When Lou woke up around 10 in the morning, she found the place deserted. The loft was too quite and she was alone. Debbie wasn't there to wake her up like she usually did.
Where is she?
Lou didn't know the answer obviously but opted out from calling Debbie to find out. Debbie is a grown up and an Ocean. Oceans are spontaneous and do things their way, and never announce whatever they are doing to whole world. Maybe Debbie is planning something.
But missing her early in the morning was well, unavoidable for Lou. She loved seeing Debbie's face first thing in the morning. The day before, she couldn't see, nor could she today. She missed that moment they usually shared. Also, she missed Debbie's mockery whenever she prepared coffee with full cream for breakfast. Lou thought for a while about Debbie's disappearance previous day and today and then decided probably it was nothing. Oceans are like that. They'll be back home by night.
Not thinking much, Lou went on with her day – buying groceries, tidying up the loft, fitting new locks on every door, lunch with Doctor Sandra May that definitely became more than just lunch thereby having their first sex, about which she briefly texted Debbie although she didn't get any vivid reply, just a 'good for you', visiting the local library to borrow some of the classic books, a short ride along the shores just to keep her old bike running, back home to prepare dinner and well, eating dinner alone because Debbie wasn't there.
Debbie on the other hand spent her day getting her fingers burnt while trying to prepare beef stroganoff. Her practice for today included beef stroganoff, fusilli, Omurice and Caeser salad. Let's be honest, even Tammy had no idea how to prepare Omurice. Both spent a lot of time trying to perfect it but failed.
"I thought you are an experienced cook with 30 years in your resume", Debbie chided.
"Home cook! And I only know limited dishes and can't cook with chopsticks! I am not Lou to learn all the delicacies existing in this world to cook for you and see you taste and enjoy them"
"I need to master this fucking omelette! But it is so... fucking hard!", Debbie sighed as she ruined one more omelette.
"Is this dish necessary? Can't we skip this one? There is no way I am able to learn in few days. Forget your inexperienced self. This is not your regular omelette. Consistency is key"
"But Lou loves this! She loves it so much. She always watches these videos. I saw the playlist and it is filled with various omelette dishes from Japanese channels"
"I don't think she will love it if she tries preparing it"
"Trust me on this, she actually knows how to prepare this"
"And you know that how?"
"She said so herself. The other day when I was talking to her in order to figure out the menu, she said to me she can prepare this omelette and rice. She learnt it and many other dishes too when I was in prison. She was too bored at times and well, she had gone straight, so couldn't loot a casino. So, she cooked and at times sent to prison so I can eat tasty home-made food"
"She cooked for you instead of getting laid. Now, what does that tell you?", Tammy asked with a knowing grin.
"That she loves cooking?"
"50% of your statement is true. 'She loves' is the truth. Cooking? Yes, but there is something... or someone whom she loves more. And that someone was the one in prison for whom she was cooking tasty home-made food. I know you are smart, Ocean"
"Not again. Tammy, Lou is my best friend"
"No, she is a lot more than a best friend. And you know it. She knows it. We all know it. You two just need to tell that out loud. What is stopping you from saying it out loud?"
