"You've thought of everything."
"The bathroom's important to me."
I smiled."Most people worry more about the kitchen."
"I'll get there, and I'll put just as much time and attention into the design."
"It's going to be lovely when it's finished."I was more than a little jealous that he'd bought a house and was putting his touch on it.Of course, he was a construction worker, so this kind of work was easy for him.But I still lived in an apartment, and there was nothing special about it.I should have let Ford renovate it, but I couldn't justify spending the money, not when it all needed to go into guest spaces.
"Are you ready to cook dinner?"
I nodded, following him out."Thanks for showing me your home.I can't wait to see how it looks when you're done."
"I'm only working on nights and weekends when I can fit it in, so it will take a long time to be finished with everything."
"You seem to be making progress in the bathroom."
"I'm extra motivated to get it done.For now, I'm using the guest bathroom, which isn't ideal."
In the kitchen, he pulled out pasta, chicken, marinara sauce, and breadcrumbs."I thought we could make chicken parmesan."
"That sounds good."
"You want to cook the pasta while I get the chicken ready?"he asked, already pulling out the pots and casserole dish we'd need.
"Absolutely."I couldn't remember ever cooking with a man before.Friends cooked together, right?Friends that had sex.
I didn't want to think too hard about that.It brought up all kinds of questions I didn't have answers for.Like what was I doing here?Were we friends with benefits?Something more?
I focused on filling the pot with water.He coated the chicken in the breading mixture and placed it in the casserole dish, putting it in the oven."I'll get the lights started if you want to keep an eye on the stove."
"I can do that."
"I ordered hot cocoa mix if you want to make it."
"That would be great."I remembered where he said the pantry was, so I opened the doors, easily finding the hot cocoa mix and marshmallows.There wasn't much in the pantry.I wondered if he didn't need a lot as a single guy.He might order out most of the time.I never knew him when he lived on his own.
I was getting to know him as a man, no longer the teen who lived with his parents.Things were bound to be different.It wasn't a continuation of our old relationship but something new.We'd both grown and matured; we had new baggage to contend with.Then I scolded myself for thinking we were in a relationship.We most definitely were not.
I heated the milk, watching as he untangled the strands from the boxes and hung them on the tree.I could see me living here with him, helping him cook while we decorated, or watching a movie with him.
"I think we're missing music."I searched my music app for a holiday playlist, then hit Play."How's that?"
He smiled over at me."It's perfect."
I wanted to end the day staring at his gorgeous tree while a holiday movie played in the background.Maybe we'd make love in the living room with the fire crackling and the lights twinkling.
I had no business thinking about us sharing this space.It was his house, and he'd only asked me for help as a friend.Not as a former lover or his present one.We were friends with benefits at best.I wouldn't let my mind wander too far into the future.The past was doomed to repeat itself, and I wasn't a stupid girl.
When the milk heated, I poured it into mugs with the hot cocoa, then mixed it.I set the mugs on the counter with a spoon for marshmallows.I loaded up mine, then asked, "You want marshmallows on yours?"
"I'd love something sweet," he said with a smile, and I wondered if he was talking about something besides sugar.
I wouldn't assume that this was anything more than what it was.Even if it felt decidedly intimate being in his home, cooking in his kitchen, and decorating his tree.We were friends.I could do this.
I added the noodles to the bubbling water, then carried the mug over to him.
He smiled as I approached."What do you think of the lights?"
