Caroline

Chapter 7

Between the two of them, all of the food she had brought was eaten except for a portion of the macaroni and cheese. As her mother had before her, Caroline found it impossible to cook small. This meal would have lasted her longer than she would have been willing to eat it. She was glad that Michael had enjoyed it, and that the idea had come to her to share it with him. She caught him eying the casserole dish and said, "Would you mind keeping that last little bit? Seems a shame to just throw it out. You might want it for a snack later."

He looked at her with a smirk. "I'd be doing you a favor, huh?"

"Well, yeah. Less to carry back. Besides, I know how to make more, whereas you, apparently, don't."

"I know how to cook," he said defensively. "I just choose not to."

"And why is that?" She asked, settling back into the sofa so as to face him.

He mirrored her position. "No time, usually. Well, I don't take the time. It's too easy to get caught up in other things."

"You mean like... games?"

He gave her a large smile. "I mean exactly like games. You play?"

She shook her head. "I have played, but never really got caught up in it."

His smile lessened considerably. "You don't like gaming?"

"I don't have anything against it," she quickly assured him. "I would play with my friends when I was growing up. But then..." She trailed off and looked away.

"Then what?" He asked gently.

She looked back at his face. "Then I found myself in a more 'sophisticated' group that didn't do childish things like play games. At least, not that kind...."

He studied her silently for a moment, then asked, "What was the last game you remember playing?"

She dipped her head as there was no way to hide the blush that went with her response. "Angry Birds."

The laugh exploded out of him so forcibly, it made her jump. "I think we can do better than that," he said, rising from his seat.

"No, please!" she stopped him. "I mean... not that I don't want to... I do... "

"What is it?" He asked gently, sitting down beside her again.

She sighed and closed her eyes. "I just... " She let out a long breath. "It's obvious that gaming is important to you and I know you're probably very good at it. You don't need the frustration of someone like me slowing you down at something you enjoy so much."

He shook his head. "You..."

"And," she continued, "right now I don't need the frustration of failing at one more thing."

He fell silent again and scanned her face, looking for something. "OK," he said softly. "I'll give you a pass this time. But I would like to teach one of my games to you. Do I have a rain check?"

She nodded. "Sure. I'm sure some other time..."

"Good," he interrupted with a nod.

Her conscience prickled. He had just offered her something important to him and she had turned him down. "But hey, since you did eat my dinner for tomorrow..." She smiled at the look he threw her way. "...I'm going to have to cook again. Why don't we eat at my house?"

She didn't know what to make of the curious look he gave her then. Her smile dropped.

"Tomorrow?"

"If you'd like... if you don't have other..."

"I'd like that." Again, he interrupted her deferral. "What time?"

"Oh, uh.... is ... 6:30 too early for you?"

"Not a bit." His smile had returned, and so, she realized, had hers.

"I guess I'd better start packing things up...."

"Are you going already?" She thought she heard disappointment in his voice.

"Not until I wash up here. You wouldn't have these dirty things if it weren't for me."

"You're right, I wouldn't," he said, taking her hand. "I'll do the dishes. Don't worry about that. But I wish you wouldn't leave so soon."

"I have some things of my own to do at home. But it's nice to know I'm welcome."

She thought he was going to say something, but then he stopped and gave her that wonderful smile again.

"Let's me keep these things tonight, and I'll bring them back to you spic and span tomorrow." he said. "It's only right that if one does the cooking, the other should do the cleaning."

She couldn't help but remember teasing Derek with those same words. Sometimes they worked, though she never really meant them to. He worked so hard, after all... Her back stiffened, and she pulled her hand away.

"All right then." Her smile had become forced. "I'll let you get back to your game." She stood.

"Did I... " She couldn't miss the confusion in his expression.

"This was really nice." She cut him off. "I look forward to doing it again tomorrow."

"Yeah... me too." But he didn't sound as sure. Good. Walls and barriers were good. Hurtful things couldn't get through if the walls were thick enough.

He walked her out to her car and stood by as she started it up. "See you tomorrow, Jelly."

"Good night, Michael," she said before she backed away.