“What is that?” I ask, practically salivating as the smell drifts my way. It’s been so long since someone has cooked for me, and while it’s not something I expect to happen again, it’s nice.
“Parmesan chicken with roasted carrots and potatoes. I have no idea how long these carrots were in there, but you’ve got a drawer full of veggies that probably need to be used.” She cocks an eyebrow at me in warning.
I swallow, staring at the plate as she places the food on it like she’s trying to earn a Michelin star. Carefully centering the chicken and adding the carrots and potatoes around it.
“Yeah.” I chuckle, pinching the bridge of my nose. “I actually suck at making vegetables. I never know how to season them.”
Summer doesn’t miss a beat when she hands me the plate. “You don’t suck at anything, Chase. But I can teach you how to season vegetables, it’s easy.”
I barely wait ten seconds before I start digging in, noticing CeCe smiling at me as I sit across from her while she scoops another spoonful of macaroni in her mouth. Instead of Summer joining us at the table, I hear the sink running in the kitchen and the sound of pots and pans clanging together. I’ve been so busy daydreaming of the past, or brainstorming how to make sure she doesn’t do this whole dinner thing again, that I forgot to be a decent fucking human and offer the woman who just watched my child a seat at the table.
The chair legs scrape against the floor as I pull my seat back and walk into the kitchen.
“You didn’t make any for yourself?”
“No. I figured I’d get out of your hair and not overstay my welcome. I know there’s only so much Summer you can handle, Chase.” She smiles, but somehow that makes me feel like shit.
She turns on the disposal and adds the soap to the dishwasher while I stand there feeling like a moron. Most of the time Summer and I have spent together, there has always been a third person, my sister or one of our friends. It’s rare that she and I are ever alone together, and this moment reminds me of why. We are so different in every way I can think of. She’s carefree and goes with the flow, I need plans and a nine o’clock bedtime. I never mind being around Summer, she’s always been a good person in my life, but she’s right about one thing—there’s only so much of her I can take.
“Right, okay.” I definitely feel like I owe her more than I’m giving her at this moment. But at the end of the day, she took care of CeCe when I needed her to and that’s what we agreed to. Anything more is just… unnecessary.
“I can come by tomorrow afternoon too. That is, if you haven’t already decided to fire me.” She points the dirty spatula at me before quickly adding it to the dishwasher and closing it.
I bite my lip slightly to stifle a smirk at her sarcastic comment.
“You aren’t my employee, Kincaid. I can’t fire you. I… I guess I need you,” I say, tipping my head at her before I walk back to the dining room table as she softly laughs.
“Have a good night, Chase.” The sound of her laugh carries into the next room. “And you have a good night too.” She blows a kiss at CeCe.
“Yeah. Tell Drew I said hey,” I reply.
At the mention of his name I see the smile fade from her face. And the light in her bright blue eyes dull as her shoulders fall the slightest bit. She doesn’t answer, she just nods and pulls her purse over her shoulder. I want to ask her why her lip justquivered and why her body tensed when I said his name. But that’s not my business and I don’t need to know about Summer’s love life. I’ve never given it a second thought before.
“Hey, Kincaid,” I say before she can walk out the door.
“Yeah?” She turns, her dark eyelashes fanning her cheeks when she looks my way.
“Thanks for dinner.”
Avoiding Chase’s mention of Drew last night seemed like a good idea at the time, but now I can’t help but wonder if I should’ve just casually told him we aren’t together anymore. That he and the rest of the guys can stop pretending to like him, because I know they couldn’t stand him.
When I walk into Chase’s apartment this afternoon, I expect to see Abby greeting me with homemade cookies and telling me all about the most recent thing she has going on with the Rec Center. But instead, I’m met with her sleepy gaze as she lies on the couch. CeCe perks up from her coloring book, giving me a big smile and a wave.
“Um, hi. When you texted me saying to just walk in the door I thought maybe your hands were full of dough or something. I didn’t expect to see you all cocooned up.” I wave my hand around as I stand over her.
“Sorry. I’ve been so exhausted.”
“Why didn’t you have me come over earlier? I was off all day, I could have helped,” I say, scolding her for her stubbornness. Two peas in a pod, Abby and that brother of hers, I swear.
“I felt bad doing that last minute.” She shrugs, getting up from the couch.
“Well, go home. Now,” I say, grabbing her purse and cell phone for her, practically pushing her out the door.
Abby never leaves her brother’s home in any kind of disarray. I imagine that’s because he’s pretty tidy and has a place for everything. Down to the way the coaster sits on the coffee table. But right now, looking at this place, it’s a giant shit storm.
CeCe is still seated comfortably at the table coloring, so I don’t bother her aside from refilling her water and placing some snacks on the table next to her.
The Alexa on the counter has Chase’s calendar on the home screen and looking at today’s date, it seems he’ll be home in just over an hour. That gives me enough time to try and clean up the kitchen and living room at the very least.
