butterflies in my stomach. I can’t get him off of my mind, and I’m taking that as a sign that he’s meant to be mine. I just wonder if he feels any connection between us, too.
I blow out a deep breath and head towards the kitchen. I actually really love to cook now that I have an appetite again. I’ve been enjoying trying out new recipes and learning more about what spices I like and don’t like.
I take out the chicken and focus on the recipe as I start to make dinner. I finish cutting up the chicken and putting them on the skewers. I’m a little nervous about over or undercooking the chicken as I start my countertop grill and turn it on to the correct heat. I know I’m not the best cook yet, but it should be fine.
Turns out it’s not.
THREE
Warren
I’mexhausted when I get back to the apartment building. As soon as I park and climb out of my truck, my eyes go up to Lila’s door, just like every other time I come home. This time, though, my eyes widen, and I take off when I see the smoke coming out of the front window of her place.
“Lila!” I shout as I take the stairs two at a time and burst into her apartment.
She’s coughing, waving a kitchen towel around her kitchen to try to clear out the smoke. The smoke has the whole room looking hazy, but luckily for me, Lila is wearing a bright pink shirt and I focus on that color as I head her way.
“Oh, hey, Warren,” Lila says like this is a completely normal occurrence.
“What happened? You need to get out of here,” I say, already making my way towards her.
I grab her hand and tug her out the front door. Touching her feels so right, so natural, but then I remember that I’m not getting attached to this place, and I release my hold on her like I’ve been burned.
“What happened?” I ask her again.
“I was making dinner,” she says calmly.
“I think it was done… like five minutes ago.”
“Yeah, it was a new recipe. I think I might have messed up a step or two.”
“You need to be more careful.”
“It’s fine. I just need to open a few windows.”
I sigh and head back into her apartment to start opening the other windows. She did the front room, which is why I saw the smoke, but we need to open more.
I head into the kitchen and look at the tiny burnt pieces of what I’m guessing was chicken. Lila is back to waving a dish towel around to blow the smoke out, and I lean back against the counter.
“So… how’s work been? Are you enjoying California?” She asks, trying to make small talk.
I huff out a breath and cross my arms over my chest.
