We walk inside, and I see he’s already got dinner ready to go. He hands me a plate, then dishes up the lasagna he made.
“Now, this I could get used to,” I say with a laugh.
“With you getting off so late, I figured you’d be hungry. I hope lasagna is okay.”
“It’s amazing. Thank you!”
“There’s sourdough bread and butter already on the table.”
I lean up and kiss his cheek. “You’re too sweet.” I walk to the table and take my seat, where a glass of wine is waiting for me. “You know, if you start off this way, I’m going to get used to being spoiled like this.”
He lets out a loud laugh as he carries his plate to the table. “Well, I can tell you this is what I would have done tonight if you were here or not, so stick around, and you will get spoiled like this on days I’m not at work.”
“So, this isn’t just an act to lure me in, and then you never cook for me again?”
He picks up his wineglass, holding it up to me to cheers. “The wine is the only thing I might not do in the future, and we mighteat in front of the television, but dinner will always be supplied. I like to cook.”
I pick up my glass to clink it with his, then take a drink. “Then, I might have to stick around.”
“I’m hoping you do.”
We eat dinner, talking about our day and the calls he had last night. I don’t understand how he does it. They got two calls in the middle of the night, so he got three hours of sleep total. I’d be an absolute zombie, yet he has to perform at a high level of brain function. It’s impressive for sure.
After cleaning up our dinner, he grabs my guitar and heads to his backyard. “Want to sit out here and play for me?”
Tingles of both excitement and nerves race through me. I’ve never played for just one person before.
“Sure …”
I grab my wineglass and follow him out.
He points to the couch and then the chair across from the couch. “What’s more comfortable for you to sit in while you play?”
“I’ll take the chair.” I put my glass down, and after he sets the case down next to the chair, I open it.
I take a deep breath as I sit down and place the guitar on my lap, looking down at it, thinking of what to play.
My eyes meet with his, and instantly, my chest tightens, so I bite the inside of my lip, trying to calm whatever is going on inside of me.
Silas tilts his head to the side with a concerned expression. “What’s wrong?”
I chuckle, hiding my nerves. “I’ve never played for someone like this.”
“You perform in front of a crowd. I’ve already seen you twice. How is this different?” he asks in a soft voice.
I inhale and let it out slowly, while I figure out how to explain how it is different.
He stands and removes his shirt. “Aren’t you supposed to envision the crowd naked? I can be naked so you don’t have to envision it.”
I laugh out loud. “No, that’s not how it works.”
He pulls his shirt back on.
“If you get naked, we won’t make it through one song,” I say under my breath before I realize he can hear me.
“Oh, don’t you worry. We’ll get there too. I just want to hear you sing first.”
He sits back down as heat fills my entire body at the thought of being close to him.
