12. Alexis #2
“I can handle rice,” I assure him, a mixture of embarrassment and amusement rising within me. “It’s not like I’m attempting to make soufflé or anything.”
“I’m relieved to hear that. I wouldn’t want you to burn down my kitchen within one week of our marriage.”
“Thanks for the vote of confidence,” I say, aggrieved.
“Hey, I’m just looking out for my chili. It deserves a fighting chance, you know?” He gestures to the bubbling pot.
“I’ll do my best not to sabotage it,” I shoot back with a laugh. As I rinse the rice, I can feel the warmth of his gaze lingering on me. It sends a flutter through my stomach.
The three of us continue to work side by side, the kitchen filled with the delicious aromas of our—well, mostly Gabriel’s—efforts.
Peyton chatters non-stop to her father as the two of them make the chili, and I apply myself completely to the task of making rice in a rice cooker, which probably shouldn’t require this kind of razor focus.
I cannot fuck up making rice. I will not fuck up making rice.
Finally, after around half an hour, the rice cooker beeps, signaling that my trial is complete. I let out a breath, feeling like I just finished a marathon.
“Soup’s on,” Gabriel says. He holds up a spoon to let Peyton taste-test the chili.
“How’d we do?” I ask her. I try not to let my nerves show on my face, but there’s part of me that’s convinced the chili will be inedible because I somehow screwed up frying ground beef.
A thoughtful look forms on Peyton’s face for a few moments. Then she declares, “It’s spicy, but I like it!”
“Well, look who’s a big girl,” Gabriel says, setting Peyton down on the kitchen floor. “Go ahead and wash up for dinner, okay?”
As Peyton rushes to the bathroom to wash her hands, Gabriel shoots me a smile. “Thanks for your help.”
“Don’t mention it,” I say, blushing. “I’m sure you could’ve done it faster on your own.”
“Maybe,” he admits, a glimmer of humor in his eyes. “But it wouldn’t have been nearly as fun.”
Peyton returns to the kitchen, and Gabriel hands her a stack of bowls to set out on the dining table. I follow her with a fistful of silverware as he starts to ladle chili into the bowls.
Finally, the three of us convene at the dining table, the delicious aroma of chili wafting around us. We dig in, and only once the first spoonful of chili touches my tongue do I realize how hungry I was.
Gabriel, it turns out, isn’t just a confident cook. He’s a talented one. The chili is flavorful, slightly sweet, with just the right amount of spice. I’m impressed, and a little intimidated too. It’s not really clear to me what I bring to the table in this arrangement.
We eat in silence for a few minutes, awkwardness lingering between us.
I can tell that Gabriel wants to talk, but doesn’t know what to say.
Peyton, for her part, seems like she’s still a little wary of me.
I’m not about to be the one to make conversation, either.
I don’t want to annoy Gabriel if he’d rather stay quiet.
But after a little while, he clears his throat, breaking the ice. “So, Alexis, how are you settling in?”
I start slightly, surprised to be addressed.
“Um… fine, I think. Your house is beautiful.” That much, at least, is true.
Gabriel’s home is large and lavish, with just about every amenity I can think of.
It’s too bad I don’t feel comfortable using any of it.
As far as I’m concerned, this place is like a museum dedicated to someone else’s family.
“Thank you,” he says. “It’s nothing extreme, but it’s home, you know?”
I nod. “It’s much nicer than my old condo.”
“Surely there’s something you’ll miss,” he says, setting his spoon down and looking at me intently for a moment.
I shake my head. “Not really. It wasn’t the most homey place. It kind of felt like… I don’t know. A hotel room, or something.”
“That bad, huh?”
“Well…” I trail off, thinking. “There was a beautiful terrace on the building that I’ll probably miss. It was right outside my window, and in the spring, there were lilacs growing everywhere. The smell used to drift into my bedroom. That was probably my favorite thing about it.”
Gabriel doesn’t say anything. He hums pensively, taking another spoonful of chili.
It’s quiet for another moment. Then Peyton glances at me shyly before whispering, “Do you want to know what I did at school today?”
I’m taken aback for a second, but quickly recover. “Yes, I do!”
“We did ‘Bring Your Pet To School’ Day,” she tells me. Her eyes dart to her father, who has suddenly gone still, as if he knows what’s coming next. “And this girl Jessie brought her cat…”
“Oh, Bug.” Gabriel chuckles and shakes his head, dropping his spoon into the bowl with a clink. “Don’t start.”
“Daddy, please,” Peyton says, her eyes round and huge. “Please, please. Jessie’s cat was so cute. Her name was Biscuit, and she was all stripey. She purred when I petted her.”
Gabriel shoots me a wry look. “Welcome to my life,” he says, a weary note to his voice. “This has been the question of the day, every day, for the past four months.”
“Please can we get a cat? Pleeease?” Peyton stretches the word out, her eyes wide and heartbreakingly adorable as she practically vibrates in her seat. “I’ll take care of it, I promise. I’ll feed her and pet her and everything!”
Gabriel lets out a long-suffering sigh, still addressing me instead of Peyton. “We’re reaching professional-level negotiations at this point.”
I laugh. “I have to say, she does make a pretty convincing case.”
“See, Daddy? Alexis thinks we should get a cat!” Peyton’s face lights up.