Sixteen

Garrett

I was just letting Teddy back in from the backyard when I heard the shower turn on, so I hurried to make us something to eat. I never got to cook for anyone who wasn’t family, and I was excited to show Steve I knew my way around the kitchen, but I wasn’t completely sure why that was. I’d cooked for a few guys who had stayed over, but typically I was ready for them to leave when we were both satisfied. Steve was different.

I dug out my waffle iron and whipped up some batter. While I was waiting for it to heat, I layered a pan with bacon and started cooking it in the oven. Once everything else was done I’d cook some eggs. I’d just sprayed the waffle iron with nonstick spray when Steve walked up behind me. “Oh, you smell good,” I said before kissing his cheek.

“I smell like you,” he said and looked at everything I was working on. “Need some help?”

“Sure, how about you crack the eggs and whip them,” I said, and he got busy doing that while I poured the batter into the waffle iron.

“Do you cook like this every day?” he asked.

“No, I’m too lazy for that,” I said, making him laugh.

“I don’t get the feeling you’re lazy about anything.”

“You could be right,” I said and after checking the bacon and the first waffle were nearly done, I started heating the pan for the eggs. He stood back and watched as I took one waffle out and covered it with a towel before pouring another into the waffle iron. “How many waffles?”

“Only one. I was trying to think of the last time I had waffles, and I really can’t remember when it was.”

“We used to have breakfast for dinner and usually it was waffles, eggs, and bacon. I guess now when I want breakfast that’s what I think of. Not that I do this very often. It’s too much trouble for myself.” When both waffles were done, I plated our food and passed one plate to Steve. I usually ate at the kitchen island so when he sat on one of the stools I joined him.

“Where are you working today?” Steve asked as he spread butter and then syrup on his waffle.

“I’ll have the same delivery area until after the first of the year. They don’t like to change it once we’re into peak delivery season. It stresses out the businesses we deliver to, and it makes it tough on drivers to learn new routes with so little time. Plus, the traffic makes it tough too.”

“You guys are so busy this time of year. I notice more trucks in my neighborhood and even though Sunrise is a ghost town, it’s still got a lot more deliveries the past few days than it had when I first got there.”

“Did you hear they’re planning to refurbish it?” I took a bite of my waffle while he nibbled on a piece of bacon.

“They’ve been talking about it for years. Are they finally going to?”

“That’s what I heard, but who knows when they’ll start or when they’ll finish. It’ll be nice if they do though. That area has changed so much through the years, everything except the mall,” I said and thought once again about all the good memories I had of going there.

“Well hopefully they do. It’s a great location, and it still has a fair number of people that still want to go. This is great by the way. I can’t remember the last time I had someone cook me breakfast, thank you.” He smiled that shy smile at me, the one that he probably had no idea made him look more vulnerable than he would ever want to be. Under that hard exterior was a sweet, sensitive man, and I cherished all the glimpses he gave me of him.

“You’re welcome. I love cooking and like I said I don’t get to cook for someone else often, so it’s nice to be able to. Are you working until closing again?”

“Yep, apparently, they like me working the later shift. The younger kids come earlier and they’re a little too intimidated,” he said and grinned.

“But you’re just a big softie,” I said.

“They don’t know that yet, and they won’t find out if I can help it.”

“Well, at least you admit it.”

“Only to you,” he said and covered my hand. “I really like you, Garrett.”

“I like you too.” We stared at each other a little too long before both of us started to smile. “See, you’re not as grouchy as you think.” He grinned again and we finished eating. Once we were done, I loaned him a shirt to wear to work and I packed my things for the day. After making sure Teddy had plenty of food and water, we walked out together, and I followed him to his car. “So, I guess I’ll see you soon?”

“I hope so. I’ll text you later and maybe we can get together again this week.” He pulled me close as he leaned against his car. “I don’t want to wait.”

“Me either,” I whispered before kissing him. “Text me later.”

“I will.” After one last kiss we both drove off in opposite directions and I nearly laughed when I thought how different he’d been last night than he was that first day.

Traffic was heavy but I got to work on time and was driving my route with an overstuffed truck in record time. I’d just made a delivery at one of the businesses across from the Galleria and when I returned to my truck there was another Christmas cake attached to the windshield. I looked around but didn’t see anyone I knew. “The mystery deepens.” I shrugged and tossed it on the dashboard and with a smile, drove to my next delivery.