Chapter 10 #3
James smiled, a small but genuine one, and gestured toward the door. “Shall we?”
“Where are we going?” she asked, following him as he opened the door for her.
“It’s a secret,” he replied, his tone teasing but laced with something warmer.
Evie raised a brow, trying to mask her curiosity. “A secret, huh? Should I be worried?”
“Not unless you have a fear of aprons,” he said cryptically, earning a laugh from her.
They stepped into the cool evening air, and as they walked to the car, Evie found herself relaxing just a little. The tension that had been so thick between them seemed lighter now, replaced by a tentative but growing sense of ease.
As James opened the car door for her, his hand briefly brushing against hers, she couldn’t help but feel that whatever lay ahead tonight was going to be something special.
Evie settled into the passenger seat, the faint scent of leather and his cologne enveloping her.
James slid into the driver’s seat, his movements smooth and confident as he started the car.
The soft hum of the engine filled the space, and for a moment, neither of them spoke, the weight of the evening lingering between them.
Evie fiddled with the strap of her purse, stealing a glance at him. “You’re not going to give me even a hint, are you?” she asked, her voice light but curious.
James smirked, his eyes on the road as he pulled out onto the quiet street. “Nope,” he said simply, the corner of his mouth twitching. “You’ll just have to trust me.”
She rolled her eyes playfully but couldn’t help the small smile tugging at her lips. “Trust you? That’s a big ask.”
He glanced at her briefly, his expression softening. “I think you can manage.”
The city lights blurred past the windows as they drove, and Evie found herself growing more at ease with each passing minute.
The anticipation buzzing in her chest hadn’t faded, but now it was mixed with genuine curiosity.
James was being uncharacteristically secretive, and she couldn’t help but wonder what he had planned.
After a short drive, James turned onto a quieter street lined with small shops and dimly lit storefronts.
He parked in front of a modest Korean store, the warm glow of its lights spilling onto the cobblestones.
Evie tilted her head, her brows furrowing in curiosity as she read the sign above the door.
“A Korean market?” she asked, turning to him.
James stepped out of the car, walking around to open her door. He extended a hand to help her out, his smirk returning. “Not quite,” he said cryptically.
Evie took his hand, her heels clicking softly against the pavement as she stepped onto the sidewalk. She looked at him, waiting for an explanation, but he just gestured for her to follow him.
He unlocked the door, holding it open for her, and she stepped inside, the familiar scents of sesame oil, spices, and fresh produce wrapping around her like a memory.
The modest space had been transformed. Tables were cleared away, and a cozy cooking station had been set up in the center of the room. Bowls of fresh ingredients lined the counter, gleaming utensils neatly arranged beside them. A small cookbook sat propped open, ready to guide them.
Evie’s mouth fell open slightly as she took it all in. “James… what is this?”
He stepped beside her, his hands in his pockets, watching her reaction. “You told me once,” he began, his voice quieter now, “about how your mom used to work at a Korean restaurant. How you’d go there on weekends, and the two of you would cook together.”
Her chest tightened at his words, her gaze snapping to his. “You remembered that?”
James nodded, his expression softer now. “I wanted tonight to be special. Real. Something that would mean something to you.”
For a moment, Evie couldn’t speak, her heart swelling at the thought he had put into this. She glanced around the room again, her fingers brushing lightly over the edge of the counter. “This is… incredible,” she said finally, her voice barely above a whisper.
He grinned, a flicker of relief crossing his face. “Good. But full disclosure—I have no idea what I’m doing. If this turns out edible, it’ll be a miracle.”
Evie laughed, the sound light and genuine as she reached for the aprons hanging nearby. “Well, lucky for you, that makes two of us.”
She held up one of the aprons, gesturing for him to lean down. He groaned but obeyed, letting her tie the strings around his neck. She stepped back, her lips twitching as she tried not to laugh. The cartoon dumpling on the apron’s front made him look unexpectedly endearing.
“You look…” She paused, biting her lip. “Like you’re about to film a cooking segment for kids’ TV.”
James glanced down, groaning again. “This is humiliating.”
“It’s perfect,” she teased, grabbing her own apron. “Now, let’s see if you can follow a recipe.”
They dove into the evening with laughter and the occasional chaos of spilled ingredients. James fumbled through chopping vegetables, holding the knife awkwardly as Evie tried to guide him. Their hands brushed more than once, sending little jolts of warmth through her that she tried to ignore.
By the time the dish was simmering on the stove, they were both covered in flour, their faces glowing with shared laughter. Evie leaned against the counter, watching James stir the pot with exaggerated concentration, and for the first time in a long time, she felt completely at ease.
James stirred the pot one last time, eyeing the dish with a mixture of skepticism and resignation. “So… on a scale of one to completely inedible, where do you think we landed?” he asked, his lips curving into a wry smile as he glanced at Evie.
Evie leaned forward, peering into the pot as she bit her lip to suppress a laugh. “Honestly? I think we created something entirely new. I’m not sure even a professional chef could name this.”
James let out a dramatic sigh, setting the spoon down. “Well, it’s official. I should stick to ordering takeout.”
Evie laughed, wiping a smudge of flour from her cheek with the back of her hand. “You know; I think you might be right.”
James turned to her, arching a brow. “You’re supposed to be encouraging, not agreeing.”
“I am encouraging,” she teased, leaning against the counter and crossing her arms. “Encouraging you to never attempt this again.”
He smirked, shaking his head as he reached for a towel to clean his hands. “You’re ruthless, you know that?”
“And you’re hopeless,” she shot back, grinning. She turned back to the pot, giving it one last look before an idea sparked in her mind. “Actually… I have an idea.”
James narrowed his eyes, the corner of his mouth twitching. “Should I be worried?”
She ignored him, pulling her phone out of her pocket. “Just give me a minute,” she said, her fingers flying across the screen.
“What are you doing?” he asked, leaning closer to peer at her phone. “Calling for backup?”
Evie didn’t look up, her focus entirely on her task. “You’ll see.”
James folded his arms, watching her with a mixture of curiosity and amusement. “You’re being very cryptic, and I’m not sure if I should be impressed or concerned.”
“Be both,” she said with a cheeky smile, glancing up at him briefly before returning to her phone.
Moments later, she set her phone down triumphantly. “Done.”
“Done with what?” he asked, arching a brow.
Evie grinned, her eyes sparkling with mischief. “You’ll find out in about twenty minutes.”
James tilted his head, clearly intrigued. “You’re not going to tell me, are you?”
“Nope,” she said, popping the “p” as she turned away to tidy up the counter. “You’ll just have to trust me.”
James let out a mock groan, shaking his head. “Why does that feel like a dangerous thing to do?”
Evie laughed, her heart lighter than it had been in weeks. As she moved around the kitchen, the warmth of the evening lingered, the easy banter between them weaving its way into something deeper, something that felt far more real than either of them had anticipated.