Harry's POV
Since Athena was discharged from the hospital, her health has been good and her baby is doing well. I'm most relieved and happy that she is feeling better and getting back into good physical condition.
Today is a special day. It's Athena's birthday. I know she may not realize it because her mind is probably occupied with the baby, but Ryle, Cindy, and I all remember it.
I head to the kitchen to find Cindy. She's about to finish making Athena's favorite salad, and then moves on to the next dish.
"Can I cook, too?" I ask as I watch her cutting the fat off the chicken with practiced hands.
"I'm fine cooking alone," she answers, smiling.
"No, it's Athena's birthday, so I want to cook for her."
There's a grin on Cindy's face that tells everything she's thinking. "Alright, but make sure to avoid raw fish and undercooked things."
Then she goes to the other table in the kitchen, takes out a sponge cake that has been chilled in the refrigerator, and puts chocolate cream on top of it. From there she starts decorating.
I, on the other hand, take out the huge salmon that I have stored in the refrigerator. I proceed to make the dish while looking at the recipe card that I researched beforehand.
1. Brine. First, brine the salmon in a simple brine of brown sugar and kosher salt in a 2-to-1 ratio for 1 to 2 hours, then wipe off any excess liquid with paper towels.
2. Prepare an indirect-heat smoker at 225 degrees Fahrenheit with alder wood chips and a water drip pan for smoking.
3. Place salmon skin side down on rimmed foil and transfer to the smoker.
4. Smoke until internal temperature reaches 60°C.
5. Let rest for 5 minutes and serve.
Done!
It took me a few hours, but I'm glad I was able to finish making it before dinner.
Looking at Cindy's side, the cake is already made and stored in the refrigerator, and the soup and gratin are ready. And all the food looks really good.
Ryle comes to the kitchen, looking at the dishes. "Wow, these look awesome!" He starts to take pictures of them. "Are you guys ready for the surprise party?"
Both of us nod, and the three of us work together to put the food on the big table in the living room. The cake is supposed to be eaten after dinner, so we keep it in the refrigerator until that time.
"Harry," Ryle calls me, handing me a blindfold. "Athena is upstairs in her room, so I want you to escort her up here. After she finishes going down the stairs, put this blindfold over her eyes and bring her to this living room."
As I nod, Cindy opens her mouth to warn me. "Stairs are dangerous, so hold her steady. And after she's blindfolded, you make sure to bring her here without a scratch. You need to be so careful because she has such a big belly that it's not safe for her to just bump into anywhere."
"I know, Cindy. I'll be very much careful to hold her." I put my hand on her shoulder to reassure her. "I'll go get her then," I say as I walk out of the kitchen.
I go upstairs and reach the room. I open the door slowly, and see a birthday girl studying very hard on the bed. It makes me smile to see her studying like this, which is very much like her. She is beautiful even when she studies, and I can't help but admire her.
YOU ARE READING
Enemies with Benefits (Harry Styles)
Fanfiction[EDITING] THEN: Athena Scott always had excellent grades in high school, is pretty on the outside, and was admired by many people. However, due to her parents' divorce when she was young, she had been living with her mother, with whom she did not ge...
