Page 84 of Carter

“Food poisoning together, or not at all.” He laughs. A full-on laugh. “Sorry, that was cheesy.”

“No, it was funny. And you’re right. Food poisoning together, or not at all.”

I’m smiling so hard my face hurts.

When’s the last time I did this?

“I’ll be there soon,” I say, before putting the truck in drive again.

Chapter twenty-eight

Carter

The few seconds I had to myself I spent looking up recipes so I can cook something for Nash tonight, hoping he’d be able to come over. Maybe I should have asked first, made sure before I put all the time into it, but I was hopeful. We don’t usually see each other back-to-back like this, but I had a feeling he wouldn’t say no. Thankfully, he didn’t.

I stop at a small grocery store on the way home to get everything I need. I don’t know who is worse with not having food in our fridge—me or him. It’s funny how similar we are, yet so very different at the same time.

There are a lot of steps to this lasagna, but I’m confident I’ll get it done. The instructions aren’t difficult; just time consuming.

I’m starving, having had only a small lunch since work was so busy with all the kids stopping by for a tour. Some of them got their library cards if they didn’t have one already, and a lot of the kids check out books to see how the process is done. We show them around and talk about how important reading is. All the staff were on today, which is only five of us, to help keep the tours organized and on time. It was a good day. Fun. I love seeing the kids excited over something that usually feels like work to them.

I follow the recipe one step at a time, and I’ve hardly made a dent in anything I have to do before there’s a knock at my door. Thankfully, I’m not far from the door and I can quickly pull it open, and look over my shoulder at Nash as I make my way back to the stove.

He chuckles. “You good?”

“Just… feeling a little overwhelmed,” I admit as I pick up the spoon to stir the sauce.

The noodles are cooking partially, the meat and sauce are simmering, plus it’s so hot in here I think the cheese that I left on the counter is melting.

“Could you open the window a little?” I ask.

Nash walks over to the window in the kitchen and opens it about halfway. The cool air bursts in and feels amazing. He lays his coat over the chair like last time, then he moves beside me and rolls his sleeves up. Holy shit, did he have to do that? I don’t need distractions! My cheeks warm and it has nothing to do with the hot stove I’m standing over and everything to do with him rolling those sleeves up over thick arms. What is so hot about that?

“What can I help with?” he asks.

“Grab a beer and sit down. I’ve got this.”

I feel his stare on me. “You sure? You just said you were overwhelmed.”

“I can handle it.” I look at him quickly. “I want to make you dinner, and unless this place goes up in flames, you can stand back.”

He smirks. “My brother is the firefighter.”

“I know, but you have basic firefighting skills… right?” I ask, but he doesn’t say anything. “Nash? Right? Don’t they teach you that stuff in cop school?”

He barks out a laugh. “Cop school? You mean the academy?”

“Whatever! Do you know how to handle it or not?”

Nash chuckles and asks, “Where is your fire extinguisher?”

“Uh…”

“Seriously?”

“It’s… somewhere. In a cabinet, I think. That one maybe.” I use my foot to aim at the one under the sink.

Nash opens the door and pulls it out. He looks up at me with a glare. “This expired four years ago.”