Page 10 of My Never
“Done what?”
“Would you have ridden his face had he asked you to?”
“Damn straight.”
A wicked grin erupts across my face.
“Thatta girl.”
“You’re still a pig.”
“You’re still stuck with me.”
“Yeah, yeah… Get me home. I have a date with some ice cream.”
???
I get Ava home in one piece and carry her stuff inside. This place is nice. Homey. Cute. It definitely suits her. Colin won’t be here for another solid twenty minutes.
“You in the mood for pepperoni?”
“I’m not about to infringe on your pizza.”
“It’ll thaw by the time I get it back to my place.”
“I’m sorry.”
“I’m not. Let me make us the pizza. Colin still won’t be here for at least twenty more minutes. In fact,” I hold up my finger, pull out my phone and text him. “I just told him I was feeding you.” My phone buzzes. “He said to text him when I’m ready for him to come grab me.”
“Gah… Now I really feel bad. Colin’s waiting on me too!”
“Nonsense. I don’t want the pizza to go bad, and now you get fed too. Win-win if you ask me.”
She blows out a breath in defeat, and I take that as my cue to get to work. I’m sure I look interesting, all contrast up against the whimsical-cottage feel of this kitchen. To me, it’s just another kitchen. I don’t know if she realizes it, but I’m watching her out of the corner of my eye just as much as she’s watching me. She’s intriguing to watch. Turning the knob on the oven, I let that preheat while I make myself busy washing my hands. I take a second to dry them well before tossing the hand towel over my shoulder and moving around the kitchen, acquainting myself as if it’s a new friend.
“You seem at ease in my kitchen even though you’ve never been in it before.”
I wave the comment off like it’s nothing.
“Meh. It’s second nature. I grew up cooking. My parents own a restaurant downtown.”
I slide the pizza in, rubbing my palms together after closing the door.
“Oh? Which one?”
“Marcketti’s.”
“Holy moly, I love that place! Why am I just now connecting it to you?”
“Well, you’ve never had a reason to.”
“True… Mark Marcketti. What’s your full name?”
She’s got quite a curious mind.
“Marcus Alessandro Marcketti.”
“Do you speak Italian as well?”
