After we worked out at the gym, we went to the market, and then came back to our condo to prepare for dinner. I was the baker in our household of two, so naturally, I was cooking dinner. My dad was a chef at a famous Chinese restaurant in Los Angeles, and he’d given me his special recipes.
My dad was Chinese and my mom was Irish, it was important to my father I learn how to cook Chinese food like him.
“So, should we knock on our neighbor’s door and say hello?” Kayla opened the refrigerator and shelved the orange juice, eggplants, and other items.
“Why?” I placed the strainer inside the sink and let the water run over the squash and baby carrots.
Kayla picked up the plastic bags off the floor and shoved them inside a cabinet. “So you can see if you like him enough to date him.”
I glared at her. “I don’t need you to set me up, especially with someone next door. What if things go really wrong? It’ll be awkward if he brings other girls home and I bring other guys. And if that happens, I’ll have to move out. Got it?”
“Oh. You’re right. And I don’t want you to move out.” She gave me an apologetic look. “Anyway, want to catch a movie on Netflix?”
I took out the cutting board and sliced some garlic and chicken breast into biteable size. “Sure. I’ve been wanting to watch To All the Boys I Loved Before.”
Kayla rolled her eyes and twisted her lips awkwardly. “Here we go again with your young adult fetish.”
I stopped chopping. “Hey, I heard it was really cute. Nothing wrong with sweet romance.”
“I don’t know.” She shook her head and checked her cell phone for messages. “Sorry, I’m texting Greg back. He said he’ll be out late, but if I want, I can go over to his place to spend the night with him.”
After I placed the pan on the stove, I poured olive oil and threw in the garlic. “Don’t look at me for an answer. He’s your boyfriend. You do what you want. Don’t worry about me.”
She tapped her nails on the granite island. “How about I watch To All the Boys I Loved Before with you and then afterward, I’ll go over to his place?”
“You don’t have to babysit me, Kayla. And you don’t have to watch the sweet romance because you feel guilty for leaving me.” I stirred the chicken in with a spatula.
“No. As long as we have a glass of wine, I should be fine.” She snorted.
“Deal. Why don’t you pour some now? Dinner will be done in thirty minutes.”
Kayla went around the island to the rice cooker. “I’ll cook the rice.”
Forty-five minutes later, dinner was all done. We placed the food on the table and sat across from each other.
“I think I cooked a bit too much.” I snorted, taking a sip of my wine. “And I think I’m tipsy.” I placed my hand on my cheeks burning. “Am I red?”
“Well, it doesn’t take you much anyway. And yes, you’re extremely red.”
“It’s my Asian blood,” I said. “We can’t tolerate alcohol well. Brad used to say I was a cheap date. Not in a bad way, but that he only needed to buy me one drink.”
“Well, you’ll find another Brad. Anyway, thanks for cooking dinner. I love your cooking.” Kayla served herself more chicken and beans.
I scooped rice on my plate and brown tofu. I picked up my chopsticks, and then there was a knock on the door.
We exchanged glances over our plates.
“Greg?” I asked.
She looked at her cell phone. “No. He should be with his friends. You expecting anyone?”
I shook my head.
Another knock, a bit louder this time.
I rose. “I’ll get it. Maybe FedEx?”
Another knock.
“I’m coming.” My words gritted through my teeth as I swung it open.
I froze. Dumbstruck. Speechless to the hunk standing before me, holding something from the bakery in his hands.
“Hi.” His voice oozed masculinity—deep, rich and all baritone.
My heart somersaulted in my ribcage.
“Hi?” I wanted to smack myself. Did I just ask him a question?
“I just moved next door.”
Did he ask me a question? I wasn’t sure. I was too busy staring at his mouth moving, his hazel eyes twinkling. Too busy admiring his toned upper body. I dared not lower my gaze to the bottom half.
Don’t look. Stay focused. It’s not polite, Nikki.
“Yes. Hi. How can I help you?” I clasped my hands in front as I shifted my weight to my other hip, hoping I’d answered him correctly.
How can I help you? Oh dear God. I wanted to smack myself as a nervous smile stretched across my face.
What the hell, Nikki? He was just a guy. But he made me tingle all over with desire and lust, and a whole lot of other feelings I couldn’t name. The power he held over me at one glance, that scared the crap out of me.
Calm down. It was just a reaction to being attracted to the opposite sex. Sure he was good looking—thick, arched eyebrows curving around his big beautiful eyes, a perfect nose, and how I do love men with chiseled jawlines. Damn, he looked sexier close up.
“I wanted to give you a cake.” He lifted a box.
Awww. He’s so sweet.
“A cake?” There I go again.
“Hi. I’m Kayla. It’s so nice to meet you. My roommate, Nikki…” She pointed at me. “She had a bit too much to drink so you’ll have to excuse her lack of communication. She’s normally not like this.”
“I’m not an alcoholic!” I glared at Kayla for saying something stupid, but I was acting like an idiot. And she was coming to my rescue. And I needed to keep my mouth shut.
“And your name is?” Kayla asked.
“Theo. It’s nice to meet you both.”
Kayla shook his hand and took the cake box from him. “This is so sweet of you. We
should have been the ones to bring you something. In fact, we were just talking about going over there to welcome you. Would you like to come in?”
“Sure.” Theo smiled and entered. He glanced about the living area and then stopped at the table. “I’m so sorry. You were having dinner.”
Saturday night. No plans for him. No girlfriend perhaps.
“No. I mean, we were having dinner, but you’re not interrupting,” I said quickly. “Please join us if you haven’t eaten or if you just want to nibble.”
“Everything looks so good. I don’t mean to impose.” He walked backward toward the door.
“No, no, no. We’re almost done anyway.” Kayla tugged him back. “Nikki cooks up a storm. Besides, you brought dessert. This was meant to be.”
Thanks.” Theo pulled out a chair and sat next to me.
Kayla set out a plate and utensils for him, and then eased into her seat. “So where did you move from?”
“I actually didn’t move far. My roommate, the guy who helped me move in, is getting married and I needed a place of my own. This place is temporary. I’ve been meaning to find a place before, but with work and all, I didn’t have time.”
I passed Theo a plate of shrimp. He took it with a smile and scooped some on his plate.
“You cooked all of this?” he asked.
I shrugged, my cheeks warming. “Yes. I learned from my dad. He’s a chef.”
“I think I have to marry you.” He chuckled, but his eyes met mine like he meant it.
A flirt indeed.
And I liked it.
I looked away shyly and took a gulp of my wine. Then I asked, “Would you like a glass of wine or beer?” I rose and strolled to the fridge, but I felt the weight of his stare on me.
“Beer, please.”
I turned to give him a confirmation nod, and our eyes met again. Time seemed to slow.
Kayla gone.
Table gone.
The walls gone.
Only Theo and I remained.
It felt so strange to feel a connection with a guy I’d just met, like he was meant to be mine. I didn’t know if he felt anything remotely close to what I was feeling so I pushed it aside. Besides, he was my neighbor, and I barely knew him.
“Not bad with the chopsticks,” I said, after I handed him a beer bottle.
“I love Asian food. I had to learn how to use them.” He shrugged, that boyish grin too cute for my eyes.
“So you went to college around here?” Kayla asked, wiping her mouth with a napkin.
He nodded and confirmed with a yes after he swallowed.
Kayla drilled him with question after question, and Theo politely answered them all. After thirty minutes of that, we opened the dessert box.
Theo made himself comfortable, sliced the cake, and handed slices to us first like a perfect gentleman.
“This is so good,” Kayla moaned after taking a bite. “You actually bought Nikki’s favorite. It’s from MJ Bakery, right?”
“Yes.” His eyes lit up. “Vanilla filled with strawberries. It’s my favorite too.”
His charming smile warmed my heart. We had at least one thing in common.
After devouring her cake in silence, Kayla slid off her chair as if she remembered something important. “I’m sorry, Theo, but I can’t stay. I mean, I have to be somewhere. I’m going to my boyfriend’s place and—” She placed her plate in the sink and swiped a hand across her lips. “You should stay and keep Nikki company.”
My face went blank. I wanted to punch my bestie in the face for putting me on the spot like that.
“Um… You don’t have to stay, Theo. I mean, you’re welcome to. I’m not kicking you out, but I don’t want you to think you have to stay. I’m sure you have things to do or people to see.”
Theo’s eyes bounced from me to Kayla, and then back to me. “If you’re not busy, I would love to keep you company.”
Kayla patted Theo’s shoulder like a mother praising a child. “Good. Also, she wants to watch To All the Boys I Loved Before. You okay with that?”
My jaw dropped open, and I was seconds from attacking Kayla to tape her mouth shut. I loved her for trying to set me up, but she didn’t know this guy. And neither did I. For all I knew, he could be wanted by the police. A psychopath. A serial killer.
Please be normal.