“Uh, four hundred?”I guessed.I had pretty much just hit the bake button and let it go.
She tilted her head and looked at the dial.“You have it set to broil.”
“Yeah, bake.”
Star shook her head and pulled out the tray.“Broil and bake are not the same thing, Cole.”
I glanced back at the stove.“You sure?”
She laughed loudly.“I am positive.”She set the tray on the stove top, and the nuggets and fries were now a lovely black char.
“How do you feel about having ham, cornbread, and cake for dinner?Your mom called and said she had to work late tonight, so it’s just you and me,” I asked.
Star laughed and tossed the hot pad on the counter.“I think that sounds perfect.You should just stick to the microwave and leave the oven to me.”
I tipped my head to the side.“I am okay with that.”
“How about I warm our dinner?”she suggested.“I think I should be able to handle that.”
“You sure?”I asked.
She nodded.“More than sure.Sit down and let me do this.The only way I am going to start getting my strength back is if I do more than sleep.”
She slowly moved around the kitchen, and it took everything in me not to force her to sit down.She was right that she needed to keep moving to get her strength back, but she didn’t need to be making me dinner.
She brought two plates to the table filled with hot ham and cornbread.
“Well?”she asked expectantly.
I popped a piece of ham into my mouth and let out a moan.“Perfectly warmed, babe.Better than my burnt nuggets and fries.”
She glanced at the offending tray.“Cold ham is better than that, Cole.”
I shrugged.“Not wrong.”
I was done with my plate when I watched her for a moment.Her eyelids drooped slightly, and her fork slowed to her mouth.
“You’re fading,” I said.
She scoffed and put the bite in her mouth.“I am not.”
“Star.”
“I’ve only been awake for half an hour, Cole.It is insane for me to be tired already.I just need to push through.”
“Your body is still healing, Star.It’s normal for you to be sleepy.”
“Thank you, Dr.Cole,” she grumbled.“But I am going to stay awake a little longer.”She finished the last bite and pushed the plate away.“I just want to feel normal again.”
“I know.”
She looked up at me then, eyes searching.“When am I going to be better?”
The question landed heavier than anything else she’d said.
I took a breath.“One day at a time.”
She studied me like she wasn’t sure whether to be satisfied with that or not.
