Page 57 of Done with You

Where was Oona, anyway?

What was she doing?

And was she allergic to anything?

“Holy fucking shit balls, that smells amazing,” Rayma said with a groan as she opened the door to her apartment and let Oona step inside first. “What is that?’

Oona’s eyes nearly popped out of her skull in surprise when she entered the kitchen and found Aiden wearing a baby blue apron covered in cherries. He was standing over the sink holding an immersion blender and there was a big pot on the stove steaming, and torn lettuce in a big bamboo bowl.

“Are you cooking?” Rayma asked, hanging up her coat and ditching her cute gray ankle boots in the boot tray.

Aiden nodded then held up one finger. “Just a sec.” Then he flicked on the immersion blender.

Oona and Rayma exchanged bewildered expressions as the roar of the hand-held kitchen appliance echoed around the apartment.

Oona spent the day with her sisters while Rayma and Jordan worked. They gathered everything they would need for the bachelorette party tomorrow, then had lunch, then Oona accompanied them back to Pasha’s house, where she got to spend time with her niece and nephew. She certainly didn’t want to head back to the apartment where she might run into Aiden, so she just hung out with people she actually liked, and Rayma picked her up on her way home.

It was just past six o’clock, so Jordan would be home shortly.

Her belly rumbled as the decadent smells wafted up her nostrils. She’d had a wonderful lunch out with her sisters, and snacks over at Pasha’s, but whatever Aiden was making smelled incredible, and she was hungry all over again.

The blender switched off and Aiden lifted the tall tumbler from the sink to reveal homemade salad dressing.

“What prompted this?” Rayma asked, dipping her finger into the salad dressing and popping it into her mouth. “Yum.”

Aiden shrugged. “Just wanted to do something nice. Since you’re putting me up, figured it’s the least I could do to show my appreciation.” His gaze flicked to Oona and silently asked the question, “And what do you intend to do to show your appreciation?”

She glared at his handsome profile.

“Well, this is great. We usually do our grocery shopping on Saturdays, so by Friday we’re tapped out of energy and food. Takeout is our friend on Fridays.” Rayma wandered through the kitchen, checking out everything else he was making. “What soup is that?”

“Potato leek.”

“Yum.”

She opened the oven. “And what’s in there?”

“Bacon wrapped scallops.”

“Fuck yeah.” Then she lifted a piece of foil. “And these?” She grabbed what looked like a breaded chicken finger off a plate and took a bite. “Fuck, that’s hot.” Her tongue juggled the piece around and she breathed out dramatically until it cooled off a bit.

“Breaded and fried oyster mushrooms.”

Rayma’s brown eyes were wide. “Amazing. Who taught you to cook?”

Aiden’s eyes flicked back to Oona’s when he answered, “I taught myself.”

“Well, props to the teacher,” Rayma said, opening the fridge and pulling out a bottle of white wine.

She waggled it in the air to ask if Oona wanted any, but Oona shook her head.

Rayma pouted. “Seriously?”

Oona rolled her eyes. “Are you honestly trying to pressure me into drinking?”

“You’re home. We’re not going out anywhere, and it’s Friday. Plus, you’re on vacation. You’re supposed to have a perpetual buzz on your vacation. I’m sure there’s a rule about that written somewhere. Must be slightly or more than slightly inebriated for entire duration of vacation, otherwise punishable by death. Or fine of twenty-five dollars.”

“Death or twenty-five bucks?” Oona asked with a laugh.

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