I slowly opened my eyes, the brightness from the window blinding me for a second. I rubbed my face to force myself awake.
I took note that I was warm and comfortable, laying on my side with my head on something hard. A warm hand tangled in my hair I turned slowly and looked up.
Archer was sleeping sitting up and his head was in an uncomfortable position resting on the back of the sofa. I suddenly felt guilty, he had been laying in an uncomfortable position all night because I fell asleep on him.
I slowly rose to my knees as to not disturb him and placed a small pillow under his head, it was a heavy and a feat that I managed to lift it with one arm and not wake him.
I decided to go in the kitchen and make him breakfast as a thanks for last nights dinner and the magical place he had taken me too. Upon opening his fridge, it was stacked with food. A far cry from my own flat. He had a section for vegetables, canned drinks, stacks of milk. How the hell could he eat all of that by himself?
I chose some eggs, turkey bacon, some vegetables and toast. I wasn't much of a cook but I was a pro at making eggs. Most of my childhood was spent eating eggs as a substitute for other proteins.
My old neighbor a man in his mid 40's had two chickens in his yard. He was a single father to two daughters who liked to paint. When I was about 13 he asked me to babysit his daughters. And to teach them to paint illusions and all I knew about painting and in return I would get eggs, I still don't know how he knew I could paint.
In a town where not a lot of people had extra money to splurge on most things were limited to trade.
I would've done it for free. But I had to eat something and with my mothers main focus being drugs I took him up on his offer. The whole family were sweet and along the way I think they became a sort of a relief and escape from my own house. By the time I was leaving the little girls had grown into teenagers. But I still 'babysat' them, because we had all grown as close as we could over the years. And I think Mr. Hamlinton didn't mind loosing a few eggs a week.
I looked at the clock above the oven it was 9:30am. I hoped he slept a little longer so I could finish everything. I started on the turkey bacon. I didn't really eat such things, but I decided Archer might appreciate it if he had bought it. While that was frying I whisked the eggs, added a splash of milk, some seasonings and cut up some mushrooms and spinach.
I decided to start by throwing the mushrooms in the pan first, I think they would need to be soft before adding anything else.
By the time breakfast was done, the island set, and the dishes I'd used done. I was debating on if I should wake Archer or save him a plate. I stood hesitant in middle of the kitchen when I saw him start to stir, I let out a breath of relief. Some people weren't morning people and I was glad that I hadn't been the one to wake him.
He quickly snapped his head towards me as if he felt my presence and knew exactly where I was stood. He looked confused.
"Morning, I made breakfast. Come have a seat"
I smiled."Morning baby, you did? You really didn't have to." He started rising from the sofa without a care in the world.
My breath hitched, the resulting blush that came over me made me want to melt into a puddle. His raspy voice and that word in combination made my insides feel like a stampede of feral animals where having a party.
I think his brain was still foggy from sleep as he didn't comment on it. Or maybe it was just an American thing? Like how people here sometimes called everyone "love".
I cleared my throat as he approached and avoided his eyes. "It's okay I didn't mind."
We took our seats at the same time.
"Wow, this looks really good." He said looking around at what he would choose first.
"Yeah?" I asked hesitantly, my cheeks burning "I mean the bacon is a little burnt." In truth it was an understatement, it was burnt to the crisp, and getting the grease out of the pan took a while.
He chuckled shrugging, "I don't mind, it adds more flavor, I appreciate any meal you would've made. Regardless of if it was all burnt."
"That's good seeing as I can't cook much else." I said a little dejection seeping through my voice.
"I can teach you if you want, I am by no means a chef. But I know a thing or two." He said.
"Really?" Maybe if he taught me, I could stop living of off noodles and honestly quite crap food. Not that I could afford to splurge on nutritious food living of off of student loans. But maybe in the future I could take him up on his offer. And I wouldn't have to waste food because I'd burnt it. I was about to say something less detrimental to my pride. When he picked up his fork.
"Yeah no worries, let's eat." He took a bite of the omelette first. And started nodding his head as we'd done last night.
I giggled "I see that sleep didn't help with your thieving tendencies." I joked.
He swallowed " I liked your rating system, nodding really conveys the standards of the meal. But in truth it was really good, you'll make a great little cook mentee." He added with amusement.
"Okay sensei." I said sarcastically eating my food.
It wasn't until I tried a piece of bacon that I knew I had a long road ahead of me in my cooking journey.
YOU ARE READING
Her eyes
RomanceWhen a lonely girl crosses paths with the guy that is willing to do anything for her and the universe feels irrevocably changed. ••• The first day of my second year at Cambridge university, and I s...