Page 19 of Home for Nathan
He shrugged. “It’s a job. I don’t hate it. It’s fun to meet people. The boss is nice. It’s just the whole tuna salad thing.” Hewinked and turned to grab his robe. And felt a twinge in just the right places.
“You a little sore this morning?” Zion asked.
“Maybe just a little ache; nothing to write home about.”
“Well, now you’re gonna hurt my feelings.” Zion splayed a hand over his chest dramatically.
“You know that’s not what I meant.”
He got another glinting grin over Zion’s shoulder. “I do. I like to tease.”
“I have the stuff to make pancakes. Or avocado toast.” Nathan put on slippers and walked into the kitchen. “What do you like to eat for breakfast?” It was one meal they hadn’t done together much. Maybe even at all, he thought. There was no reason to get out early, really.
“I like eggs, actually. Like, you know, I really like breakfast food in general. I eat breakfast for dinner a lot. Partially because eggs are just the easiest thing ever,” Zion pulled out eggs and milk and a pack of bacon.
“Yeah, I can see that, although I tend to default mostly to carbs for quick and lazy. You know, piece of toast, a bowl of cereal. Peanut butter and jelly sandwich.”
“I am embracing my inner carb more these days, but I have to admit, for years I did egg whites and protein shakes.” Zion made a face as he pulled down a bowl and looked through cabinets. “But I never loved just the egg whites, even in an omelet.”
“Yolk is where all the flavor is,” Nathan agreed. He turned on the kettle, then slumped down at the counter to put his chin on his hand, thrilled when Zion bounced over to give him a kiss.
“Morning,” Nathan murmured.
“Morning. Do you have pancake mix, or do I need to freeball it?”
“Freeball.” He snort-laughed, his smile going wide. “In the blue jar there with the silver lid.”
“And a pan for the bacon?”
“I do it in the oven. The pan is in there; it just needs new foil.”
“On it!” Zion bebopped around his kitchen, bacon in the oven, pan on the stove making pancakes, and it was so wonderful. Good thing he had a long apron for Zion to put on.
It had never felt like this with Don, who had rarely spent the night, anyway.
“So what are you up to today?” Zion asked. “Do you have to work?”
He checked his mental calendar. “Nope. I am footloose and fancy free.”
“Me too. You want to come out and see the house?”
His heart kicked up a gear. “Yeah?”
“Yeah. I mean, you said you wanted to see like, the yurt and the mill house and all.” Zion waved a hand before cracking eggs and whisking and generally getting to work.
“I do.” He put his hand on his belly. “Before it gets to be too much of a hike for me.”
“Well, we’ll grab some stuff to take for lunch from Alicia’s or something, and head out. The entryway is done, and I got all the floors good, but I need help.”
“With what?” His kettle boiled, so he made tea, and Zion got busy for several minutes, so he waited patiently until Zion was done making breakfast.
He took the plate Zion handed him, admiring the fluffy pancakes and crisp bacon. “By the way, you’re hired to cook.”
“Thanks! I do a mean salmon, but that will have to wait until you’re one hundred percent sure fish is okay. And I also do one really good carb meal.”
“What’s that?” He sipped his tea, waiting for Zion to join him.
“Carbonara.”
