Can You Handle the Heat?

Chapter 27

After our adventure to the cave, Gaege and I decided to watch a movie. Of course, before movies we had to prepare in a few ways. I put Gaege on popcorn duty, which might have been a mistake. As I was finding the blankets and tape to make a pillow fort, I heard him start to curse,

"Shit Shit shit shit!" I walk to the kitchen to find him looking through my cabinets. The popcorn smelled like it was burning. I walk behind him as quietly as I can and place my hands on his waist.

"Whatcha' doin' babe?" He jumps and turns to look at more. He looks happy until he realizes that I'm in the room.

"You don't have to worry I got the popcorn I promise." I raised an eyebrow before looking at the pot that had what looked like black smoke coming out from under the lid. I moved the pot off the burner.

"We can work together baby. You have nothing to prove. I fully believe that you are a capable adult that can make popcorn on the stove." I saw his face start heating up, I wasn't trying to embarrass him. I reached up and placed a hand on his cheek.

"Do you mind if I help you?" I ask looking at him as compassionately as I can. He looked down at the floor and nodded. I kiss his cheek and turn back to the pot of burnt corn. I pick it up and throw out the kernels. I then walk to my fridge and grab my butter. I scoop some into the bottom of the pan. I take out a separate bowl the I put extra butter into it.

"Is there anything you want on the popcorn other than salt and butter?"

"Nah." I nod and put the butter up. I hand him the bowl of butter and point to my microwave.

"I need you to microwave the butter for 15 second intervals, until it is fully melted." I smile as he seems to perk up at the task. He walks over and does his thing while I turn back to the large pot. I grab the bottle of kernels. I pour in a good amount. I turn the heat up and stir the butter and kernels together before placing the lid on the pot.

I hear the microwave go off and Gaege opens the door. He checks it, and places it back in. This process repeats like 3 times. By the time the butter is done, the popcorn hasn't started popping.

"Just leave the butter in the microwave. I have something else you can do if you want too of course." I look at him and wait for confirmation. He walks over and looks at me expectantly.

"Well, I was wanting to make a pillow fort, but I've got my hands tied, so would you mind making us a fort? The tapes right there on the island and the blankets are upstairs in the open closet on the right." He smiles and runs upstairs. I hear him shuffling around and then see him walk downstairs with literally every blanket I own. I chuckled at his ridiculousness and turned back to the stove.

"I'm not going to make a fort; I'm going to make a castle." He shouts from the living room. The popcorn starts popping only a few minutes after he starts making the 'castle'. I wait until I'm sure the kernels are popped correctly. I grab a big mixing bowl and flip the popcorn into it. I then walk to the microwave and grab the still warm butter. I stir some salt into it and then pour it over the popcorn. I mix it gently and make my way to the living room.

Gaege had made great progress on the fort. It actually looked great. He had implemented chairs from the dining room to support the blankets. It made me remember the lights that I had stored away.

"Hey, I'm gonna go get some fairy lights. I'll be right back." I run upstairs and make my up into my attic where I store Christmas lights and such. I begin sifting through lights when I notice a box out of the corner of my eyes. I was about to open it, when I hear Gaege's voice downstairs,

"You good up there (Y/N)?" I refocused on my assignment. I'll check that out later.

"I'm fine, it just took a second to find the lights baby." I respond as I make my way downstairs to my awaiting boyfriend. The fort is set up so beautifully and has butterflies fluttering in my stomach as I look at how Gaege looks so proud of his work. I set the lights on the ground and walk around Gaege and hug him from behind. I rest my head against his back.

"You did a great job, love." His hands rest on mine that were on his stomach. I press a kiss to his spine. He walks over to the entrance of the fort and lifts up one of the blankets; motioning for me to climb inside. I do so after grabbing the popcorn. He grabs the lights and brings them in. I help him hang up the lights inside.

Once we turn them on a soft light encompasses us. It's almost like a fairytale and it has my heart fluttering. I lean over to Gaege and press a kiss to his lips. His hands cup my cheeks and he holds my face gently.

After we separated, I grabbed the remote. I find some random movie and turn it on.

We snack on popcorn and cuddle up next to each other. Eventually, I succumbed to sleep and lay my head against his chest.