“A few times.” He’d gotten into a pasta-making kick a few years ago. In fact, he used to make it once a month, for him and Farzan and Arya. He hadn’t done it much lately, though; Todd always said it was too many carbs.
Fuck Todd. Interesting New Raminlovedfresh pasta. He loved the soft mixing of egg and flour; he loved the sticky feel of the dough as it came together (even when it stuck to his knuckle hairs); he loved the quiet meditation of kneading until the pasta was a perfect ball with just the right amount of give.
When he was done, he set the dough aside to rest, covering it with a damp tea towel. While Maria went to check everyone’s progress, Noah sidled up next to Ramin.
“You doing okay?”
Ramin nodded. “You have a lovely family.”
“Yeah.” Noah gave a soft smile then, his eyes lingering on Jake, whose fingertips were stained brown from espresso. “Thanks for joining us.”
“Thank you for inviting me.” Despite his earlier fears, he hadn’t felt awkward as he joined in making lunch. He’d felt at home.
He’d felt like it was his family, too.
For so long his only family had been Farzan and Arya.
He didn’t have words to explain that to Noah. Or to express just how much it meant to be included. To feel safe and warm and welcome somewhere. So instead he just said, “It meant a lot.”
But that was Noah in a nutshell. Taking care of people. Making them feel seen.
Noah bumped their shoulders together. “I’m glad.”
Ramin set the pasta machine to #6 and started cranking, keeping his left hand below the rollers to catch the dough. It was his last pass before it would get filled and turned into ravioli.
“You have good pasta hands,” Maria said. “Your girlfriend must be very lucky.”
Ramin pressed his lips together to stifle a squeak, but he could feel his ears burning, and not from his piercings. Should he just agree? Smile and nod?
He glanced around the kitchen and met Noah’s eyes. Noah seemed to know what he was asking, because he nodded.
“Boyfriend,” Ramin said. “Ex-boyfriend. We broke up.”
“Che peccato!” Maria tossed another handful of flour onto the large wooden table that looked older than the house. “You know, Italy is for lovers. I’m sure you’ll find a man.”
“Maybe.” He looked up and saw Noah watching him, though he turned to help Jake, who was having way too much fun grating cheese.
Todd had never helped much in the kitchen, aside from his meal prep, but here Noah was, getting his hands dirty, helping Jake without ever taking over for him. Letting him make mistakes and have fun.
It was pointless to compare Todd and Noah. Ramin knew that. Noah was straight and definitely not interested. Ramin didn’t want that, anyway. He was Interesting New Ramin, Power Bottom. Not Sad Teenage Ramin, Closeted Virgin with an Unrequited Crush.
Still… he could see himself being with someonelikeNoah. Someone kind and thoughtful and present. Someone who laughed and smiled and didn’t take himself too seriously.
He thought of Paola and Francesca back in Milan, wondered if they could hook him up with someone. If not for a date, at least for a good fuck. That’s what he came here for. Not to be kidnapped by an Italian nonna and force-fed a four-course lunch.
Not that he was complaining. He couldn’t wait to taste all the food they’d made.
While Tomaso took Jake and Noah into the yard to admire the lemon trees, Ramin hung back to clean up his work area.
“You do this every day, Nonna?” Angela asked.
“Only if we have company.”
“It’s so much work, though!”
Ramin silently agreed. Though he could maybe do it once a month, for his friends back home. He’d have to see if Maria would share her recipes.
“It’s a joy. You know, life here is slower. We take our time and enjoy things. You’ll get used to it when you move here.”
