Page 31 of Temptation at Randy's

“Yeah,” Arlene breathed out the word.

She didn’t begrudge me for the distance. She just shifted to her side, leaving the overheated wand on the nightstand closest to her first.

I appreciated that kind of thoughtfulness, but sleep was clinging to me too fast to actually say it out loud.

NINE

Arlene

“You need to buy more flour.”

Claude stumbled into the kitchen. My heart sped up for a second. I thought I’d be quirky and cute, but maybe it came out as too much. Maybe I was overstepping, too, and I should have just stayed in bed.

Maybe I should have left when I noticed they were fast asleep? Technically, we hadn’t talked about sleeping over.

Leaving would’ve felt wrong, though.

Claude plastered on a smile before I could overthink anything more. I melted a bit. It was a combination of last night, and the way they looked today—hair sticking out in every direction, an oversized T-shirt that went past their mid-thigh, and squinted eyes they couldn’t quite open yet.

“I didn’t even know I had flour.” They flopped onto the stool by the kitchen island as they mumbled the words.

I gasped. “How could you not?—?”

I didn’t finish the question, but I’d ask my follow-up questions later. Flour was one of the most basic ingredients. I’d understand not knowing that you’d run out of… I didn’t know, apple juice, maybe. But flour?

How did one make it without flour?

“What are you making?”

“Pancakes.” My improved version of pancakes, if I said so myself. “I thought people started out by saying oh, you didn’t have to cook.”

“Shut up,” Claude groaned. I laughed. “I’m still half-asleep, and you’re better in the kitchen than I am. It’s called survival skills.”

“Sure,” I joked, “I’m sure that’s what it’s called.”

Claude grumbled something under their breath. They didn’t tell me to stay away from their pans, though, so I gave a final whisk to the batter and started pouring it into the pan.

I’d debated on adding chocolate chips, but I couldn’t find any. Maybe next time I came over, I’d bring some with me.

Huh.

It was weird, thinking about next times. It was even weirder that I didn’t question it.

“Are you one of those people that needs coffee first thing in the morning to function?”

It would and wouldn’t fit them.

“I mean, it helps, but not really.” Claude stretched on the stool. “I ran out of the one I like, anyway. I’m getting it delivered this evening.”

“Good.” I was in overdrive as I said it, though. Should I get in charge of their groceries? Yesterday, there was talk about me being a sub, and it fit, but… I liked making sure that people were taken care of, too. “Are you also getting flour?”

“Probably not.” They chuckled. “Are you really offended by my lack of baking items?”

“Not offended.” I wrinkled my nose. “Weirded out, though? For sure.”

I heard Claude move off the stool. I wanted to turn around and see what they were doing, but I needed to keep an eye on the batter. I was just flipping the first pancake when their arms wrapped around my waist. I’d haphazardly put on the dress from yesterday when I decided on my plan to cook us breakfast.

Safety first, and all that.

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