After she stuffed the bread into her mouth, he grabbed the empty bowl and set the steaming plate in front of her.
When she merely stared at it with wide eyes and an open mouth, he said, “Don’t stare at it. Eat it.”
She blinked up at him and he was pleased to see the normal rosy hue had returned to her cheeks. “There’s no way I can eat all of this. It’s enough for three people!”
He scoffed. “I’ve seen you eat a plate that big before. You can do it again.”
“Maybe if I hadn’t already had a bowl of soup and a huge yeast roll, yes, but not now.”
He waved a hand. “Then, eat what you can and pack the rest away for later.” Torin started to turn away but thought of something else. “What do you want to drink?”
“I’ll get it—” Nova bit her lip at the scorching look he gave her. “Uh, raspberry tea.”
He nodded, turning to get it. Then, he stopped again and looked over his shoulder. “Save room for dessert. I made apple dumplings today.” He didn’t mention he’d saved her the last one when they’d run out an hour before.
He ignored the way her eyes lit up at his words. “I thought we were out.”
“Well, uh…” he mumbled. Then, he cleared his throat. “I saved you one because I owe you an apology.”
He also didn’t mention he’d chosen to make apple dumplings instead of blackberry cobbler today just because he knew she liked them.
“Why do you owe me an apology?” she asked, clearly confused.
He faced her fully, surprised by her confusion. “Because of the way I spoke to you that night in front of your apartment.” He paused. “I assumed that’s why you were avoiding me.”
She’d just put a bite of grits in her mouth and her eyes widened at his words.
He waved a hand. “Eat. I’ll get your drink. Then, we’ll talk.”
Torin would never admit it but he could feel her eyes following him all around the kitchen as he fixed her a glass of raspberry iced tea and got her apple dumpling out of the fridge where he’d hidden it.
He put the dumpling and sauce in a small pan and set it to warming. It would be ready by the time she was done eating.
“Thanks,” she said when he returned with her drink. As she took a small sip, Torin was pleased to see she’d eaten about a third of the dish.
His attention came back to her when she put her glass aside and asked, “Now, why do you think I was avoiding you?”
“You’ve barely spoken to me in a week and a half,” he pointed out. “And you’ve been careful to make sure we’re never alone in the kitchen.”
She seemed to consider his words for a moment before she nodded. “You’re right. I was avoiding you, but not intentionally.”
“How can you unintentionally avoid someone?” he asked.
“I didn’t want to bother you,” she answered, her words blunt. “And it seems like I do that every time we speak.”
She had a point.
“Well, it also bothers me when you avoid me,” he replied, equally blunt.
Nova smirked at him. “You’re impossible to please, aren’t you?”
Now that he had a better understanding of her humor, Torin didn’t interpret her words as a barb but rather as the tease she meant them to be.
“Not really,” he answered. “I just have high standards.”
She laughed softly and took another bite of her food.
“For the record,” he began. “I’m sorry that I made assumptions about you. It was unkind,” he stated.
