Long Time, No See

IIIII: III

Denver

"You are the sun, ...You ARE the rain, ... That makes my life this foolish game.

You need to know I love you so...

And I'd do it all again and again..."

The soulful serenading of Lionel Richie plays in the background on Nigel's wall-mounted speaker whilst I dance around the kitchen space.

I roll up the arms of my white button-up shirt, that I hadn't yet changed from since getting off from work, and put on the burgundy red oven gloves, hung on the handle of the sleek black oven currently producing an earthy, warm glow and tantalizing scent from within.

Opening it up, I bring out the homemade pizza that I'd prepared in honor of my special guest's appearance later on for tonight and walk with it into the dining room to place on the round wooden block-like plate to cool on.

Mmmm... Nothing beats a classic Neapolitan style pizza.

At the same moment, Nigel, who had come in from work about three hours ago and immediately crashed from the exhaustion caused by his long shift, walks into the dining room as well. Stretching his arms above his head whilst walking over to the table I watch in horror as he goes for the pizza cutter I'd arranged nicely on the table and almost succeeds in cutting into the pizza before I violently go to stop him.

His eyes go wide at my attempt to slap his hands away, only thwarted by his quick reaction time.

"Woah Den! What gives I want pizza." He cries incredulously but jumps back when I send a glare in his direction.

"It's not for now." I scold him and he rolls his eyes before sitting at one of the seats at the table.

"Right, right. It's for you and your 'girlfriend', how could I forget?" He drolls sarcastically, whilst picking up a fork and analyzing it in the light.

A small blush stains my cheeks at his comment and I turn away from him before walking off, trying desperately to sound casual as I reply.

"She is not my 'girlfriend' ".

From the dining area, I hear him scoff, whilst I reach into the fridge for the salad I'd also prepared earlier.

"Yeah, right! Don't give me that crap Denver. She's all you seem to talk about anymore. If you're not grumbling about her not talking to you, you're bothering me about something funny she said or did to you during the week! I honestly can't decide whether I liked it more when she wasn't talking to you or not." He chides snarkily and then it's my turn to roll my eyes, which I do as I walk with the salad to the dining area.

"If I didn't know you any better Nige, I'd say you're sounding a little bit jealous over there." I tease holding up my left pointer finger and thumb at a minute distance apart from one another to illustrate my point.

He releases a loud dramatic whine from where he's sitting, pretending to break into tears at my revelation.

"Well, of course, I'm jealous!" He cries, and in-between fake hiccups, he dabs at his eyes with the napkin I had arranged aesthetically. "You come all the way down here and I'm led to believe it's because you missed me, all for this gorgeous chick from your past to swoop right in and take you away from me!"

"Don't you love me anymore Denver?!" He wails, louder this time.

Finally tired of his big performance I take a mini slice of garlic bread I had cooling on the table from a little earlier on, march up to Nigel with his head back and mouth wide fake crying and stuff his open orifice with the slice.