“Oh my god,” I breathe. “This is… actually good.”
“You made it,” he says.
We made it, but I don’t say that. I’m too distracted by the tiny hum he makes after his first bite. The sound sits indecently close to a groan.
I nearly drop my fork.
Before I can spiral into inappropriate mental territory, footsteps thump down the hallway.
“Smells brilliant in ’ere,” Reggie calls, strolling into the kitchen like he owns the place. “Hope you didn’t forget your ol’ mate.”
I lift the container. “Yours is right here.”
“Aye, you’re a star, love.” Something clinks—tools, maybe? “Now, let me have a look-see at this stove o’ yours. Need ta set up that full vocal timer we talked about.”
I freeze, fork halfway to my mouth. “Full vocal timer?”
“Yeah,” Reggie says, poking something metal against the stovetop. “Connects ta your phone, reads yer settings out loud, gives verbal alerts every minute or what have ya. But…” He taps something and huffs. “This model’s a dinosaur. No upgrade slot.”
Jason clears his throat. “It’s… older, yeah.”
“Oi, older?” Reggie laughs. “This thing’s practically Victorian.”
“Okay, rude,” I say, nudging my fork in his direction. “But fine. If it can’t be upgraded, I’ll just… buy a new stove.”
Silence.
A long one.
Like… really long.
I blink. “What?”
Jason shifts in his seat. Even Dog-Jason—who is now lying under the table—goes oddly still.
Reggie scratches his jaw—I can hear the scrape of stubble. “You’ll… buy a new stove?”
“Yes?”
Why does that sound like an SAT question?
Reggie whistles low. “Well. Right then. I’ll, uh… draw up a list o’ good models.”
Jason doesn’t say anything.
Neither does Dog-Jason.
I stab another bite of chicken. “Why is everyone acting like I just announced I’m buying a small island?”
Jason coughs lightly. “You just… said it so casually.”
“Should I have said it dramatically? Held a candle up to the sky while declaring my love for appliance shopping?”
He laughs but there’s something tight in it.
Reggie clears his throat. “Nothin’ wrong with a bit of convenience, love. Jus’ caught us off guard, is all.”
“Why?”
