What It Seems | Wattys 2023

Chapter 26

It was 7:42PM on a Tuesday night, only four days later from our first date. Baylor decided to cook shrimp stir fry while drinking a beer.

"It smells really good," I complimented. There were at least three dozen cooked shrimp that he was adding into the mixed vegetables and sauces, and I took four of the dozens of shrimp.

"You like shrimp?" Baylor glanced at me, smiling, and I only nodded. I ate the four shrimps in at least a minute. They're so good when they're baked.

"You practically downed those in thirty seconds," Baylor laughed.

"Shrimp is great." I eyeballed more but I decided to wait because if I didn't, he'd snatch them out of my hand.

He sat the spoon down on the stove to let the shrimp marinate with the vegetables and sauces. He jumped on the island that was across the stove so he wouldn't hit the pot, making the whole meal going to waste on the floor.

"C'mere," Baylor ordered. I walked only four feet and stood beside his dangling leg. "Let me see your arm." I held a questioning look, wondering why he wanted my arm for.

"Put your arm beside mine." He held his arm in front of him, and I stood on my tip-toes to put my arm beside his.

"I have bigger biceps than you," he smirked.

I rolled my eyes. "Show off."

"Why work hard to gain muscles and not show them off?" Baylor smirked, and I curved one of my brows. He's so full of it.

"I think the only thing I've got bigger than you are my boobs," I cackled.

"And an ass," he grinned.

"Nice to know you like it," I rolled my eyes, and watched as he bit his lip while chuckling. I had the sudden urge to kiss him, but I don't have the gut.

"When's it gonna be done? I'm starved," I whined.

"I think it's done," I walked over to the stove and felt the steam beam on my face, nearly making me sweat. I picked up the stirring spoon that he stirred with and began mixing it. Baylor approached behind me. I handed him the spoon.

"You're probably gonna burn yourself. I know you almost burnt the kitchen down at your place."

"Aiden tell you that?" I asked.

"Yeah. He said to not let you near a stove, oven, microwave, or even a fridge."

"He just said that 'cause I scorched the tea bags," I scoffed.

"Do you wanna test it?" he asked. I nodded. He dipped just a tad bit of the stir fry and held it near my face. He gently placed his fingers under my chin and I opened my mouth.

"It's done, but it's super hot." I couldn't chew it or anything.

"Take a swallow of my beer," Baylor chuckled.

"I'm joking, take a sip of water." He grabbed a bottle of water from the counter by the fridge. I took it from him, twisted the cap in a hurry, and drank hurriedly to get the burning sensation from my tongue.

"My God, Adalynne. Was it that hot?" he chuckled while watching the crushed plastic bottle being thrown in the trash.

"I couldn't move my tongue around." I swallowed the chewed up food along with the water. "It's good, though," I admitted.

"I deserve a job well done," he smirked. He grabbed four bowls from the cupboard.

He handed me two bowls and sat his down on the stove. Knowing that he was going to dip mine first by the way he held the spoon to wait for my bowl to come closer, I held my bowl by the steamy pot.