He held it open but didn’t come in. “How you feeling?”
“Better. Thank you. This mattress is a trap.”
“A trap for what?” He chuckled.
“Involuntary sleepovers.”
“Girl, ain’t nobody tryna kidnap you. Glad to hear you slept well though. I made some soup if you’re hungry. And it’s good. But if you don’t like it, we can order you something.”
I smiled. “I’m not really hungry, but I’m gonna eat some because you took the time out to make it.”
“Aight. Come on.”
Picking up my phone, I followed him out to the kitchen. Wanting to see the food, I walked over to the pot and took the lid off. I nodded my approval. The soup looked hearty, and it smelled amazing. I had high hopes of it tasting just as good.
“If my grandma was here, she would’ve popped the shit out of you for being in that pot.”
“Oh, my bad,” I said, placing the lid back on.
He laughed and pulled out a bowl from the cabinet. “You good.”
“Here.” I held my hand out for the bowl. “I can do it.”
He passed it to me, along with a spoon. Ladling the soup into the bowl, I set it on the counter. Positioning himself at the side of me, Aura grinned like he knew something I didn’t.
“Why you smiling like that? What you put in here?”
“Girl, you paranoid as hell.” He laughed. “We gotta get you in therapy, baby?”
“Shut up. You the one smiling all hard. I ain’t even taste it yet.”
“I already know it’s good. I cooked it with love.”
“Mmhmm.” I ate a spoonful, and he nodded.
“Shit good, ain’t it?”
“You gotta give me a chance to chew and swallow,” I said, covering my mouth with my hand.
“By the way you chewing, I already know you savoring the flavors. You ain’t gotta tell me what I already know,” he replied cockily. “Dada an Aura of all trades.”
I ate another spoonful and smirked. “You mean a jack of all trades, crazy.”
“Nah. I meant what I said. Ain’t no jack here, baby.”
“Oh.” I giggled. “Whatever you say. This is good though. I gotta give props where props is due.”
“Now, that’s new for you.”
I cut my eye at him. “Don’t make me take it back.”
“Aight. Aight.”
“I would’ve never pegged you as the cooking type.”
“It’s a lot of shit I do for the people I love that you don’t know about yet. Just imagine when you’re my wife. It only gets better.”
There it was again, that flutter in my stomach when he mentioned a future for us. I looked down at the bowl, stirring the soup gently. My thoughts drifted to the last thing Thyri said before ending our call.“It’s okay to give your brain a break for once and just let your heart lead.”I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, counting to ten before opening them.
