CULINARY ADVENTURE

ALEX

I woke up to the sound of my alarm clock blaring. Rubbing my eyes, I reluctantly rolled out of bed and stretched my tired muscles.

Today is a special day. I was going to meet Lucy's kids for the first time as her boyfriend and spend the weekend with them and I wanted everything to go perfectly. I knew they were an important part of her life, and if I wanted to be a part of it too, I had to make an effort to connect with them.

I slipped into my workout clothes and made my way to the private gym. As I started my morning workout routine, my mind wandered to thoughts of Lucy and her children. Would they accept me? Would they give me a chance?

After an intense workout, I made my way to the shower, allowing the warm water to wash away the sweat.

Dressed and ready for the day, I headed downstairs to the kitchen. The aroma of freshly brewed coffee filled the air, and I poured myself a cup. Sipping the hot liquid, I checked my phone for any urgent messages from work. Being a CEO means I was always on call, but today, my focus was solely on Lucy and her children. So, after finishing breakfast, I did some video conferences and made some important calls. Around 11, I packed clothes for the two days and got ready to face Lucy's kids.

I arrived at Lucy's apartment, feeling a mixture of excitement and nervousness. Vicky had always taken a liking into me, but Jay had been indifferent. I hoped this weekend would be an opportunity for us to bond.

Lucy opened the door with a warm smile, and I couldn't help but feel my heart skip a beat. She wore a T-shirt that reached her mid thigh and I had to keep myself from looking at her legs a little longer.

A hint of nervousness was visible in her actions but she looked beautiful, as always, with her long black hair cascading down her shoulders and her big sparkling eyes.

I greeted her with a gentle kiss on her lips, and she blushed, her cheek bones turning a rosy shade of pink. She always turns mushy whenever I show a little affection, even though when we went past kissing and I love it.

"Hey," Lucy said, her voice slightly shaky with excitement. "I'm really glad you could join us."

"I wouldn't dare to miss it again," I chuckled, taking her hand in mine. ''I'm excited to spend more time with you and the boys."

Lucy smiled and led me inside her cozy apartment, and I noticed the familiar surroundings. It wasn't my first time here, but this time it felt different.

We walked into the living room, where Jay and Vicky were engrossed in a game of chess. Jay glanced up briefly when I entered the room, but quickly turned his attention back to the game. Vicky, on the other hand, looked up with a broad grin, his eyes lighting up.

"Alex! You're here!" Vicky exclaimed, jumping up from the floor and rushing over to give me a hug. "I'm so happy you came!"

I chuckled and ruffled his hair. "Hey, buddy! I'm happy to be here too. How's the chess game going? Are you learning how to play correctly this time?''

He beamed proudly. "Of course! and I'm winning! Jay's good, but I'm better."

I glanced over at Jay, who was studying the chessboard intently, a slight frown on his face. I decided to give Jay some space and focus on Vicky for now.

"That's great! Keep up the good work," I encouraged, earning a smile from Lucy, who had been observing the interaction.

"Boys, why don't we take a break from the game for a while?" Lucy suggested.

''Alex can cook excellently, unlike me. How about we all make something delicious for lunch?''

''Really?" Vicky exclaimed. "Are we going to cook something yummy today?"

I returned his enthusiasm. "Absolutely! We're going to prepare a delicious meal together. How does that sound?"

Vicky's face erupted into a wide grin, and he clapped his hands gleefully. "Yay! I can't wait!"

Meanwhile, Jay had been quietly observing our interaction from the corner of the room. His gaze was thoughtful, and I could sense a hint of curiosity in his eyes. I decided to take this opportunity to engage with him and nurture our relationship.

As I stepped into the kitchen, the aroma of fresh ingredients that Lucy took out greeted me. We decided to make pasta, asparagus quiche and peach tart.

"Hey Jay, Vicky, are you guys ready for a culinary adventure?" I called out with a smile as I rolled up my sleeves.

Vicky bounced up and down with excitement, his eyes gleaming with anticipation. "Yes! Can I crack the eggs for the quiche?"

"Sure, you're the egg-cracking expert," I replied, playfully handing him an apron to put on.

Jay, who had been quietly observing us, raised an eyebrow. "I guess I can help too. But I'm not very good at this stuff. I usually cook but never made anything from scratch." he muttered, a hint of curiosity in his voice.

"Don't worry, Jay. We're all here to learn together," I reassured him, extending another apron his way. "You can be in charge of the pasta dough. We'll make it from scratch."

Jay's eyes widened with surprise, and a spark of excitement flickered within him. With newfound enthusiasm, he put on the apron and stood beside me, ready to take on the challenge.

"Now, Jay, making pasta dough is an art," I explained, taking a bag of flour from the pantry. "We'll need just the right amount of flour, eggs, and a pinch of salt."

I showed Jay how to create a well in the center of the flour and crack the eggs into it. He hesitated for a moment before taking a deep breath and cracking the egg, a smile spreading across his face as he watched the golden yolk mix with the flour.

"Great." I said, patting his shoulder. ''Now, slowly mix the flour into the eggs, little by little."

As Jay and I continued kneading the dough, I could see his confidence grow. His initial reluctance was replaced by determination, his eyes focused on the task at hand. I could tell that he was genuinely enjoying himself, and that made my heart swell with joy.

While Jay and I worked on the pasta dough, Vicky and Lucy were busily preparing the asparagus for the quiche, Vicky's tiny hands carefully trimming the ends and arranging them on a cutting board. I was impressed by his precision.

"Vicky, you're doing an excellent job!" I said, giving him a high-five.

"Now, let's move on to the next step."

As we progressed through the recipes, Lucy observed us with a smile playing on her lips. It was heartwarming to see her children embracing this new experience with me, and I knew it meant the world to her.

While the quiche baked in the oven, Jay and I moved on to the pasta puttanesca sauce. We stood side by side, our aprons dusted with flour, as we prepared the pasta puttanesca sauce.

The sizzling sound of olive oil filled the air as I heated a pan on the stovetop. Jay watched intently, his eyes fixed on every movement I made.

"Jay, the key to a flavorful sauce like this is in the combination of ingredients," I explained, as I added minced garlic to the pan. The aroma wafted through the kitchen, eliciting a small smile from Jay.

"I love the smell of garlic," Jay confessed, his voice filled with newfound enthusiasm.

"Me too. It adds so much flavor to the dish," I replied, as I carefully added a pinch of red pepper flakes, followed by a can of crushed tomatoes. The sauce began to simmer gently, filling the kitchen with its rich, tangy scent.

"Can I help, Alex?" Jay asked, his voice tinged with eagerness.

"Absolutely," I said, handing him a wooden spoon. "You can stir the sauce and make sure all the flavors are well combined."

Jay nodded, his gaze focused on the simmering sauce. He gently stirred it, his movements slow and deliberate. I could see his concentration and determination at every stroke of the spoon. It was as if he had found his rhythm in the kitchen.

"Jay, you're a natural," I complimented, a genuine smile spreading across my face. "You have a talent for cooking."

Jay blushed, a hint of pride flickering in his eyes. "Thanks. I didn't think I'd be good at this, but it's actually really fun."

Cooking has a way of bringing people together, transcending age and barriers. As Jay continued stirring the sauce, I couldn't help but feel a sense of accomplishment. Our culinary adventure was not only teaching Jay valuable skills but also forging a bond between us.

While the sauce simmered, Lucy and Vicky busied themselves with the white peach tart. They delicately arranged sliced peaches on a bed of sweet pastry cream. It was evident that they were also enjoying the collaborative cooking process.

As the aroma of the quiche filled the kitchen, I checked the oven and saw that it had turned a beautiful golden brown. Taking it out, I placed it on the countertop to cool.

Lucy and Vicky applauded our joint effort, their eyes shining with pride.

"Now comes the exciting part, Jay," I said, turning my attention back to the pasta dough. "We need to roll it out and shape it into fettuccine noodles."

Jay's eyes widened with anticipation. "Can I do it? Can I roll out the dough?"

"Of course. It's your masterpiece," I replied, handing him a rolling pin.

"Remember, gentle and even strokes."

Jay took the rolling pin in his hands, his grip steady and focused. As he began rolling out the dough, I guided him, ensuring that it was evenly flattened. Bit by bit, the dough is transformed into thin sheets of pasta, ready to be cut into the desired shape.

With precision, Jay cut the pasta into beautiful fettuccine strips. Each one was a testament to his newfound culinary prowess. His face beamed with joy and accomplishment, a radiant smile stretching from ear to ear.

"Look, Mom! Look what I made!" Jay exclaimed, holding up a handful of fresh fettuccine. Lucy rushed over, her eyes filled with amazement.

"You did an incredible job, Jay," Lucy said, her voice brimming with pride.

With the pasta dough prepared and the sauce simmering, it was time to bring all the elements together. The kitchen had transformed into a bustling hub of activity, as aromas mingled and laughter filled the air. We gathered around the stove, eager to taste the fruits of our labor.

Lucy set the table while Jay and Vicky carefully placed the freshly cooked pasta into bowls. I ladled the fragrant puttanesca sauce over the pasta, the vibrant colors of tomatoes, olives, and capers dancing together in perfect harmony.

As we sat down to eat, the atmosphere was filled with joy and laughter. We shared stories and jokes, and slowly, Jay started to open up. He cracked a smile every now and then, and I considered it a small win.