Emory
I was anxious as fuck, running around the kitchen like a chicken with its head cut off as I shoved another chip dipped in salsa into Jae’s face.
“Shy,” he sighed, taking the chip with a frown. “I told you, twelve times, the salsa is fucking fire. Okay? Now, can you just go sit down? You’re stressing me out.”
I scoffed and rolled my eyes, shoving his arm up by the elbow towards his mouth.
He rolled his eyes and ate the chip. “It doesn’t need anything else. Cheese and rice, I shouldn’t have told you it needed salt in the first place.”
I growled with frustration, taking a chip and trying it for myself. I let the flavors sit on my tongue as I contemplated what else it needed to make it perfect. It’d been nearly five years to the day since I’d last made salsa, and I wasn’t going to even make it, but when it came up that I knew how to make one that was way better than the jarred one they were eating Monday night during a fun night of playing cards, I knew I needed to make it for the party tonight.
The doorbell rang and I sucked in a breath, nearly choking on the chip in my mouth. I coughed, looking around the kitchen, throwing a used spoon into the dishwasher as Jae checked his phone to look at the door camera.
“It’s Rick,” he muttered, already walking towards the stairs.
My stomach tensed with nerves, and I tried to remind myself that this was only going to be awkward if I made it awkward.
I fidgeted with my shirt.
Fuck, I should have worn something else. Did I look too clingy wearing one of Enoch’s graphic tee’s from his time in Florida? Maybe it looked just vague enough that it would pass for some fast-fashion shirt that looked like something you got at a souvenir shop while on vacation.
Fuck. I rolled my eyes to myself remembering the fact that the back of the shirt was emblazoned with his last unit’s patch logo.
It was too late to change as I heard the sound of a deep chuckle climbing the stairs.
I cleared my throat, forcing a smile onto my face as I took in the very tall black man at the top of the stairs. His hair was shaved close to the skin, sprinkled with a few grey hairs. He was dressed in a pair of dark wash jeans, a fitted grey long-sleeved shirt and a pair of sneakers that looked brand-new. His eyes crinkled just slightly around the corners as he smiled widely, telling me he was definitely older than I was thinking he would be. I imagined he would be closer in age to Enoch since I had thought that it would have been difficult having a relationship with someone who held a much superior rank.
“Hi!” he greeted with a rich deep voice, crossing the room and holding his hand out. “I’m Rick, you must be Emory?”
I nodded, giving his hand a firm shake. “Nice to meet you.”
“Likewise,” he said, his hand falling back to his side. “I brought the burgers.”
My eyes fell to the paper bag he was holding up.
“Oh, right. Yeah. Um, thanks,” I said, reaching for the bag.
He gave me a strange look before nodding his head towards the patio, “I can handle the grill.”
I swallowed, nodding and letting him pass through to the patio. I guessed that was the reason why he was still wearing his shoes in the house, since he was going outside.
I eyed Jae who gave me a smile. “I just got a text from Nox that he’ll be home in half an hour.”
“Okay,” I said, glancing around the room. I eyed the cake that I’d baked and cringed internally at the scratchy cursive writing and the number one candle. “That looks like a terrible first birthday cake.”
“What?! It looks great!” Jae said with a scoff. “Besides, it’s how it tastes that matters. And you can’t go wrong with a boxed strawberry cake with chocolate frosting. It’s impossible.”
I huffed and took another glance at the spotless kitchen island that was dotted with several small platters of food items.
“Okay, okay.”
I released another tense breath, willing myself to calm down. Enoch would never say he didn’t like anything in the first place, but that made me even more anxious. I didn’t want him to have to pretend. What if he was mad that we had planned this party for him without his knowledge? What if he didn’t want to have the attention on him for reaching one year of being sober?
I groaned under my breath, shaking the thoughts aside. Now I was just annoyed with myself for letting my insecurities control me. Tonight was going to be amazing. I didn’t need to freak out. This was Enoch. He deserved a nice night that celebrated his achievement.
I swung around at the sound of the slider opening and Rick shot me a quick smile.
“Grill’s just heating up,” he said, looking to Jae. “You got a dish I can put the burgers on once they’re cooked?”
