Tied To You

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Michael woke up with less weight on his legs. Ava was no longer in sight. He assumed that she probably had went to the room to sleep. He got up from the sofa and fixed his wrinkled shirt and made his way to the bedroom. He slowly opened the door to check and she wasn't there. He checked the guest bedroom and bathroom, no luck. He headed back to the living room when he heard a beeping sound from the kitchen. There stood Ava in front of the kitchen island waiting for her toast to cook. Michael watched her while standing at the archway. She didn't notice him at all because she was wearing headphones.

He watched as she cut the avocado in neat slices, spreading it on to her toast, while sprinkling some salt and pepper. She opened the fully stocked fridge and took out the cherry tomatoes and two eggs. She swiftly moved to the stove and cracked the eggs over the pre-heated pan. The smell of the sunny side up eggs made Michael hungry. He stepped inside the kitchen unnoticed and continued to watch her cook as he sat on the stool in the middle of the island. Her back was faced to him so she didn't notice him.

"Damn"she cursed under her breath. "The yolk broke. I can never get this right!" She heaved in frustration turning the stove off and putting her headphones to her neck.

"You should've covered your pan if you want runny eggs without having to flip them." Ava was startled at what Michael had said.

"Sorry to scare you sweetheart." He apologized to her and walked towards her. "It smells good though."

"Don't pop up behind me like that." She lightly punched him in the chest.

Michael moved out of her way so she can gather everything she made. She opened the cupboard to the right of the stove to grab the plates, but she was too small to reach it. It was on the middle shelf.
She groaned in frustration and turned to Michael who was sitting on the barstool. "Could you help me get a plate please?"

Michael had a playful grin on his face.
Instead of reaching over to get the plate he lifted Ava by the waist so she could reach it. Ava blushed feeling his grip around her.

"Was that necessary?" She asked as she gently put her down.

"No not really, but I wanted to see your reaction." Ava was still red. She didn't utter a word. She just took the avocado toast and placed it on the plate. She stacked the eggs on top of it and put the cherry tomatoes on the side. She grabbed a fork from the dish rack and began to eat at the cherry tomatoes first.

Michael reached over and tried to grab a tomato but was almost stabbed by the fork.

"Get your own."

"Well, you didn't really ask me if I wanted anything?" He sarcastically complained.

"Well you were fast asleep, mouth open and all. I didn't want to bother you and plus I was hungry." She said biting at the toast.

"You do know what time it is right?" He stared at the clock above the doorway.

"Yeah I know its 4:30 in the morning. Back home its 7:30 I'm already up and eating at that time." Ava didn't care what time it was she was really hungry. She had barely eaten on the jet and when she got to the house she fell sleep right away.

"I told you to eat on the jet, but your stubborn as ever." He got up and made his way to the coffee maker. "You want coffee?" Mouth still full she nodded at him. Michael turned on the coffee maker and placed a French roast coffee pod into it and waited for the machine to start. He grabbed the largest mug in the cupboard above the coffee maker and placed at its mouth. He pressed the the button with the picture of a large coffee cup. He stood in silence for minute watching Ava enjoy her early breakfast waiting for their coffee to brew.