Page 42 of Whispering Waves

He picked up the box and carried it down a hallway she hadn’t noticed because she had always been busy when she was on the main floor. Keeping track of Kimo had felt really important.

He was obviously unpacking several things wrapped in plastic, but she couldn’t see what they were from the doorway. He glanced at her and smiled. “No peeking.”

She nodded and returned to the kitchen. She tried to think about what she wanted for dinner and could only think of one thing. She got the ingredients together with a bit of hunting and thawed the meat. While that was happening, she boiled pasta in a skillet and prepped the evaporated milk.

She hummed to herself and got the ground beef sizzling in another pan. In fifteen minutes, she had the meat browned and seasoned and the pasta mixed with the evaporated milk and shredded cheese. The mac and cheese with hamburger was complete.

A little salt, pepper, garlic, and onion powder and she was blowing on a spoonful to try it.

“What is that?”

“Mac and cheese with meat. I used to make it for Drake before practices, and now, it’s my default stress food.”

Kimo looked at her. “Why are you stressed?”

She turned to him in astonishment and started laughing. When the laughter faded, she whined, “I just wanted to spend time away and see my brother.”

He turned the pan off and pulled her in for a hug. “Sometimes things don’t happen the way you think. For example, the guys are probably mocking Drake for you and I being here together.”

“Probably. I am going to eat some mac and cheese.”

“Load up a bowl, and we will cuddle and watch a movie.”

She smiled. “Okay. Something funny. Or maybe a shark-attack show.”

He blinked. “Wow. You have a dark side.”

“Hey, most of the folks survive and are interviewed.”

“True. What do you want to drink?”

She zipped to the fridge and pulled out a cherry soda.

He laughed. “Get your food and see you in a few minutes.”

She got a bowl, filled it, got a fork, and tucked the soda in her elbow. She scooted out to the living room and curled up in a corner of the couch. The obscene sounds of the noodles made her grin, and she was soon looking at Kimo.

He smirked. “I get the corner. Scoot.”

She wiggled off the couch, and when he settled, she turned and dropped onto his lap. He wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her back against him.

He reached for his bowl and turned on the television. Shark shows began, and she ate her mac and cheese. When her bowl was empty, Kimo reached out and set it on the table, getting another bowl filled with pineapple. “You need more vitamins. Have some.”

She snorted and ate some pineapple. She snacked on it, and when he tapped her shoulder, she held some up for him. She felt his lips against her fingers and smiled.

“So, what are you doing when you watch these shows?”

“Learning why they do what they do. What the effect of global warming is, and why not swim at night when there are cookie-cutter sharks in a jellyfish area. Like that. I want to learn about whales, too, but they are a little big for me.”

He snorted softly.

“Pervert. For me, it’s like a bus that thinks. I can’t imagine Drake and the others just swimming amongst them.”

“They love the whales, and they learn how they move and what motivates them.”

“Yeah. It’s way too advanced for me.”

He kissed her temple. “We will get you there.”

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