Page 52 of Bookworm
“That is not my fault!” Daphne squealed. “They really should put a warning on it.”
I snorted a laugh as I pushed my key into the door of my apartment’s lobby. The front door clicked open and with a grunt, I shoved my way inside out of the cold. Out of habit, I paused at the mailboxes just to check, even though no one knew I was here or had this mailing address.
Sure enough, it was empty except for a coupon for 20% off Bed, Bath, & Beyond.Score.
I dropped the flier into the trashcan in the corner. “I’m sure the oven manufacturers didn’t think someone with an Oxford education would fill her oven with forks, knives, casserole plates and dishes, then turn on the self-clean function.”
“Well, they know better now. I sent them a very strongly worded letter about it.”
“I bet you did.” Only Daphne would make a mistake that dumb, then not only blame all oven manufacturers for it, but take it that extra step further and send them a chastising letter.
Smiling, I pressed the button for the elevator and waited as the seventies fossil groaned to life.
“Anyway,” Daphne said. “I just wanted to check on you. How’s he taking it?”
The elevator dinged and once the doors slid open, I stepped inside, punching the button for my floor with a sigh. “Not as badly as he could have,” I said, honestly. “It could have been worse.”
“Which also means it could have been better.”
I shrugged even though she couldn’t see me. “Adam’s a pretty even-keeled guy. I’m sure he just needed a little time to let everything marinate.”
Ihoped.
“Nope! Absolutely not. Get your cute little ass into something lacy and sexy and march over to his apartment tonight! Remind him what he’d be missing out on if hemarinatestoo long.”
“Daphne!” I gasped in mock shock as the elevator stopped on my floor, the doors opening at the slowest pace known to man.
“I’m serious!”
I nibbled the corner of my lip and shook my head. “Trust me,I knowyou’re serious. Thank you for being you. I gotta go… talk to you later.”
“Fine. But remember, something lacy and skimpy?—”
“Bye!” I said laughing.
I hung up as the scent of something delicious filled the hallway making my stomach groan in protest.
Dammit. Yet again, I’d forgotten to go grocery shopping. I had grabbed a few staples last week but I used the last of my bread this morning on toast. All I had left were those stupid ramen packets and a half eaten jar of peanut butter.
Stopping in front of my apartment door, I thunked my head against the hard wood and groaned.
I sure as hell wasn’t going back out tonight to go grocery shopping. So I guess takeout was in order instead. The question was: Pizza or Chicken Pad Thai?
Fumbling with my massive set of janitor keys, I paused.
Wait a minute...
I inhaled deeply.
The smell of cooking… it was coming frominsidemyapartment.
What the hell?
Quickly, I shoved my key into the lock and opened the door to find Adam standing in my kitchen cooking with Verne sitting patiently at his heels and Jules sitting on the counter, tail swishing and watching intently as he stirred something that smelled delicious on the stovetop.
“What… what are you doing here?”
He blinked at me from overtop a billowing plume of steam, seeming surprised that I was surprised. “Well, I assumed you ate the last of your bread. And knowing you, you probably forgot to grab something for dinner from the market… so I picked up a few things on my way home from class to cook you dinner.”
