By the time they arrived home, the clock was nearing midnight. The house was quiet, shrouded in darkness except for the faint glow of the security lights. William and Luana entered, their steps heavy with exhaustion.
After their showers, they emerged in their comfiest clothes. William in a loose black tee and sweatpants, and Luana in a baggy sweatshirt and shorts, covered with pepper prints.
He made his way to his office, hair slightly damp, and sat at his desk to review some files.
Not long after, Luana appeared at the doorway. "I'm hangry," she announced dramatically.
"You're always hangry," he muttered, but he stood up nonetheless.
They walked to the kitchen, and he flipped on the lights. "What do you want to eat?"
"Lasagna," she said, her eyes lighting up.
William arched an eyebrow. "At midnight?"
"You asked."
He sighed again, pulling ingredients from the fridge. "Fine. But if you complain about how long it takes, I'm sending you hangry to bed."
"Noted," she said, hopping onto the counter to watch him.
He began assembling the lasagna, moving with practiced ease. Luana watched, her chin resting on her hands, before hopping down. "I'll help."
"You? Help?"
"Yes, here I am to improve it," she teased.
He handed her an apron with a skeptical look. "Alright. But if you burn down my kitchen, you're paying for the repairs."
"I'm not that bad," she said, tying an apron around her waist.
"Debatable," he quipped, smirking.
As they worked, the kitchen filled with the sound of clinking utensils and bubbling sauce. Luana followed William's instructions.
"What's next?" she asked, holding a spoon dripping with tomato sauce.
"Spread the sauce evenly over the noodles," he replied, busy grating cheese.
Luana, unable to resist, dipped her finger into the sauce and flicked a dollop onto William's face.
"Oops," she said innocently, stifling a giggle.
He froze, blinking slowly. "Did you just—?"
She burst into laughter. "You look ridiculous!"
"You're going to regret that," he said, grabbing a handful of flour, "Run."
She squealed, darting around the kitchen as he chased her. "William! You're going to make a bigger mess!"
"Too late," he said, finally cornered her.
"Truce?" she asked breathlessly, holding up her hands.
"Yeah, sure," He smirked, smearing it across her cheek.
They returned to cooking, she surprisingly managed to layer the lasagna correctly under his guidance. He helped her with the final steps, occasionally teasing her about her clumsiness.
When it was ready, they slid it out of the oven and set it on the counter. Too impatient to properly clean up, they sat on the kitchen floor amidst the mess, sharing the dish straight from the pan with forks.
"This is surprisingly good," Luana said between bites.
"You mean I'm surprisingly good," William corrected.
YOU ARE READING
Mixed blood
RomanceFor generations, two rival mafia families have been locked in a brutal war, leaving behind a trail of blood and vengeance. But when the weight of endless conflict threatens to destroy them both, an unthinkable truce is proposed: a union by marriage...
