Jess woke with a start. Someone had just shut the front door, fairly loudly too. She turned over to look at her alarm clock and the time flashed 7:30. Good thing Winston's not home, because he'd be cursing out whoever that was for waking him up so early on a Saturday.
By 8, Jess was up. While lying in bed she had made the decision that she was going to make everyone breakfast, yes including Reagan too.
Jess didn't bother getting dressed, she wanted to get everything ready before her roommates rose from their slumbers.
With Nick just getting back from New Orleans and Reagan moving in, she figured that it was a special enough occasion to make her famous double stuffed buttermilk chocolate chip and banana pancakes with bacon and scrambled eggs. It was a hearty meal, but it was his absolute favorite and whenever she had made it for him in the past, he would go on and on about how good her pancakes were and how they reminded him of his mother's.
Humming to herself, she started by putting on a fresh pot of coffee and then ducked her head into the fridge to pull out the bacon and eggs. She strategically stacked each ingredient one on top of the other, before reaching down to grab the carton of buttermilk. She then made her way slowly over to her working station, balancing each item in her arms before placing them down.
Jess began by putting the bacon on a baking sheet, which she had previously covered in parchment, and placed it in the oven. Next she sliced up some bananas, then took out the flour and chocolate chips and added everything to her mixing bowls. As she was busying herself in the kitchen, Nick had made his way into join her.
"Hey sleepy head, what time did you get in at?"
"Morning Jess." Nick let out a wide yawn and made his way behind her to pour himself a cup of coffee. "I think it was around 4:30 by the time I got in." His voice was still gruff and groggy from his lack of sleep.
"Wow Nick, you're up pretty early, for someone who went to bed so late. You sure you don't want to go lie back down for another 20 minutes? I'll call ya when breakfast is ready."
He moved towards her, taking a sip of the hot black liquid and rested his elbows over the kitchen island next to her. He smiled up at her, "Are you making what I think you're making?"
She looked down into his dark brown eyes and couldn't help but blush. "Oh Nicholas, by whatever do you mean?" She fluttered her lashes at him and chuckled as she let out her Southern drawl.
Nick let out a hearty laugh as well, "You know on any other day I would stick around and help you, but..." Jess stopped stirring and shot Nick a questionable look, "Oh really!?" They both burst out into a fit of laughter.
"Hey, I may not be the best chef, but give me some credit."
"Yeah, yeah Miller, you've always been my knight and shining armor when I need jars opened or something from the top shelf."
"Keep mocking me Day and I won't help you the next time you need your jam." He had his mug in his hand and was sticking one finger out in her direction, his voice all gravely and full of warning.
Jess knew he was just joshing, but she couldn't help, but bite her lower lip; he drove her absolutely crazy when he would get stern, Man he's such a hot mess with his scruff and bedhead.
She decided not to challenge him, she loves jam, and Nick was usually the only one ever around to help her open the damn jar.
He was mesmerized by her, she's so cute when she bites her lower lip.
After a moment, Nick shook his head realizing that he was staring, and knocked his knuckles onto the hard surface of the island, "You know what, I'm going to take you up on that offer and go lie down. But come get me as soon as that bacon and those pancakes are ready, I don't want Schmidt to devour them all."
Nick was right to be worried, because although Schmidt was into his fitness and healthy eating routine, he never could resist Jess' banana chocolate chip pancakes.
He swallowed the last of his coffee and shuffled himself back to his room.
This chapter is short, but I promise to return soon. The server was down, so I lost my momentum.
P.S. quick cooking tips, bacon is great when cooked in the oven. I cook it at 400* for about 15 minutes, make sure you turn the bacon over at the 10 minute mark and put it back in the oven for another 5 minutes.