The Undergrowth

Chapter 6: Origami Bread

 I stop at the grocery store and pick up a few groceries on the way home. I grab stuff for spaghetti, including everything I need for my homemade sauce. I'm not sure what my roommates usually do for dinner, but I thought I would give them the option of having something besides a ham sandwich or ramen noodles.

I'm in the kitchen mixing up the ingredients for my sauce when Felicity bounces in.

"Hey, Amelia. Something smells good. How was your day?" She opens the fridge and grabs a Coke. "My day was wonderful. I escorted three school groups through the museum before lunch and after that Torrin and I worked on the new exhibit. You have to come see it when it's done. It's going to be awesome."

My ears are ringing and my head is spinning trying to keep up with her chatter.

"Felicity," I stop her from starting another monologue. "I just realized I forgot something at the store. Would you be able to go get it for me?"

"Sure."

"Okay, I need some Origami bread. Just look around for it. I'm not sure which aisle it will be on."

"You've got it. Origami bread coming up." She bounces down the hall and I hear the front door shut.

I'm a terrible person. I shouldn't have sent her on a fool's errand. But I needed just a little bit of me time. Harper and Chad knew not to bother me while I was cooking. I do what I always do and pop an earbud in my ear and fire up my playlist.

I keep one out so I can hear anyone who might sneak up on me. I'm stirring my sauce and moving my hips and singing along to the music in my ear. I turn to grab the butter out of the fridge and startle.

"Jesus," I take out the earbud. Liam is leaning up against the kitchen door frame, his hands in the pockets of his khakis. How does he keep sneaking up on me?

"What are you doing here?"

"I had to talk to Ebon about something." He says. I wonder what they had to talk about since it seems like they hate each other. "And I decided to stay for the show." His grin spreads over his face.

I throw the dish towel at him and he laughs at it falls to the floor.

"Smells good." he motions his head to the stove.

"My secret sauce." I give it a stir. "Thought I would cook for the roomies. Are you staying?"

"Nah, I need to get going."

"Okay, well," I dip the ladle into the sauce and pull some out. "Come taste this and tell me if it's okay."

He pushes off the door frame and saunters over. I hold my hand under the ladle and he leans forward and takes a bite.

His eyes widen. "Holy shit, that's delicious."

A smile spreads across my lips. I always like it when people enjoy my food, but I especially like it that he did.

"So, are you staying for dinner?" I ask again. I realize I want him to stay. I hadn't seen Ebon since I had been home but he was obviously here if Liam had come to talk to him. And now that I was thinking about it, a dinner with Ebon and Felicity didn't seem that appealing.

He laughs. "I believe I am."

"Oh my god, Amelia." Felicity burst into the kitchen. "I'm so sorry, I looked all over the store for Origami bread. And I couldn't find it. I even asked someone and they had no idea what I was talking about."

The timer on the oven dings. "It's okay. I have garlic bread." I open the oven door and pull out the toasted bread. "Dinner is ready. Can you set the table?"