Page 68 of It Never Was

I don't want him here at this moment, even if it's just in my thoughts.

"Well, you should go look at Gabe's room, which is probably what most guys' places look like." He laughs placing the potatoes on a paper towel and dabbing them dry,

"Hey! I heard that!" Gabe calls from the living room.

Chuckling Parker continues, "Culinary school really teaches you to 'clean as you go'. It's been drilled into me for so long that I apply it to every part of my life."

I follow his hands at work, moving to place potatoes on to a pan filled with hot oil, watching the pale color change as they bubble rapidly in the liquid.

"I can see that." I wondered if this was his day to day, cooking for his little brother after a long day at college and work. I wanted to see how he was outside of Morning Cup. How did he act, was he different or the same? I let my mind wander a bit, letting the comfort of this house seep through my skin. It would be easy to get used to this feeling. It thawed a piece of my heart that I iced over. "Do you do all the cooking?"

"For the most part, Gabe here can't even boil water without catching it on fire," he jammed his thumb towards the living room, "He mostly just cleans up after himself when it comes to the common grounds of the house."

"I'm the maid Ryen, don't let him fool you!" Gabe shouts back.

"Shit maid if that's the case," Parker's chest bounces from the silent chuckle as he removes the first batch of fries from the oil. Tossing them in a bowl and sprinkling salt on top. His smile is on full display, and I can't take my eyes away from it.

"And here I thought it was all croissants and cupcakes you knew how to make." My words came out quieter than intended.

"No, my mom made sure I knew all the basics in the kitchen. She said, 'as long as you know the basics you can make anything'. My favorite is just the sweet stuff." His eyes turned hazy as he watched the fries flip in the bowl, following the motions of his hands. The smell of the fresh golden fries added to the spices in the air, made my stomach release a deep growl.

"Hungry, huh?" He cocks a brow to me, "Don't worry you get first plate." He adds with a smirk as he scooped a ladle of chili onto the fries before adding a layer of shredded cheese. He nodded his head to the dining room, and I followed, watching the way the apron around his waist helped to showcase the sway in his hips.

I need to stop ogling him in his own house.

He placed the plate at the table and pulled the chair out, motioning me to sit down. I didn't hesitate to take the seat he was offering.

"Gabby food is ready." He called out as he made his way back to the frying oil to plate Gabe's food.

I could hear the grumble of annoyance from the living room, "I said don't call me that, I'm not five anymore."

I couldn't hold back the grin and giggling once again, warmth entered my chest. I liked how this felt. But it was also terrifying, I was just waiting for the shoe to drop. For it to turn from sweet to sour.

"Oh, looks like I got a point Gabby." Parker was watching me, looking at my lips, "Scores now, one to one."

"Fuck yes!" Gabe says as he stuffs the last bit of fries in his mouth, "That hit the spot." Melted cheese hung from the corner of his mouth as he continued to chew, lounging back in the dining chair as he patted his belly dramatically.

He wasn't wrong everything homemade tasted so much better, or maybe it was just because Parker made it that it tasted so fucking good.

"It really did, thank you Parker." I stood and started to grab everyone's plates, but before I could get to Parker's, his hands were pulling the plates from mine. "Hey."

"No, no, no. You are a guest. Guests don't clean up." Without delay he walked to the sink with all three plates in his strong hands, I was right on his heels as he placed the plates down.

"Half and half." I stated.

"Sorry? Are you telling me how you like your coffee?" He rebuttals, keeping his eyes on turning the tap on.

"No…" huffing a breath out I said, "Either you wash, I dry, or I wash, you dry. Half and half."

Parker doesn't reply. He just coats the sponge in dish soap.

"It's the least I can do after you cooked me lunch."

"I was already cooking lunch. It was just a bonus you joined." His hands grabbed for the first plate.

A flutter rose up in my belly, those butterflies were coming alive again. Was he flirting? He liked that I was here. The fluttering spread up to my chest. I grabbed the dish towel hanging on a hook, "Looks like I'm drying." I turned to face the sink, trying to hide the developing pinkness on my cheeks.

"If you insist." I could see his eyes flickering from my cheeks to my eyes, causing my face to heat up more.

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