Page 56 of What We Break
The old me would have gone nuts for it. But not this version of me. The new Laine likes kindness and stability, and charming hazel eyes.
But I'm woman enough to admit that Blake is nice on the eyes.
He heads straight to the sink to scrub his hands, giving me a tiny smile as he passes. When he turns around, his eyes widen at the spread on the table.
"Fuck. This looks like something out of a magazine."
There go my cheeks again. I am apparently compliment starved. "It's just pasta."
"Just pasta," Blake repeats, shaking his head. "I've eaten plenty of 'just pasta'. This ain't it."
Reid's practically vibrating with pride, like he had anything to do with this beyond draining the noodles. "Wait until you taste it. There's chocolate in the sauce."
Blake's eyebrows shoot up. "Chocolate?"
"I know, right? Game changer. My whole worldview has shifted."
There's a bunch of shuffling, then we're all sitting, and Reid reaches for my plate, serving me first. Then the men pile —literally pile—their plates full. I give myself a moment to bow my head and give private thanks, then we dive in.
"This is incredible," Blake mutters.
Reid nods enthusiastically, already going for another forkful. "I told you she knew what she was doing. I helped, by the way. I drained the pasta."
"Heroic," Blake says dryly.
"It was. I didn't burn myself or anything."
Watching them eat is better than any compliment I've ever received. They're practically inhaling the food, but they're not animals about it. Reid passes Blake the parmesan without being asked. Blake refills my water glass when it gets low. Good manners layered over genuine hunger — the kind that makes you wonder when they last had a meal someone actually thought about.
"When's the last time you two had a real home-cooked meal?" I ask.
Reid and Blake exchange a look.
"We cook," Blake says.
"Okay. Something other than chili, shepherd's pie, or tacos."
Blake shoots Reid a hilariously betrayed look. "You told her about our rotation?"
"It came up organically!"
"Too long," Blake admits gruffly.
"I eat at the station a lot. The fire guys can really cook. They don't seem to put me in the rotation much."
Going by how 'helpful' he is in the kitchen, I can see why.
"Because you're a fucking danger to everyone in the kitchen."
Reid glares at him. "I set one fire asshole. One. And it's a firehouse. We have like... a bazillion fire extinguishers. It wasn't a big deal."
I drop my chin into my palm and let the laughter come. There's no way I can stop it. Blake meets my eyes, and for a second, he grins and it's like the sun just came out. Full, unguarded, transforming his whole face. I have a feeling he doesn't do that much, despite how funny they are together.
"So how did you two end up roommates?" I ask. "Reid mentioned you grew up together, and both served."
Reid glances at Blake, and something shifts in the air. Blake goes still, his fork pausing halfway to his mouth. I feel like I've stepped in a great big pile of crap. I wish I could take it back, so we could get the laughter back. There's no need to get heavy tonight.
"Blake found me," Reid says quietly. All the bouncy energy drains out of him, replaced by something heavier. Blake sets his fork down, jaw tight, eyes on his plate as Reid continues. "After things went to hell. Things weren't great when I got out."
