Page 132 of Pistols and Plush Toys

Meredith:Even first class generally frowns upon all your checked luggage being full of assault rifles.

Gerard:Hah!

Gerard:I guess let’s keep an eye out, eh? For whatever he tries to do next.

Gerard:At least it looks like our plan worked, eh Kolya?

Nikolai should respond, but a glance at the time told him he’d already taken too long. Dinner was probably ready, and he didn’t want to keep Elliot waiting.

He shoved his phone back in his pocket and strode from his room, heading to the kitchen.

Well, at least he knew for certain that Vitale wouldn’t be here by tomorrow.

“Oh hey, right on time,” Elliot said when Nikolai got to the kitchen. The pasta had been plated, sauced, and sprinkled with cheese.

“Looks good,” Nikolai said as he took his seat.

Elliot smiled and took his own. “Thank you, I hope you like it. This is a recipe from Pucci’s, downtown.”

“Another place you worked?” Nikolai asked.

“Yeah, for like two weeks.” Elliot laughed, a bright tinkling thing. “But long enough to learn how to make their pasta.”

“Oh, is secret recipe?” Nikolai teased as he picked up his fork. It smelled delicious, and lunch felt like it had been ages ago.

“Not so much for the pasta itself, but the sauce, yeah!” Elliot wore that happy, enthusiastic look he always did when he talked about food. “They always added some miso, and then if you’re having it for dinner, you have to make sure to start the sauce around noon to let it simmer together as long as possible.”

“Miso? In Italian?” Nikolai nodded seriously. “Is very different, so I must try.”

Elliot giggled behind his hand. “Please do! And let me know if you like it. I don’t think I could go back, personally.”

Nikolai felt a smile on his own lips. It was only a few weeks ago that Elliot was so scared and anxious that he couldbarely talk or eat. He’d been so fearful every moment of doing the wrong thing and making Nikolai mad. Now he was happily chatting, even proud of himself for what he’d made. It filled Nikolai with pleasure to see it.

He twirled some pasta on his fork and took a bite.

And like every one of Elliot’s dishes, it wasdelicious.

Nikolai groaned in approval as he chewed. If he hadn’t been told it was miso, he wouldn’t have known what the flavor was, the savory saltiness on his tongue. But Elliot was right, it really made a difference. Nikolai would havenoissue with them never going back.

He said as much when he finished the first bite, and Elliot beamed before he picked up his own fork.

As they ate and Elliot talked more about his time at Pucci’s in between taking quick, neat bites of pasta, Nikolai savored both the food and the company. He’d never had this with anyone else, and he couldn’t imagine having it in the future. Being with Elliot, talking with Elliot—it waseasy.It was easy and nourishing.

As dinner wound down, he couldn’t help thinking again about how much he’d miss this. Miss Elliot. Even if Elliot stayed on for a little while as Nikolai’s chef, it wouldn’t be the same as sitting down to share meals with him. Wouldn’t be the same as telling Elliot jokes to make him smile, or watching Checklists with him, or wishing him good night at the end of the day.

And eventually Elliot would go elsewhere. Nikolai hadn’t yet asked Elliot what his long-term ambitions were, and now he wondered. To have his own restaurant someday? Someone as skilled and passionate as Elliot certainly could do so.

Then Nikolai would just be another footnote in Elliot’s history.

When Elliot was gone, Nikolai already knew he’d be coming back to these memories again and again. Caressing them like one did an old, grainy photograph of a lost love.

—which was a thought he should definitely not be having.

Sentimental fool,he growled to himself. He should focus on the here and now. Focus on Elliot while Nikolai still had him in his life.

“Do you mind if I take a quick shower before we watch our show?” Elliot asked, once they’d cleaned up and put away dinner. He grinned at Nikolai, looking relaxed and happy. It was how he should always look. “I just am pretty sure I have tomato paste in my hair.”

“Yes, okay,” Nikolai said. “I will choose good episode to watch.”

---