Page 55 (1/2)

"Cool Want ?" He inched toward me, the heat froet us some drinks"

"What would you like?" he asked

I sed "There’s Coke and Newcastle in the fridge I bought today Malcolm ant lemonade"

"Which do you want?" Another inch closer, and I caught the heady scent of sweat and man

"What?"

"Which drink do you want?" he asked, a hint of laughter in his voice

"Beer"

"Me too" He brushed past

I inhaled and kept stirring Total accident It was a small kitchen

He set my beer down on the counter already opened and propped himself back on the counter to stare arlic bread in the oven?" I asked a bit later as I poured the noodles into the colander

He paused, a strange expression on his face "You want ot the joke, but it was out of place and odd "Yes"

"Okay"

"Thanks" I poured the noodles back in the hot pot so they’d stay waruess I should have put it in earlier Now our pasta will be cold"

"Nothing is ever cold when I’ the bread in

Malcol over a puzzle piece

I started Soht

A few minutes later, we carefully transported the puzzle to a place in the den to make room for our dinner on the table

"It’s our first cooked meal in the new house," Dax said quietly, his eyes on aze God, would I ever stop wanting hi little looks atme self-conscious Once, I’d even excused myself to run upstairs and check my appearance I looked fine My hair was kind of aon my face I sniffed my armpits I didn’t s out in the kitchen and baked chocolate chip cookies while Dax ran upstairs for a shower I figured he had plans

Malcolm plopped hih the channels He wanted to watch a movie, so I put the finished cookies on a plate and carried the in the middle of the couch et hair, dressed in loose sweats and a Tau t-shirt

"It’s Saturday night Aren’t you going out?" I asked