Page 27 of Quarantine Crush
“Kinda,” I hedge. “It’s from Reed. He’s a chef. His grandparents opened this little Italian place calledFromItaly With Lovewhen they first immigrated here. Reed took it over last year. It’s the best Italian food you’ll ever eat.”
“Is it really safe to be eating food he cooks at his apartment?” Knox asks.
I frown at his tone, wondering what it is about free food that has apparently upset him.
“Well, I haven’t died yet, so I’m gonna say yes,” I quip, pulling the Tupperware containers from the bag with more force than necessary.
Knox leans against the other side of the bar, his expression pinched.
“So you guys do this a lot?”
I wrinkle my nose and shrug.
“I don’t know. Not really.” I bite my lip as I realize that’s kind of a lie. “I mean, sometimes when he’s trying a new recipe or something, he’ll bring it over for me to taste, but it’s not like we have dates every Friday or anything.”
“Still, I don’t think we should risk it,” Knox says, crossing his arms over his chest. He glares at the pasta I’m plating like it’s laced with arsenic, and I slap my palms against the counter.
“Fine,” I snap, pulling a fork from the drawer. “I don’t know what you have against my neighbor or delicious pasta, but that’s not my problem. Feel free to make yourself a sandwich.”
Knox watches, his jaw ticking, as I grab a bottle of water and my plate and storm from the room.
Back on the balcony, I settle into my lounge chair, unsure what the hell just happened. I glare through the open door at the man pouting on the other side and open my laptop. Guess this is a working lunch. I frown as I realize the scene I’m trying to write is the end of a kissing scene, and for the first time since Knox stepped back into my life, kissing is the last thing on my mind.
Okay, lie.
But it’s not exactly the kind of scene I feel comfortable getting lost in right now.
A moment later, the balcony door slides open, and I pause with my fork halfway to my mouth.
“I’m not interested in arguing anymore, Knox.”
My brows rise as I catch sight of the plate he’s carrying, and I set my fork down and smirk.
“Couldn’t resist?”
Knox rolls his eyes as he sets his plate down and settles back into the chair across from me. He makes a show of taking a big bite of Reed’s pasta, and I grin when his eyes widen.
“Ha,” I say with a smirk. “Told you it was delicious.”
Knox doesn’t reply, but I don’t mind. I see this for what it is–a peace offering–so instead, I dig into my food.
“I’m sorry, Hess. I guess I was mad that you didn’t tell me you had a boyfriend.”
Knox’s unexpected words cause me to choke on my water.
“What?” I cough. “He’s not my– Why would you say that?”
Knox shrugs, and for some reason, his easy acceptance pisses me off.
“Did you honestly think I would kiss you if I had a boyfriend?”
He smirks. “I thought you said that was a dare.”
My cheeks heat, but I roll my eyes to hide my embarrassment.
“I don’t kiss other guys on a dare when I have a boyfriend, either. Seriously? What kind of girl do you think I am?”
“An ex then?” he asks, his brow raised.
