The Man He Chose

Chapter 32

A/N: The image above does not belong to me. It belongs to the person who uploaded it on the internet.

Cooheart's POV

I parked my car behind Title's car in his driveway and got out to join him and his mom inside their house.

I watched as Title gently laid Cocoa on his soft bed in one corner of the living room.

I crouched beside Cocoa's bed and lightly stroked his fur.

"I will prepare some afternoon snacks for us," Title's mom announced.

I stood up from my crouching position and followed Mrs. Puangmalee into her kitchen.

"Can I help you with anything?" I asked.

"I'll be fine, thanks," she replied. "Go and stay with Title and help him to monitor Cocoa's condition."

"Okay, mom," I said and went back to the living room where Title was still squatting beside Cocoa and stroking him gently.

"How is Cocoa doing now?" I asked Title as I squatted beside him and observed Cocoa carefully.

"He seems to be sleeping comfortably now," Title replied.

"Good," I said.

"Let's watch something on TV," Title suggested, getting up from the floor and walking towards the couch.

"Sure," I said, "but let's continue to observe Cocoa every now and then."

"Of course," Title agreed.

Title picked up the remote from the coffee table and turned the TV set on.

There was a talk show going on and the topic seemed to be all about how to keep your partner interested in you.

During a pause in the show, Title turned to me and said, "If I were your partner, you would never have to make any effort to keep me interested in you."

I hit him lightly on his arm.

"I'm just saying the truth," Title said in all seriousness.

Just at that moment Title's mom came into the living room with a tray of ice cold drinks and a platter of pastries.

"I have made some mini crab cakes for all of us," she announced as she set the tray on the coffee table.

"Ooh, thank you so much, mom!" I said clasping my hands together in excitement and anticipation.

I did not notice the loving and indulgent smile on Title's face as he watched me take one mini crab cake and popping the whole thing into my mouth.

"Go on and take some, Title," Mrs. Puangmalee urged her son who just continued to stare at me.

"How come you address me only as Title while you address Cooheart as 'son'?" Title complained to his mom.

"Oh be quiet and eat your snack," Mrs. Puangmalee scolded her son as she took a mini crab cake for herself.

"This tastes so good," I gushed as I  chomped on the delicious pastry.

Since Title didn't make any move to take one of the mini crab cakes, I picked up and placed it close to his mouth.

"Say aahhh," I said to him.

He willingly opened his mouth and I shoved the pastry into it.

I did not notice Mrs. Puangmalee watching me appreciatively.

"I'm guessing this is mango juice," I said as I picked up one of the tall frosted glasses from the tray.

"You're absolutely right," Title's mom said with a smile.

I drank thirstily from it.

Title didn't realize just how lucky he was to have a mother like Mrs. Puangmalee who had magic hands in the kitchen.

By the time we had finished our afternoon snacks, the TV show was also drawing to a close.

"So what did you learn from the talk show topic?" Mrs. Puangmalee asked me.

Before I could answer, Title said, "That Cooheart should stay and be my partner again, and this time for the rest of our lives."

I had just finished sipping the last few drops of the mango juice and found myself swallowing them down the wrong pipe.

When I started to cough, Mrs. Puangmalee tapped on the back of my neck.

"Never drop a bombshell when someone is in the act of swallowing," she scolded Title.

I thought she had finished talking, but she followed it with "Even if it's the truth."

I started to cough once more.