“Can you cook the bacon and sausages, and I’ll start on the pancakes?”
“Yes, it’s the one thing I can cook,” she says, then giggles.
“Did you just say pancakes?”
When I turn, Twitch, Rage, and Viper are standing off to the side with hope in their eyes.
I softly chuckle to myself. “Yes, I did.”
Viper rubs his hands together.
“Can you make chocolate chip? My mom used to make them,” Rage says longingly.
My heart squeezes. This is why I love cooking. Food makes people happy.
“Sorry, I didn’t see any chocolate chips, but I can make both chocolate and vanilla ones.”
Viper elbows him. “Stop your whining. I can’t even remember the last time we had pancakes.”
I move the sausages, bacon, and eggs off to Candy’s side and put the hash browns and pancake ingredients on mine, then turn on the gas top.
As I cook, I try to ignore the curious stares and people looking over my shoulder at what I’m cooking until a hand grasps my shoulder. I freeze, then berate myself for acting like that.
When I turn, a woman I haven’t met yet is glaring at me. “What do you think you’re doing?” she hisses.
My stomach drops. Maybe I should have asked. “I’m... helping with breakfast.”
Her eyes narrow further as she yanks the spatula out of my hand. “Well, DON’T.”
I peek at the stovetop, and I suck in a breath because I don’t want to burn the pancakes. Beau hated when I burned the food. I peer back at her, then up at her hand holding the spatula. I snatch it back and pivot. When I flip them over and find the pancakes are a golden color, relief swells in my chest.
“Is this bitch serious?”
I remain with my back to her.
“Do we have a problem here?” I pause at the deep voice resonating around the kitchen, then slowly turn to see Reaper staring between us.
Vera speaks, but Viper talks over her. “Vera is being... herself.” He pulls a half smile, looking entertained at the current situation.
“Ava is cooking us pancakes,” Twitch says, then frowns. “Can’t Vera go clean or something? I want my pancakes!”
She doesn’t talk back to them, even though her jaw ticks like she wants to.
I already loaded one plate with pancakes, so I extend my arm toward her, encouraging her to grab it. “These are ready. Can you please take them out where everyone is sitting?”
She stares at me before rolling her eyes, grabbing the plate, then walking out of the kitchen. She’s followed closely by Viper, Twitch, and Rage.
“Thank you,” I say to Reaper, then check on the pancakes.
“The eggs, bacon, and sausages are ready,” Candy points out.
“Great.” As I open the oven, heat meets my face. With a tea towel, I pull the tray of hash browns out. “These are ready as well.”
Elena walks in, smiling at me. “Look at you go.” She leans in toward the pancakes and breathes in deeply through her nose, then moans. “I’ve missed your cooking.”
Tears line my eyes, but I blink them away and clear my throat. “Can you help Candy take the food out?”
“I’ll be happy to.”
