Page 41 of Family Bonds: Alana & Brennan
He thought it was funny there was an air fryer in the break room, but the women seemed to use it for everything that a toaster oven would do.
He’d never thought of heating grilled cheese in it.
“That’s interesting.”
“How is that?”
“Your lunch is one of Becca’s favorite meals. We’ve got staples in the house at all times. Grilled cheese, chicken strips, fish sticks, and fries. The last three go into the air fryer. Never thought to do with grilled cheese though.”
“I only use it to heat,” she said. “I made it in a pan this morning. I have to say, Becca is a great eater. One of my cousin’s kids is fussy about food.”
“Oh, I’ve had a lot of hits and misses. But I always tell her she has to at least try something. If she doesn’t like it, then she doesn’t have to eat it.”
“Good thing she’s not fussy,” she said. The microwave dinged and she removed her soup, her fingers almost dropping it on the counter.
“Watch it. I’ve burned my fingertips on those things before.”
“I didn’t think it’d get that hot. Good thing I didn’t spill it.”
“It’d ruin that pretty shirt of yours if you did.”
He might have gone too far saying that when she turned sharply and held his stare. Her eyes were almost the color of a summer sky against the light blue of her silk shirt tucked into tan trousers.
Without looking down, he had to guess what was on her feet. He didn’t want to be too obvious he was checking her out.
“It would ruin it. Just like that pink boa,” she said.
He rolled his eyes. “I know you’re thinking I purposely got taco meat on it so I didn’t have to use it again.”
“Didn’t you?” she asked. Their voices were lower as they talked.
“I swear I didn’t,” he said. “You heard Becca. She wanted me to keep it on and it got in the way when I was making her dinner.”
But he wouldn’t complain that when he threw it in the washer that it fell apart. Didn’t mean his daughter wouldn’t have him wearing one of the other colors next time.
“You were a good sport.”
He put his leftover dinner from last night in the microwave.
“No,” he said. “Youwere a good sport. I don’t know a lot of adults who would have humored her that much or that long.”
“I had a great time. It’s sad, but it might be one of the better nights I’ve had in years.”
He laughed. Was that a hint for him to ask her again? If Becca was with him, she’d do it for him.
Yikes. That was a horrible thought, that he needed his daughter’s help.
“I’m glad,” he said. “Becca hasn’t stopped talking about it.”
“Alana.” They turned when Kelsey was standing in the doorway. “Nicki is looking for you. You’ve got a call.”
“Oh,” she said. Her hand was moving to the air fryer, pulled it open and yanked out her sandwich to drop on a plate. Then she dashed out, leaving her soup on the counter. “I’m going.”
He opened the microwave, stirred his lunch and then started it again. Kelsey was still standing there staring at him.
“Just ask her.”
“What?” he asked.
