Mountain Love

Chapter 3 - Sunday

Qualeb was looking at me intensely which in turn made me feel nervous. I went, well technically kind of hopped, to him and smiled at him.

"Hey, I was just going to come down to ask you if you would like to eat something. I mean you haven't eaten yet. I'm not the world best cook but no one has died from eating my food so you should be safe. I was going to make some warm milk for myself if you don't mind."

Qualeb was staring at me, with a kind of puzzled look as he was trying to figure me out. After a couple of minutes he suddenly scooped me up into his strong arms to carry me down. I didn't notice before because he had been wearing a thick jumper but now that he was wearing a thin baby blue sweater, I could feel his muscles flex under my skin. It made my skin tingle and I was getting a weird feeling in my tummy.
To make things more awkward for me he turned to look at me to say something and our faces were just a breath apart. I took a breath in and Qualeb looked at my mouth which made me wet my lips. He gave a little cough and faced the stairs as he was telling me,
"If it is okay with you I wouldn't mind you cooking. I have a limited range of culinary skills so I think you might have eaten everything I can make by tomorrow. I can help you around in the kitchen but I would love it if you could cook. If it isn't too much for you. I'm alright for tonight. I might have a cup of milk with you."

I couldn't explain why but this made me really happy, maybe because I would be able to help him and return the favour or maybe because I got to cook for him.
When we got to the kitchen, Qualeb put me down on a small chair near the table. I told him the ingredients I needed to prepare for a roast chicken for the next day and he went and gathered then for me and left them on the table. He was silent the whole time and I didn't know what to make out of it.

I assumed it was because of him taking his mask off. I didn't know if he wanted me to say something or if he was trying to figure me out, what I was thinking...

As I was silently preparing the chicken, I suddenly felt a presence behind me. It startled me and I jumped and bumped into Qualeb. He caught me before I could fall. I felt so silly I could feel my face getting red. I held on to him to steady myself and then apologised.
"I'm sorry. I'm a little jumpy. Don't know how to stop it." I looked up at him and took a breath. "I...I...I...I'm really grateful for everything you have done for me and I'm so glad you took your ski mask off. Thank you."

I was fighting the urge to turn around and hug him, hug him tight because I felt like I needed his closeness. Instead I tried to stand up and move away from him a bit whilst still holding onto his arm.
When I realised I was still holding his arm I turned even more red. He was just looking down at me, not saying anything. I felt a bit awkward so I asked:
"Could you please pass me the dish in which we can leave the chicken to marinate overnight in the fridge?"

Qualeb quickly moved away from me and was looking for the dish and tray. The minute he left my side I missed him next to me. I felt ridiculous. I met this man just today, how can I miss him next to me...how could I have gotten used to him so quickly.
It felt right when he was touching me and I really wanted to stay next to him, close to him. Qualeb brought over my cup of milk and asked me,
"So usually I would either read a book or watch some movie about now. Would you like to do that or would you like to go to sleep?"

My new emotion and feelings were puzzling me and scaring me. So I decided it would be better for me to separate myself from him and go to sleep. He carried me to the bedroom, even when I protested that I could manage myself. I knew when I said it that I couldn't do it and I guess he knew that I was in no state to walk up those stairs.
After he put me down, he gave me a book nonetheless and left the room. I made myself comfortable in the bed. I didn't realise how tired I was and how tired my body was, because the second my head hit the pillow, I was asleep.