Ain't Shady Baby, I'm Hot

10

I heard knocking on the front door and continued to ignore it. Hoping my mom or Gray would come and get it. However, when the knocking continued over a ten minute interval, I vaguely remembered the detail of my mom leaving to go to the grocery store and Gray not getting back from work. I spared a second at my watch and frowned as I realized my five minutes turned into another hour.

Begrudgingly I uncurled from my spot on the rug and crawled over to the door, my hand grabbing the doorknob and the window framing to help me stand up as I kept my blanket tight around me like a cloak.

"Gray, I swear if you forgot your keys again I'm gonna tape them to your forehead." I grumbled as I fumbled with the locks. "As someone who should be asleep- ugh." I opened the door and nearly shut it when I saw who was there.

"Damn, Darling, you look... cozy." I didn't bother to entertain the tall blond as I pulled the blanket around me tighter.

"What can I do you for, Rafe?" My voice was the sound of defeat as I was too tired to do anything.

"Oh yup, you're sick alright." I just stared. "Sorry, uh, Rose made Wheezie some soup and she had too much. So I brought some for you." I held back my grimace as I tried a smile. "But I know you don't eat soup so I also brought you some pasta and chicken." My stomach perked up at the mention of actual food.

"I- um, why?" I watched the wind pull his hair slightly, the chill of the night too much for me. "Wait, uh, just come in. It's chilly out there." He went to speak but thought better of it.

"Xena, it's not chilly out." I shushed him as I closed the door, my hands unfurling from the blanket as I took the paper bag as a peace offering.

"I'm sick. Hot is cold and cold is hot." He laughed as I walked into the kitchen. "I'm literally wearing an oversized hoodie and sweats under this." I added drifting around the corner.

"You can follow me. I'm too tired to try and pick a fight right now."

"Whoa, shit, maybe I need to get you sick more often." I set the bag down and looked at the amazed blond.

"What did you say?" He grimaced sheepishly and scratched the back of his head.

"Yeah, uh, so I accidentally got Wheezie sick and then in effect you." I narrowed my eyes and chucked a banana at him from the fruit bowl. "Hey." He had the audacity to look offended. "I brought you dinner as an apology."

"If this pasta tastes bad I'm keying your car."

"It won't." I kept my narrowed eyes on him as he leaned back against the wall, a smug smile crossing his features as I took the pasta container from the bag and pulled out a fork.

The container had steam built up inside it showing the food was still hot as I opened the lid and got a few pieces on my fork. I gave it a gentle blow before eating it. My eyes widening as I swallowed the bowtie pasta and slice of chicken covered in red sauce.

"Where did you get this?" I was going back in for another bite when his smirk widened. "Like seriously, I've had my fair share of pasta but I've never tasted something that made me want to kiss the chef." I murmured with my hand over my mouth as I chewed.

"I made it." The fork was in my mouth when I froze, eyes wide as I looked at the proud male across from me. My eyes blinking as I looked at the pasta then at Rafe then back at the pasta before swallowing what I had in my mouth.

"Have I told you that I hate you?"

"Many times. Although, you did mention something about wanting to kiss the chef." I felt a pout form at my lips as I poked at the food.

"It's really good." I nearly cried as I pulled open the trash bin, my hands going to grab the container. "You actually made this?"

"100 percent homemade by me." I sighed.

"Homemade." I whimpered quietly, the container now in my hands as I lifted it up and when to throw it away.

"Wait! Stop!" He was quick, his body springing off the wall and to my side. His hands held mine as he kept me from dropping the container into the trash. "I didn't do anything wrong to it. I used my mom's recipe. She...she always made the best foods. Pasta was both of our favorites." I saw the vulnerability in his eye as he gently set the container back on the island.

"Do you have more of your mom's recipes?" Our eyes were locked as the blanket started slipping from my shoulders.

"She left me her entire cookbook."

"Do you like to cook?" His hands rose and fixed the blanket tighter around my shoulders. I let him.

"Only when it matters." He stepped away breaking our eye contact. "I'll let you get back to eating. Then once you're all healthy again we can go back to hating each other."

I didn't say anything as I set my fork down and led him to the door. My mind fuzzy as I wanted to thank him for the gesture but also shove him out the door.

Come on, Xena! It's the same guy who torments your boys and dukes it out with you.

"Right. Well, the next time I'm over to help Wheezie, leave us be. Seeing you really is my least favorite activity." I heard him scoff as I opened the door, rushing him out.

"Don't worry, the only reason I was reading was because I was still recovering from being sick."

"You dick!" I wanted to throw something at him but I had nothing in reach. His maniacal laughter echoed on his way to his truck. "Hey, Cameron!" He turned, his hand on top of his truck as he went to climb in, "did Daddy buy you a new truck?"

"I'll see you around, Tallen." He sent me a wink, ignoring my taunt, then saluted me with his middle finger raised. My mouth dropping as he stole my move.

"I'd rather claw out my eyes."

"Oh and hey, tell your boys they should be careful fighting with fire." I stepped out of the house. Seriousness setting in.

"What the hell does that mean?" I threatened fully prepared to defend my friends.

"Just get your boys in line, Darling. And let's hope neither of us have to find out." He called out before driving off. I shook my head as I watched him tear down the road, not believing that the male had gone from bringing me apology-pasta to threatening my friends.

"God he is such a prick."

"I don't think pricks make people dinner." I screamed bloody murder as I turned to see Gray wearing his pajamas.

"What the fuck are you doing here?"

"Um. I pay rent here, meaning I live here too."

"You've been here the whole time?" I walked back into the house as he goes back to his bedroom.

"We both have." My eyes widened as I realized what he said.

"AND NEITHER OF Y'ALL THOUGHT TO GET THE DOOR?"

All I heard was their joint laughter as Gray closed the bedroom door. My head sagging in defeat. I snagged my phone from the couch and went back to eating my pasta and chicken.

Angrily, eating my pasta, might I add.

Blockheads + Kie

I'm alive,
I'm out until the fever clears.
What did I miss?
Xena-Bobina, Wifey, Babe, T

Well. John B found a compass.
Hub

It's his dad's compass, JJ,
we talked about this.
Boo

Thanks Kie, yeah, so we found my Dad's old compass.
B

And that's it so far.
Pope-ronni

Well aren't y'all lame.
Xena-Bobina, Wifey, Babe, T

I laughed at the middle finger emojis as they all sent them. It was after all the only correct response.