Le's Soldier

Part 45

Snow starts falling just after sunset.

Heavy. Quiet. The kind that blankets everything in soft silence.

Inside the house, though, the kitchen is chaos.

Flour dust coats the bench.

Tomato sauce splatters the counter.

And Lilly is standing in the middle of it like she's commanding a battlefield.

"Leah," she says slowly, "stop touching things."

"I'm helping."

"You're contaminating."

Leah gasps dramatically from the other side of the bench.

"I am not contaminating your pizza."

"You just tried to put ketchup on dough."

"It's tomato based!"

"It's a crime."

Leah grins, leaning back against the counter with her arms folded, watching Lilly work.

She loves this version of her.

Sleeves rolled up.

Hair tied loosely back.

Concentrating hard as she kneads the dough like she's personally offended by it.

Lilly moves carefully — the knee still stiff, still slow sometimes — but she moves with purpose.

Like this space belongs to her again.

"You're staring," Lilly mutters without looking up.

Leah doesn't even pretend to deny it.

"You're hot when you cook."

"Don't start."

"You're bossy. It's attractive."

Lilly finally glances up.

Her mouth twitches.

"You say that like you're not the captain of a football team."

"That's leadership," Leah replies proudly.

"That's shouting at referees."

"They deserve it."

Lilly snorts softly.

Leah pushes off the counter and walks over, slipping her arms loosely around Lilly's waist from behind.

Carefully.

Always careful with the scars.

Always aware of the healing body beneath her hands.

Lilly pauses, hands still dusted with flour.

"You're distracting."

"That's my job."

Leah presses a slow kiss against the side of her neck.

Lilly exhales quietly.

"Leah."

"Mm?"

"You hate everything with flavour. Why are you even here?"

Leah grins against her skin.

"I'm the moral support."

"You tried to put pineapple and barbecue sauce on the same pizza."

"It's fusion."

"It's offensive."

Leah laughs into her shoulder.

Lilly finally turns in her arms.