53 - The chapter where they cook together

Rose

Our conversation was interrupted when Christian himself opened the door, looking relieved to see me there.

" There you are, I thought you had run away " He approached me " Is everything ok?”

" Yes, you did me the favor of leaving me alone, I thought I'd take your Harley and go for a ride," I mocked.

" Good thing I always keep the key with me then," he returned with a small smile.

" Chris, the ingredients for the green bean casserole are on the counter, can you make it? You know everyone loves it when you cook," Amber smiled.

That information surprised me, I never would have imagined Christian cooking anything, well maybe instant noodles, but this, even I can do!

" I didn't know you cooked," I commented, taking advantage of his closeness to hug him, resting one hand on his lower back while the other went up to his chest, tilting my head back a little to look into his eyes.

I couldn't deny that I was loving being able to touch him all the time here, unlike when we are in college and try to hide our involvement from everyone. Emphasis on "tried," because Liam and Skyller, despite not having any confirmation from us, keep sending us hints.

" I can do some things," he put his arm around my shoulder.

" He's being modest, Rose. He is a very good cook. So much so that we were surprised when he chose chemistry over gastronomy," his mother said.

Christian released me and went to the counter, inspecting the ingredients while the others left the kitchen, leaving us alone.

" Can I help you? " I offered.

" Can you cook? " he returned suspiciously while putting on an apron.

" I can help," I corrected him.

He looked around for a few moments before shrugging, holding out a sizable jar before pointing to the refrigerator.

" I'll need lots of ice, then you can top it up with water," he instructed.

I did as he asked and prepared myself for the next tasks. In my mind there was a romantic vision of two people cooking together, exchanging kisses and caresses while preparing something delicious. And a few minutes later, I was absolutely certain that Christian and I were not born to do this scene. We both seemed unable to connect like they did in the movies, and that frustrated me a little. I didn't want a boyfriend, but since I had one for a short time, I would like to live out some silly cliché by his side.

The movement in the kitchen increased a little, constantly someone was coming in and out, not giving us the slightest bit of privacy.

" Rose, the water is already boiling and you haven't finished cutting the green beans, can you do it any faster? " he complained for the thousandth time while my mother-in-law and my sister-in-law checked the turkey in the oven.

" If you're in such a hurry, do it yourself," I returned reassuringly.

" You should help me, not get in my way" he turned to face me.

" My greatest pleasure will always be to get in your way, Christian. I thought you'd know that by now." I glared at him, hearing a muffled giggle from Amber.

He took the frying pan with the bacon strips he was frying off the fire, placing it on the counter before approaching.

" Just give me that knife," Christian held out his hand.

I put the knife in his hand without any delicacy, reversing our positions as he took his place on the cutting board, beginning to work nimbly.

" I don't know how you can be so slow," he complained.

" Try cutting things with fingernails that size and you'll find out," I returned, holding up my hand to him, showing off my black painted fingernails.

He gave me a skewed look, focusing on my long fingernails.

" You could use your fingernails as a knife. It would have the same effect," he muttered, making me roll my eyes.

It was always the same, he could complain all he wanted, but when it happened I didn't see an ounce of pain in his expression, far from it.

" You know, I don't remember hearing you complaining in the…” The sentence turned into a cry of pain when I went to rest my left hand on the counter, forgetting about the frying pan that Christian had just taken from the fire, touching the side of my hand against the hot surface.

" What the hell, Rose. Why can't you pay attention to what you do? " Christian exclaimed, dropping the knife on the board before taking hold of my wrist without any delicacy, turning on the faucet before pulling me in, placing my hand under the running water.

Vihn entered the kitchen, joining his girlfriend and my mother-in-law in watching the scene unfold.

" What's going on?" I heard him whisper to both of them.

" Does it hurt? " Christian looked at the reddened skin of my hand.

" No, it tickles. What do you think? " I returned in an ironic tone.

" I'll get the first aid kit before you two end up killing each other," my mother-in-law sighed.

I kept my gaze locked on Christian's as I felt the pain relief in my hand.

" Your mother thinks you're going to kill me," I teased him, as he released me, turning off the faucet.

Christian looked at me with amusement, going to stir the pot of sauce that was still on the fire after drying his hands on a dish towel and putting it in the front pocket of his apron.

" I think everyone has already come to the conclusion that it's easier for you to kill me. Especially with those claws of yours.”

" What's wrong with her fingernails? " Vihn asked his girlfriend.

" I don't get it either," she returned.

Great, besides everything we're being made fun of in his family.

" You know, since you insist so much, I'll cut my nails. That way you don't have to worry anymore," I returned irritated.

This statement attracted Christian's attention, who stared at me with a surprised expression. Distracting his focus from the pot.

" I don't…”

But before he could finish his sentence, the cloth in his pocket came into contact with the flame of the stove without him noticing, and then caught fire, to everyone's surprise.

Christian brought his hand to the cloth, but before he could react, I picked up the mug I had filled with ice earlier and threw it in his direction.

He let out a scream of surprise when the ice came in contact with his skin, looking at me as if I were crazy.

" Why did you do that? " he raised his voice as his mother returned to the kitchen.

" What happened now?”

" It caught fire and she threw ice on it to put it out," Vihn said as I continued to stare at Christian in disbelief of what I had done!

" I'm sorry, you were on fire!”

" I was going to throw the cloth in the sink! " he returned nonconformist.

" I'm sorry for trying to stop my boyfriend from burning to death! " I rolled my eyes while Christian took ice cubes from his apron pocket.

The temperature in here was quite pleasant, mainly because of the stove, but still, it was not a good climate to take an ice bath.

" Chris, this will never dry, take off your shirt and I'll put it in the dryer," his mother advised.

He did not hesitate to obey, starting to get rid of the soaked apron, but I soon focused on another issue. If he goes shirtless, everyone will know why he complains so much about my nails!

" Chris, isn't it better..." I didn't even finish my sentence, watching him hand his shirt to his mother. Amber brought her hand to her lips, stifling a small giggle at the state of her brother's skin while her mother pretended not to notice anything, trying not to laugh.

" I think we found out what the big nail issue is," I heard Vihn whisper to her.

" I'll get you another T-shirt," I offered, feeling my face burn as I tried to get out of there as quickly as possible, and almost bumped into Abby, who was returning to the kitchen.

I almost ran away from the kitchen, hardly believing what had happened. All right, maybe it's time to shorten the nails a little bit, or try not to mark it so much. I can do that. Taylor came out unmarked the two times we were together.

" Geez, what was that on your back? Did you fall off your bike? " I heard Abby's surprised voice.

" Only if the asphalt has fingernails," Vihn laughed, causing me to hurry my steps.

It's official, I'm only leaving this room on Saturday when it's time to go!