Page 42 of Daddy's Reckoning
“Can you at least make yourselves useful and slice up that avocado or some fruit?” I called over my shoulder.
“Sure,” Zoe answered, at the same time Lennon said, “Only if you ask nicely.”
“Asshole. You dated up.” If I’d been close enough, I’d have smacked his chest, or shot him with a rubber band, given him a noogie or something. Instead, I just shook my head, and asked “What do you see in him? You could do so much better than slumming it with this asshole.”
“Asshole huh? Am I an asshole for dropping everything to help your fool ass learn how to cook eggs? I’m guessing I wasn’t your first call either, and yet, I don’t see any other assholes here.”
“Okay, okay. You’re right. Thank you.” I scooped the third egg from the water, amazed when it joined the other two on the plate, looking just as perfect. Vinegar, huh? “Too bad these eggs are gonna be cold by the time I finish the sauce.” I cracked the fourth egg into the dish and scooped it into the water.
Zoe shrugged. “I’ll get it started for you. Sometimes it just goes that way. At least she’ll be able to see you tried.”
“Tried what?” Erin’s voice broke through our good-natured banter, and I dropped the entire custard dish into the pan, swearing when boiling water sloshed up and over the sides of the pot.
“Fuck!” I yelled, now at my wit’s end.
Erin’s gaze swept around the messy kitchen. I hadn’t even realized how trashed it had gotten with my efforts. “Oh, I see.” The corners of her mouth turned up in a knowing smile. “Cooking isn’t as easy as you thought it would be, is it?”
“Shut up,” was on the tip of my tongue and if she’d been anyone else, I’d have let it slide out without a second thought. But this was Erin, and boiling custard dish and all, I still wanted to impress her, if that was even possible. I grabbed tongs from a crock of utensils near the stove and slid the dish out, carrying it across the kitchen to the sink. Then I returned to the boiling water and peered into the pan, which was a mess of egg film and broken yolk.
“Dammit,” I muttered. I could feel my frustration boiling at the surface, but I met Lennon’s eyes and caught the imperceptible shake of his head.
“Making breakfast?” Erin asked, a hint of a smile teasing her lips as she entered the kitchen.
“And, I think that is our cue to leave,” Lennon said, grabbing Zoe’s hand and leading her out the door. “Good luck, Theo. Always good to see you, Erin.”
“Byyeeee,” Zoe called just as the front door closed behind them.
I looked around my messy kitchen, feeling dejected. “Well, that was an epic fail,” I said with a sigh, turning my attention to Erin, who was standing there with sleep still in her eyes, hair mussed, wearing nothing but an oversized t-shirt. “I was hoping you’d sleep in a little longer.”
“Well, that’s obvious.” She smirked. “I might have, but Lennon isn’t exactly the quietest person on the planet.”
“It’s true.”
She took a step closer, and when I held out my arms, she actually stepped into them. “I do appreciate the effort, though.” She peered over my shoulder, inspecting the discarded remnants of a half-cooked meal. “Eggs Benedict?” she guessed.
“Yeah. Sorry it didn’t work out.”
She pulled back to look at me, mischief twinkling in her eyes. “You don’t know how to cook, do you?”
I shrugged, not wanting to admit my incompetence. I was the sort of person who had always been able to do anything I set my mind to. The problem was, I’d never set my mind to learning to cook. Until now.
Erin stared, waiting for me to answer.
I sighed. “I can make… college food,” I admitted. “Ramen, scrambled eggs, sandwiches, cereal.”
“I would have been happy with scrambled eggs and fruit. Maybe some toast.” She raised her eyebrows. “I’m assuming you can manage toast.”
“I think I could,” I teased. “I just… wanted to impress you.” I gritted my teeth and gestured around us. “Mission failed.”
“Oh no.” Erin shook her head. “I am definitely impressed by the effort.”
“Really?” Hopefulness shot through my heart. For a moment I felt like Superman.
“Really. Consider me super impressed. But…” She trailed off and scrunched her nose before continuing. “Also, super hungry. And it would be a shame to waste all these ingredients and effort. Maybe we can make it together?”
I’d pictured myself serving her breakfast in bed, and I really did want her to stay off her feet even though all her bloodwork had come back normal and the dangers seemed to have passed. But what choice did I have, really?
I sighed deeply. “Do you know how to make eggs benedict?”