I turn around and get started finding the right pots and pans, as well as preheating the oven for the broccoli.
Alek steps over and leans against one of the counters with a smirk on his face as he watches me prepare everything.
“How long do you imagine me cooking for you?” I ask him curiously as I fill a pot with water.
Alek tilts his head to the side. “As long as you want,” he replies.
I frown. “I’m serious,” I mumble.
“Are you…asking me about our future?” he asks me.
My face flushes and my heart picks up in my chest as I turn the burner on under the pot. I look at the floor and shove my hands into my jean pockets.
“Maybe,” I reply quietly. “Is that so bad?”
“No,” Alek says in a similar tone. It’s quiet between us for a moment.
“Forget I asked,” I say quickly and continue making dinner.
“No, it’s okay,” Alek says quickly. “I was just…teasing you, I guess.”
I shake my head, suddenly feeling a heaviness in my chest that I don’t like. Maybe I’m scared about what he’s going to say. Maybe Alek doesn’t want this to be serious. Maybe a future is just…out of the scope of what we can have together.
I quickly focus myself on cooking, and even when Alek moves closer to me, I ignore him.
“Hey, you can talk to me,” Alek insists.
“Maybe later, I should focus on cooking,” I say.
Alek slides his hand onto my back for a second, and I feel the heat of his skin against mine.
“Okay,” he says simply, and then steps back. “I’ll be in the living room.”
He leaves me alone and I get to cooking. My sour mood starts to settle as I finish up dinner about thirty minutes later and I realize part of it may be because I’m hungry.
“Dinner is ready!” I call out into the living room as I plate our food, giving us both a hefty portion.
Alek comes in and inhales slowly. “Wow, that smells delicious. Thank you,” he says with a soft smile.
I smile back at him and step closer. “All for you,” I whisper and kiss him on the cheek.
He gives me a curious and perhaps uncertain look. “You’re not upset with me?”
I shrug. “I was a little bit earlier, but it’s fine. I just want to have a good time with you and eat.”
Alek leans in and presses his lips to mine once. “We’ll talk while we eat.”
I nod, and carry our plates to the dining room table while Alek carries our silverware. I sit out plates down next to each other, and slide into my chair.
Alek sits down next to me, and we both dig in rather quickly. Clearly hungry.
“This is delicious,” he says after two or three bites.
I hum out in response because my mouth is full.
After another bite Alek looks up at me. “I wasn’t trying to avoid talking about our future,” he tells me.
“Okay,” I say slowly. “So, you do see a future with me?”
