Loved & Loyal | 1

xxi

We laid down after that, and Abby and I drifted off to sleep for another hour until the sun was actually up. Well, Abby went to sleep. But I couldn't. Not after that dream. I just laid there and listened to the sound of her breath and the feel of her body heat keeping me from getting cold. I felt like I had to assure myself she was okay.

When I woke up from the nightmare, my body drenched in sweat and my heart pounding, my first thought was Abby. I checked her face for the bruise I saw in my dream, any marks from the ropes tying her to the pole, or any other bodily damage.

I was so scared I was going to lose her, I was frantic. I couldn't stop myself from telling her I loved her, even if she only thought it was as friends.

As long as she was okay, I was fine. I just hoped that lasted a while because I couldn't stand myself if being around her hurt me. I couldn't handle that. She was my everything and I meant it when I told her.

When the sun was properly up, we got out of bed slowly and went downstairs. My parents were still sleeping so I decided to make breakfast for everyone. I hope I can get Abby to help. She thought she couldn't cook but she wasn't bad. She was leagues better than Mom and if she had to cook she would. She just didn't love it as much as Dad and I.

"Abby, can you get out the bacon?"

"Sure, Bear." When she got it from the freezer attached to the fridge, she turned to me expectantly as I got out the eggs from beside her.

"What now?"

"Get a pan and put it on the range."

"Which one?"

"The big one so we can use the same pan for the eggs."

"But, Ben, they'll get all greasy!" I sighed in exasperation and turned to face her. I had the toaster in one hand and the eggs in my other.

"Fine. Get the medium one and put the bacon package in the microwave on defrost for a few minutes."

"OK." She grinned at me from across the kitchen and I couldn't help but smile back as I felt my stomach twist in a funny way. WTF?

I put the toaster on the island and set the eggs down beside it. Next, I got out the bowl we used for pancakes along with the flour, milk, and other ingredients.

I heard the microwave ding and heard it pop open, followed seconds later by Abby saying, "Ouchy!"

"It's hot, sweetheart." I smiled at her, my voice dripping with sass.

"Thank you, Captain Obvious, shall I put that in the flight plan?"

"No, Sergeant Sarcasm, that's quite all right." We burst out laughing at each other but I quieted us down when I remembered my parents were still asleep.

I put all the ingredients into the bowl in the correct order and started to whisk it. I looked to Abby who was standing at the range, cooking gloves on because she was afraid of getting burnt, 'taking a break' to watch me as I flexed my bicep, mixing the batter.

"Close your mouth, honey. You might catch flies."

She stuck her tongue at me, "Yeah, you wish I was drooling over you."

I snorted, thinking how right she was, and continued whipping up the batter, then poured it on to the grill I had plugged in and turned on earlier. I poured the batter into six circles on the black surface then put the bowl down and got out my favourite spatula. Yes, I have a favourite spatula. Who doesn't?

"Okay, the bacon's cooked."

"Great, Abby. Now get a plate and paper towel, pour out the grease from the pan, then use a fork to lift the bacon onto the paper towel covering the plate. Dry the bacon off a bit and then set it on the island. You can do the eggs now."

She did as ordered and started making the eggs. "How do you want them done, Chef Elliots?"

"Easy-over, Chef Wesley." I tried to go for posh but ended up just being British.

Abby turned to look at me and bent over, laughing so hard she had tears in her eyes.

"Hey! Watch the eggs! They cook fast," I grumbled. It wasn't that bad, was it?

"So-sorry. You just sounded so funny! You need to work on your accents, Bear," She laughed. The last part, she said in her extremely convincing British accent. At least for a Canadian. Not sure what actual Brits though of it.

While I was waiting for the six pancakes to be flipped, I put a four slices of toast in the toaster, making sure the setting was on golden brown.

I flipped the pancakes, then got a plate to pile them on to. When the other side was cooked I flipped them onto the plate and set it down. I poured the last of the batter onto the grill, making five more medium pancakes.

"How do you make them so round?" Abby asked from beside me.

"It's all in the pour. How are the eggs?" I asked.

Abby, distracted, replied with a, "Eggs? What eggs?" Her voice still filled with wonder.

"The eggs you were cooking like a minute ago." Abby looked up at me now, her face going from surprised to sheepish.

"Oops..." Just then, I smelt something burning.

"Abby!"

"Sorry! You know I can't cook!"

"Liar! You can so! You just don't pay enough attention. Ms. Queen-of-being-distracted."

"If I'm a queen then shouldn't you address me as 'Your Highness'?"

"No, because you're a pain in my Royal Hiney!"

"Hey!" She protested. We laughed really loud, this time arousing my parents from their bedroom.

We were still in stitches when they walked into the kitchen.

"Ooo, I smell pancakes!" Mom squealed.

"I smell bacon!" Dad said even more enthusiastically as Mom.

This only made me and Abby laugh harder. We were leaning on each other in the middle of the kitchen, holding our stomachs. Before I had stopped, Abby jabbed her fingers into my sides, causing me to burst into harder laughter and jump away from her before she could start tickling me again.

We fooled around the kitchen as Dad took care of the burnt eggs and Mom set the table.

When everything was ready, Abby and I were out of breath and ready for food. Sitting down across from each other at the square table we used for smaller meals, we dug in, putting pancakes, toast, and bacon on our plates and pouring glasses of orange juice or milk.