Page 45 of I Dated a Retired Hero

“Just because my life sucks doesn’t mean I want to hurt anyone else who isn’t actively doing harm.” She stretched and looked at the bags that surprised her. “Damn. Right. Freezer.”

She stumbled back to the area with the extra fridges and lowered the ice cream into the freezer.

She looked at him. “What did you want for dinner? Today is ready-to-eat meals, and tomorrow is cooking all day so that Saturday is less of a chore.”

“I will eat whatever you are eating.”

She grinned. “Good answer.” She dove back into the freezer and started handing him single-serving packs of lasagne, meatloaf, chicken pie, and a puff pastry dessert.

Sergei’s arms were loaded, and he was grinning. “This is different.”

“Come on. Time to heat all of that up.”

They returned to the kitchen, and she moved around, getting everything ready and then glancing at him. “Do you mind if I do this my way?”

He was leaning against the counter and watching. “Go ahead.”

She slowly warmed the pie and then moved her way down the line. The lasagne took the longest due to its density.

He had forks ready the moment everything was steaming. She took one, and they took the food and headed to the table on the protective trays.

Sergei grinned. “Do you prep food like this often?”

“Yes. I forget to cook sometimes, but this way, I always know I have something to eat that I like.” She chuckled. “I eat a lot when I remember but forget a lot as well, so I have to keep food on standby. Every now and then, I spend a whole day making food, like tomorrow.”

She looked at him. “Can you cook?”

“My oma would have said no, and my father would say it was women’s work, but yes, I can cook. My mother said there was nothing like the confidence preparing your own food gave you.”

She smiled. “Good. How is your stamina?”

He had his last forkful of pie raised. “For what?”

“Cooking all day is tiring. I just wanted to make sure you were feeling fine out of your confinement.”

He grinned. “If I need to tap out to recover, I will, but I will help in any way you let me.”

“All right. First, moves will be easy. Fillings for the dumplings and starting the barbeque sauce. I make my own, and the hot sauce is already done. Those I grew the peppers for.”

He grinned. “Can I try some?”

She shrugged and went to the pantry to get a bottle.

She popped the top and set it down in front of him. “There you go. I have mild, medium and hot. This is medium. It’s good on the meatloaf, but start with a drop.”

He tried it and grinned. “That is good. Not just hot but very flavourful.”

She laughed and smiled. “That was the point.”

He used more, and then, she winced as he drank it. Starry tendrils started leaking out of his eyes, and she started laughing. “It is cumulative.”

He coughed, and she got him some water and some full-fat milk.

She set it down, and he sipped at both. The milk did a better job.

He coughed and put a few drops on his lasagne before tucking in. Litha couldn’t stop giggling.

“Lesson learned. Thank you for not bringing me the hot sauce.”

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