Thanks to my team and everyone for reading.
"Are you hungry?" I ask, clearing my throat in hopes it will help me find my voice again. "I started a chili earlier, and it's the least I can do for everything you've done for me."
Edward smiles, tossing the last of his tools into his bag while I continue walking in his direction. "Can't turn down a good chili."
"I didn't say it would be any good," I correct him with a laugh. "I didn't have all of the ingredients, so I had to make do."
"I'm sure it's great," he answers, and we begin to make our way into my cabin. I ignore how small he makes me feel next to him as we walk side by side, my shadow almost dwarfed by his completely.
"We shall see," I warn. "Both of us."
What a horrible impression that would be if the first meal I cook for my neighbor is less than stellar.
"Doubting yourself?" Edward asks as we walk inside my cabin, the delicious aroma invading our senses as soon as we open the door. He whistles lightly as we both make our way into the kitchen to inspect the chili for ourselves. "I can't see why when it smells as amazing as this."
He isn't lying - it smells exactly the way I was hoping it would. I can barely contain my excitement, and I look over at Edward with a surprised look over my face. "It's not bad, is it?"
Edward scoffs, "Not bad? If it tastes as good as it smells, I'm going to need you to cook for me more often."
It's a joke, but it plants an image in my head that makes me hold my breath again. He didn't mean anything by it, an innocent teasing, but it implies that whatever we have happening between us now will continue to happen then.
Whenever that is, and I like the images I see in front of me.
"Anytime," I answer back, reaching across the counter to grab a spoon to stir the chili in the slow cooker. His eyes follow the movement, and soon he's staring at me with a look of amusement on his face. I shrug when our eye contract grows a little more intense than what I had planned for over a steaming bowl of spicy beans and browned meat. "I enjoy cooking."
"Do you? That works out then since I happen to enjoy eating," he says, leaning so the counter is against his lower back.
His proximity is suddenly all I'm aware of. The way he's leaning against the counter, comfortable in my presence. The intimate way he's watching me as I move around the kitchen, looking for something to go along the side of our late lunch or early dinner. There's not much to add to it, especially since I haven't been to the store in over a week since my truck went down. I spot what's left of a loaf of bread and decide some toasted bread and butter will do the trick for today. It's not homemade cornbread, but throwing a little garlic into the mix will be better than nothing.
Once I've gathered the last of the ingredients, I throw the bread into the toaster and toss a smile over my shoulder in his direction.
I'm not surprised he's already watching and waiting to send one of his back my way, as well.
"Should be ready in about ten more minutes or so," I say, wiping my hands on the dishtowel hanging on the stove.
"Okay. I should go clean up anyway," Edward nods and motions back to his cabin. I almost laugh at myself at how distracted I've become since I finished my walk.
"Are you finished?" I ask, pointing towards the truck as I walk him to the door.
He nods. "Pretty sure. I'd like to take it for a test drive later if that's okay."
"It's more than okay. I'll go with you," I offer, excited to hear my truck, my freedom, roar back to life.
"After we eat," he reminds me. "I'm starving."
I roll my eyes but laugh at him anyway.
"Come on over when you're done."
I try not to notice how green his eyes are under the light of the gray day. "Okay."
As I promised when we hit 1k, EPOV is up next for Chapter 50. Also as promised, I'll be updating twice today. EPOV will be in your inbox a little later :)
See you in a few hours!