Chapter 39
39
ALAINA
R oan opened the door, looking as handsome as ever. Dammit, I really hated that he was so damn attractive.
“You said not to bring anything, but I had to,” I said and thrust the bottle of wine in his hands. “It’s cheap and probably not what you’re used to, but it’s not terrible.”
“Thank you,” he said. “Come in. You’re the first one here.”
The smell of garlic and tomatoes filled the air. I could hear Rafe in the kitchen. Beau sniffed around, tail wagging.
“He’s curious,” I said with a laugh when I unhooked his leash.
“As long as he doesn’t hike his leg on the couch, I’m cool,” Roan said. “He’s free to sniff whatever he wants.”
“Are you sure this is okay?” I asked. “I know you were not expecting Rafe to invite us.”
“It’s fine,” he said. “Trust me, you’ve made his whole week. He’s thrilled to see you.”
I didn’t say it, but I wanted to know if he was happy to see me. I was so happy to see him. I missed him. I knew it was wrong, but this friends thing wasn’t really spelled out. With most friends, you could give them a call now and then. But Roan, well, I couldn’t call him or ask him to grab a cup of coffee with me. This was a very different friendship.
“The chef is in here,” Roan said with a smile. “Again, temper your expectations.”
I followed him into the kitchen with Beau trailing behind. It was going to take him a month to explore this house.
“Ms. C!” Rafe called out the moment he saw me. “I’m so glad you’re here! Dad and I are making lasagna!”
“Hi, Rafe,” I said, smiling as he ran over to hug me. “That sounds delicious! Beau and I are happy to help.”
“You really don’t have to,” Roan said. “Guests shouldn’t have to cook.”
“I don’t mind,” I replied, rolling up my sleeves. “Besides, I love cooking. And this kitchen is really fun to cook in. What can I do to help?”
Rafe’s eyes sparkled with excitement. “You can show me how to make the lasagna! Dad’s trying, but…”
“Hey!” Roan protested with mock offense. “I cook sometimes.”
I laughed and stepped over to assess the situation. “Alright, how about you chop some lettuce for a salad, Roan? I’ll show Rafe how to make the lasagna. No knives involved.”
Roan looked relieved to be given a simpler task. “Lettuce, I can handle.”
I turned my attention to Rafe, who was watching eagerly. “Okay, first we need to spread a thin layer of sauce on the bottom of the dish. Like this.” I demonstrated. Rafe followed suit, carefully spreading the sauce with a spoon.
“Good job, Rafe! Now we’ll add a layer of noodles.” I handed him a few sheets of lasagna noodles that Roan had already boiled. “Make sure they cover the sauce completely.”
As Rafe worked, I glanced over at Roan, who was diligently chopping lettuce. “How’s it going over there?” I asked.
Roan grinned. “I still have all my fingers. How about you two?”
“We’re doing great,” Rafe said proudly, adding another layer of noodles. “What’s next?”
“Next, we mix the cottage cheese with some eggs and seasonings,” I explained, showing him how to combine the ingredients in a bowl. “Then we’ll spread it over the noodles.”
Rafe carefully followed my instructions, his tongue poking out in concentration. I couldn’t help but smile at his enthusiasm. It was clear he loved being in the kitchen. I loved being able to share this moment with him. I loved being in this kitchen with him and Roan. Even Beau had found a corner and was silently watching, like he was hoping for something to hit the floor.
Roan glanced over, watching us with a soft smile. “You’re a great teacher, Alaina.”
“Thanks, I’m a professional,” I said, feeling a warm feeling with his praise. “And Rafe’s a quick learner.”
“Yeah, I’m going to be the best chef ever!” Rafe declared, spreading the cottage cheese mixture over the noodles.
“You’re well on your way,” I agreed. “Now we’ll add some more sauce and then another layer of noodles. Keep going just like that until the dish is full.”
As Rafe continued building the lasagna, I felt a sense of contentment. Being here with Roan and Rafe, cooking and laughing together, felt so natural. It was easy to forget all the reasons I’d been holding back.
“All done with the lettuce,” Roan announced, bringing it to the counter in a bowl. “What’s next?”
“Perfect timing,” I said, giving him an appreciative smile. “Can you grate some cheese for the top of the lasagna?”
“On it,” Roan replied, grabbing a block of mozzarella and a grater.
With the lasagna nearly finished, Rafe and I added a final layer of sauce and cheese. “Now we just need to pop it in the oven,” I said, helping Rafe carry the dish over.
Roan preheated the oven and set the timer. “Great job, team,” he said, giving Rafe a high five.
Rafe beamed with pride. “Thanks for helping, Ms. C.”
“It was my pleasure, Rafe,” I said. “You did an amazing job.”
While the lasagna baked, we worked together to set the table. Rafe took charge, assigning everyone their seats and making sure everything was just right. I couldn’t help but be impressed by his leadership skills. He was clearly very excited for his first dinner party.
“This looks very nice, Rafe,” I told him.
“Should we have music?” he asked.
“I’m not sure we’ll need it. If you’re going to have guests, you want people to be able to hear each other talking.”
He nodded, as if that made perfect sense. “Okay.”
Cate arrived, dressed in her usual business suit. “Nice house,” she said like it annoyed her.
“Cate,” I sighed.
“Thank you,” Roan said. “Can I get you a drink?”
“Wine please,” she replied with her eyes looking around Roan’s living room.
Jake arrived shortly after.
“Jake, this is Alaina,” Roan said. “And I think you know Cate.”
“You do?” I asked with confusion.
Cate grimaced. “Of course.”
I looked at her. “You two know each other?”
“Jake tried to buy Cate a drink once, but she wasn’t interested.” Roan grinned. “Shut him down.”
“And I bet she’s been regretting it ever since,” Jake replied.
“Yeah, I’m real heartbroken,” Cate muttered.
“Alright, let’s not start the evening with bickering,” Roan interjected, casting a quick glance at me. “We have a young chef who’s worked very hard on dinner tonight.”
“The kid cooked?” Jake asked with surprise.
“Uncle Jake!” Rafe said, walking into the living room.
“Hey, buddy, your dad said you cooked dinner? What did you microwave for us?”
Rafe’s eyes widened in offense. “I made lasagna! It’s in the oven.”
Cate raised her eyebrows at that, shooting me a questioning look. I simply shrugged in response.
Jake picked him up in a hug. “The oven? When did you become a fancy chef?”
“Today,” Rafe said, giggling in Jake’s arms. “Ms. C showed me how to make it.”
I saw the look of relief on Cate’s face. “You did all the hard stuff,” I assured him.
“Dinner has about twenty minutes,” Roan said. “We can sit in here until then.”
“Can I take Beau outside?” Rafe asked.
“It’s cold, buddy,” Roan said.
“Just for a minute,” he argued. “He might need to go to the bathroom.”
I gave Roan a slight nod, letting him know I was okay with it.
“Fine but put on your coat. And only a minute. If Beau has to go, he’ll go. If he doesn’t, come back inside.”
Rafe looked thrilled to have the chance. Once he was outside, Roan shook his head. “He wants a dog really bad. This is his way of showing me he can handle the job.”
“Ah.” I smiled. “Smart kid.”
About thirty minutes later, we sat down to dinner. I found myself enjoying the dynamic of the group. Rafe was in his element, chatting animatedly with Jake about superheroes and robots. Jake was giving Rafe all of his attention. I was thoroughly impressed. It was clear Jake was kind of a cocky playboy type, but he was treating Rafe like he was an equal. Rafe was very comfortable around the man, telling me they spent a lot of time together. It explained a lot about Rafe. He was very mature for his age. To me, that was because he spent time conversing with adults and could carry a conversation. Roan and Cate exchanged a few polite words, though there was an underlying tension that was hard to ignore.
After dinner, Roan insisted that I couldn’t help with the cleanup because I was a guest. I protested, but he was stubborn about it, so I relented and sat back with a glass of wine while he and Rafe tackled the dishes.
I could see that Cate was trying her best to act cordial, but it was apparent that she was uncomfortable around Jake. She avoided eye contact with him and focused mostly on her food. Still, she did manage a few polite nods and smiles in his direction.
Roan, on the other hand, was as cool as ever. He effortlessly steered the conversation away from potential awkwardness. It was clear he wanted this evening to go well. He paid attention to Rafe’s stories, asked Cate about her work, and we discussed the coming Florida trip.
The lasagna turned out delicious, earning Rafe a round of applause from all of us. His face lit up with pride as he beamed at each one of us, looking especially pleased when Jake complimented him on his cooking skills.
Eventually, Cate and Jake left. Rafe looked wiped out and declared it was bedtime. Roan walked him up to his room, leaving me alone in the kitchen, gazing out the window at the small snow-covered yard. It was peaceful, the quiet hum of the dishwasher providing a soothing background noise. Beau had found a spot in front of the gas fireplace and passed out. It was such a peaceful, beautiful setting.
It almost felt like a dream, like this was the perfect home. I sighed and got back to the cleanup process. Roan tried to tell me I didn’t need to, but I couldn’t help wiping down the kitchen island at least.
When Roan returned, we finished cleaning up together. It was comfortable, the silence between us easy and relaxed. I dried the last dish and turned to find him leaning against the counter, watching me with an intensity that made my heart skip a beat.
“Thanks for tonight,” I said softly, breaking the silence. “I had a really wonderful time.”
Roan smiled that crooked grin that always made my stomach flutter. “I’m glad you did. Rafe was thrilled you came over.”
“He’s a great kid,” I replied sincerely.
“He likes having you around,” Roan said quietly. “I do too.”
I felt my cheeks warm at his words. The air between us suddenly felt charged.
Roan took a step closer, his gaze searching mine. “Alaina.”
“Yeah?” I whispered, barely able to breathe.
He reached out and brushed a lock of hair behind my ear. “Do you want to stay the night again? It’s getting late, and the guest room upstairs is ready whenever you need it.”
My heart raced at the suggestion. I knew the right answer, the logical answer, was to politely decline and leave before things jumped right out of friendship territory. But my dog had encouraged me to take a risk and show him how I felt.
It was time to go for it.