Total pages in book: 76
Estimated words: 73012 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 365(@200wpm)___ 292(@250wpm)___ 243(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 73012 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 365(@200wpm)___ 292(@250wpm)___ 243(@300wpm)
He smirks. “I did, and I’m fucking starving.”
“I don’t have a ton, but I think I have the stuff to whip up a quick Alfredo sauce if you like that.”
“Is there anyone who doesn’t like Alfredo?” He comes inside.
“I would assume there must be someone, but they clearly have bad taste. Good thing we don’t.”
Kason grins. “No, we don’t. Teach me? I’ve never made Alfredo sauce from scratch.”
I nearly stumble at his request. He wants me to teach him how to cook something? I’ve never had a guy ask me that. “Sure.”
We go to the kitchen together and wash our hands. He’s wearing athletic pants and a black Rebels T-shirt that hugs his muscles just right, the miles and miles of lean muscle and taut skin and—No! I won’t do this. I won’t sexualize my friend.
“Okay, chef. What’s first?”
“Definitely not a chef. There’s not a lot I know how to make, but this is one thing I can handle. I’ll get the ingredients out. It’s actually really easy. Butter”—I pull it out and name each ingredient as I grab it—“heavy cream, garlic, parmesan. I sometimes add Romano.”
“Where are the pots?” Mads asks, and I point to the cabinet. He gets out one for the sauce and one for the pasta, putting water in that one and getting it going.
“Let’s let that boil before we start the sauce. How are you feeling, Mr. Shutout?”
“Like, you should call me that every time we see each other.”
“Only when you earn it.” My voice comes out sultrier and flirtier than intended, and I repeat to myself one of my Anthony Commandments—thou shall not flirt with your new friend.
“Guess I’ll have to do that, then.” He crosses his arms and leans against the counter. “Do you like to cook?”
“Not necessarily. I don’t dislike it, though. It’s just a thing that needs to be done.”
“I hear you. I’m the same. I must admit I get a lot of my meals pre-prepped. It makes it easier. They know my macros during the season and—”
“This isn’t in your macros.”
He chuckles. “I know. I can be a rule breaker.”
“Nope.” I shake my head. “You, Kason Maddox, are a rule follower. I can tell.”
He drops his head back. “Ugh. That’s just as bad as calling me a nice guy. I’m doomed.”
“You have infinity points and keep getting more, remember? You’re definitely not doomed.”
“Well, if you say it, then I have to believe it.” He quirks a brow, and I swear, for a moment it almost feels like he’s flirting with me. It’s an absolutely wild thing to imagine. I don’t think I’m his type at all, so I pack those thoughts away and send them out priority express. The last thing I want to do is fuck this up.
“It’s time to put the pasta in the pot, suck-up.” I walk over to the pantry and grab it from the shelf.
“You sure have a lot of names for me.”
“I guess that’s my thing for you. Do you want me to stop?”
“No. It’s fun never knowing what you’re going to call me next.”
“You’ve got some strange kinks,” I tease.
He salts and adds the pasta to the water, and we chat for a while longer, waiting until it’s close to being done.
“Let’s get going on the sauce now. We start with melting the butter.” I reach for a knife, but he puts his hand on top of mine.
“Hey, I get to do this. You instruct. I’m a hands-on learner.”
My skin gets tingly where our bodies are meeting, warm and…nope. Here I go again. I hold my hands up. “Fine. You’re the cook, I’m the teacher.”
I tell him how much butter to use, and he gets it going. I talk Kason through making the simple recipe, letting him do all the adding of ingredients, measuring, and stirring. He doesn’t argue when I take the pasta to the sink to drain it, and a few minutes later, we’re sitting on the floor, backs against my couch, plates in front of us on the coffee table, along with a bottle of wine.
“I wonder what’s going to happen with Jose and Diego,” he says, talking about the characters in one of our shows.
“Oh my God! Me too! I don’t want them to mess up their friendship, but I want them to get together.” They’re getting very close to hooking up, and while no-strings-attached sex shouldn’t be a big deal, I’m sure something will go down to make it that way. It’s what draws us in episode after episode.
“Realizing you have feelings for your best friend doesn’t have to mess things up. Look at Donovan and Eric.”
“Very true. I think most of us had them clocked before they did. From the start I could tell they were perfect for each other. Jose and Diego, though, they’re newer friends, so that might change things. They don’t have a lifetime of history between them the way Eric and Donovan do. Also, why are we talking about these fictional characters as if they’re real?”