Settling Slowly

Chapter 15 - All For Love

Somehow Dan slept all the way through to the next morning. Mum and Dad fell asleep again in the mid afternoon so I didn't feel so bad going over to Grigory's house that night laptop in hand, chef's hat (figuratively) on. I had planned on rummaging around in his freezer, but found some fish out on the back unit. I booted up my laptop and typed 'quick fish dishes' into Google and only looked around for a few minutes because Grigory was going to be home soon. Unable to decide I the end did ibble obble chocolate bobble ibble obble out and ended up with something that struck me as Spanish or Mediterranean.

A quick search of the cupboards revealed all the necessary ingredients and I got straight to cooking. I wasn't the most adept chef, but the recipe was easy to follow and the only hitch in the plan was when Grigory got home a couple of minutes before it was ready. I froze as I was stirring the sauce. I heard Grigory mutter something and then his quick purposeful steps come towards the kitchen.

"No!" I gasped and darted to the door which I quickly closed.

"Zoey?" he asked. "Zoey?"

"You can't come in yet!" I gabbed out, head resting on the door.

"Wh – Are you cooking?"

"Yeah," I sighed. "I wanted it to be ready when you got back."

"It's ok. I can wait."

I sighed again but went back over to the cooker and resumed stirring the sauce and had a quick taste. I smiled at its near perfection and checked the pasta again. Another minute and it would be done. I laid the table and then served up making sure to not spill anything and that the food looked good in the bowls. It was just a simple fish, pasta and sauce affair, but it looked scrummy.

I walked over to the door and I felt an odd pang of nervousness before I opened it. I told myself I was being stupid, it was only a meal after all, and pulled it open. Grigory was sat on the sofa sipping water from a sports bottle and had a leaflet in his hands.

"It's ready," I said.

He looked up and smiled at me. "You didn't have to."

I shrugged. "I figure since you got me ice cream..."

He walked over to me, so calm and self assured I was jealous. He was right about how I didn't hesitate when I did things, but that didn't for one second mean I didn't get nervous or scared. I wasn't scared now, but my heart was going ten to the dozen and I really, really hoped he liked it.

"Smells delicious," he said and kissed me sweetly.

Hand in hand as if we were in a restaurant we walked over to the table.

"Ta da," I said but without much pizzazz. "I found the wine whilst I was cooking and thought it would go nice, but if you're saving it, it's ok."

"It looks great," he said and moved to pull my chair out.

No one had ever held a chair out for me before unless they were making a joke about my clumsiness and were guiding me into it. This wasn't one of those times at all and the gesture made me go all mushy on the inside. Keeping a fool's smile to myself I sat down.

He sat too and poured half glasses of wine. I guess I should have felt a little guilty about drinking on a school night, but I didn't. I was on a sort of date with my boyfriend and I knew how to limit myself. I was good at limiting myself even. Not that I had to limit myself in the end. Grigory put the wine in the fridge once he'd seen the guilt cross my face.

"Hiding temptation?" I asked lightly.

"It's been a tough day, the kind where you want to indulge yourself. But," he sighed. "I have work tomorrow."