Simulated Love (2024)

Chapter 25

Elijah

Since Chase and I only had a few days with each other, I wanted to make each day count and by the end of it all, I wanted to ask him to be mine.

I made sure to wake up before Chase so I could cook us breakfast. The pancake batter bubbled in the pan as the bacon cracked, and the scent of butter danced in the air as I moved around the kitchenette. 

I was humming a random song that seemed to belong to that moment only. Through all the soft noise, I could hear Chase shuffling in bed.

"You're making us breakfast?" He asked as he rested his head in the pocket of my shoulder. He seemed to be half asleep and his hair was adorably tousled.

"What does it look like?"

"I don't know. Maybe you like to eat a lot for breakfast. Americans are known for their big breakfasts."

"I have to watch my form. I haven't been to the gym in a while."

He kissed my shoulder as he came up behind me. "Gym or no gym, you're still sexy."

I smirked. "Go sit down. Food is ready."

Chase sat at the small table as the sunlight streamed through the window. I sat down after placing all the food on the table. I made my momma's special pancakes that were fluffy and golden. I couldn't wait for Chase to give them a try. My coffee cup warmed my hands, as I watched Chase inhale my food.

"You know I don't just make these special pancakes for anyone. These are my momma's special pancakes. It takes be back to Sunday mornings, before church. I never really cared to go to church, I just cared about the pancakes.

Between bites, he said, "I can see why. These are amazing."

I started to eat with him. "Mhm."

He smiled with a crumb of bacon on the corner of his mouth. "Well, I feel special because these pancakes taste amazing."

I reached over the table to wipe his mouth and smiled at his comment. "I'm glad."

After breakfast, we went into the bathroom which had white tiled floors and gleaming mirrors, to brush our teeth.

I stood at the sink with my toothbrush in hand as foam clung to my lips when Chase joined me, our reflections side by side.

Our elbows touched as we brushed our teeth together.

"Bet you I can finishing brushing my teeth before you," Chase challenged.

I spat. "This isn't a race."

"Winner gets a kiss."

I smirked. A plan immediately forming in my head. "Okay. Ready when you are."

"Now!" He said as he started to scrub his teeth.

All I had to do was rinse my mouth, so I did just that before I spat into the sink and said, "Done." I smiled at him, rubbing in my victory.  "Where's my kiss?"

Chase held his mouth opened as he looked at me from the mirror. "That's not fair."

"How? I was already brushing my teeth, so I was pretty much finished when you came in."

He spat and with his lips still covered in foam, he tried to pull my face to his lips for a kiss.

"Aye. Aye. Aye. Back up," I said trying to push him away. He was a lot stronger than I had expected.

"Let me kiss you," he begged.

"Wipe your lips first."

"No. I want this kiss to be as fresh as possible."