Chapter 39 Friends

Christian

Ten Years Ago

The girl breezed past me. Her hair brushed against my arm as she headed for the kitchen. I followed her, feeling a mixture of embarrassment and annoyance.

"Wow, you really did a number on this place," she said, waving her hand in front of her face to clear the smoke. "Have you ever cooked before?"

I bristled at her question, my pride once again getting the better of me. "Of course I have," I lied, crossing my arms over my chest. "I just got distracted, that's all."

She gave me a knowing look, her lips twitching with amusement. "Distracted, huh? By what, exactly?"

I felt my face heat up beneath the mask, and I was suddenly grateful for the covering. The truth was, I had been staring at her outside the window while cooking, but there was no way I could admit that.

"It's nothing," I mumbled, hoping she would drop the subject.

To my relief, she simply shrugged and turned her attention back to the kitchen. "Well, lucky for you, I know a thing or two about cooking. L