Chapter 14
Chapter Fourteen
Ashton
“This is amazing,” I said in awe, leaning against the counter. Kai stood at the kitchen island making sushi.
Steven was on the balcony grilling the steaks.
I got out the really nice bottle of wine my agent had sent me for making the playoffs. He’d sent scotch for making the semis, and champagne for making the finals. What wine went with steak and sushi?
Did it even matter? I knew nothing about wine.
“I’m not making anything complicated. It’s just spicy tuna rolls and salmon rolls with avocado and cucumber. I can teach you. It’s not hard.” Kai deftly rolled it up and set it on a plate.
Not hard? It looked like sorcery to me.
“Here, let’s make this next one together. Wash your hands,” they instructed.
I washed my hands and went over to Kai. Carefully, they showed me how to put the warm rice on the seaweed and add the salmon along with the sliced avocado, and cucumber.
“Now we roll it up tight. Usually I use a roller.” Hands over mine, Kai helped me tightly roll up the sushi.
“Oh. I did it.”
Kai beamed at me. “See? Look at that! It’s beautiful.”
“Wow. I made sushi.” I dropped a picture in my family group chat.
We finished rolling them up. Then, Kai sliced them and put them on a plate.
I got utensils and wine glasses and set everything up on the coffee table in the living room. Really the table needed a candle, but we didn’t have any, because inevitably Steven would start playing with the melting wax and make a mess.
We didn’t have a lot of stuff in our condo, but we had a big, comfy couch, a coffee table, some lamps, and a big screen TV with surround sound. Thanks to my mom, our giant sectional had throw pillows that coordinated with our curtains and rug.
Did we have more blankets? Kai might like blankets for movie-watching.
I went into the linen cupboard and found a couple of throw blankets, mostly knitted ones made by my grandma, who kept sending them to me. I think she thought that we could just leave them out like a breadcrumb trail and it would lead the right omega directly to our living room.
They didn’t smell musty, so I threw one over the back of the couch and then put a couple on the arm chair that matched our couch–just in case.
Steven came in from the balcony with the cooked steaks on a platter. “Should we make plates in the kitchen and bring them out?”
“Yes.” The delicious aroma made my mouth water. I held up the fancy bottle of wine. “Why not?”
“Sounds good to me.” He went into the kitchen and saw the sushi. “Wow, those look great.”
“Thanks. Ash helped.” Kai gave me a fond look.
“He did? Glad he didn’t give you any trouble.” Steven wrapped his arms around Kai and gave her a smoldering look.
Kai giggled. “Ash, give me trouble? Never.”
“Nope. Not me. I’m a good helper,” I added solemnly.
We made our plates and brought them into the living room.
I turned off the main lights, keeping on the small lamp so we could see our food.
“Thank you. I can’t wait to try everything. It looks fantastic.” I kissed Steven, then kissed Kai on the cheek. I froze. It had been automatic. Did I overstep?
Kai beamed. “The steak smells delicious.”
No, I didn’t overstep. Good.
Kai added little bowls of soy sauce and other things to the table. Steven got out the steak sauce, ketchup, salt, and pepper.
We sat down on the couch, Kai in the middle.
“Not sure if this wine goes with steak, but why not.” Opening the bottle, I poured some red wine for everyone.
Steven held up his glass. “Cheers. Here’s to good food and good company.”
We clinked glasses and took a sip. It was nice.
“The sushi looks great. We’d probably pay a lot for this at a restaurant.” Steven gave them a kiss on the cheek, too.
Kai took a sip of wine, looking unbothered by the kisses. “The steak, too. I feel so fancy.”
“Movie?” Steven grabbed the remote and cued up the animated movie they’d decided on in the truck.
I ate a piece of sushi. “This is so good.”
We didn’t go out for sushi much, but this tasted as good as the stuff we usually got. Maybe even better because it was made with love and care.
Well at least I’d like to think it was made with love and care.
Kai wouldn’t make sushi for just anybody right?
“This is really good. I wasn’t sure if I’d really like the raw fish, but it’s good.” Steven nodded. Usually when we went to sushi, he was getting California rolls or tempura shrimp.
I took a bite of perfectly seasoned and grilled steak. “Steven, this is fantastic.”
We made quick work of our food and wine as the movie played. Everything was delicious. I felt so fortunate to have such great food and company.
“You can get comfortable. Make sure you get enough snuggles,” Steven said, throwing a blanket over us after the food had been eaten, the bottle of wine now empty.
“Are you sure?” Kai asked.
“Cuddle away,” I replied. Oh no, I have to cuddle Kai. Poor me.
Kai spread out on top of us, putting a pillow onto my lap, laying on me and resting their legs across Steven, who’d scooted in a little. I put my arm around him, making a big cuddle pile and played with their hair.
While I like snuggling with Steven while watching a movie, adding Kai made it even nicer.
At some point Steven produced popcorn, candy, and beer. He must have ordered it when he got the rest of the stuff for Kai’s sushi.
Steven kept looking over at me with a silly grin as if to say, Are we really doing this?
Yes, yes, we were.
This felt so completely natural. I wanted to kiss Kai like I would Steven.
The movie finally ended. A little sadness flowed through Kai’s lemony scent.
“You don’t have to go yet. We haven’t had dessert,” I said. “Can I kiss you? I’ve been wanting to kiss you all night.”
“I’d like that.” Kai’s lips crashed into mine and I pulled them to me. Steven looked on hungrily.
Kai sucked in a breath and turned to Steven. “I didn’t ask if I could kiss your boyfriend. I’m sorry.”
“Please kiss my boyfriend. But will you kiss me, too?” Steven’s voice went small.
I gave Kai a nod. Yes, they should kiss him.
“I’d like a taste test, but there are no losers–only winners.” Kai changed positions to kiss Steven.
Kai broke it off. I kissed Steven.
“I like that,” Kai whispered. “Both kisses are delicious.”
“What else would you like?” Steven’s voice went low and rough.
“We’re yours.” I ran my fingers through Kai’s hair. “Tell us what you want. Tell us what you don’t want. Tell us what you need. We’ll do whatever you ask.”
“I forgot to get condoms. Shit.” Kai looked stricken.
We had no condoms.
“I have an idea.” I leaned in and kissed Kai. “After all, we haven’t eaten the cake yet. How about if Steven feeds you cake… and I have you for dessert?"