Page 50 of This Moment

She skidded to a stop and looked between me and Cadie. Her focus finally landed on Cadie. “Where in the world did you get a bat?”

Rolling her eyes, she set the bat down on the counter. “I found it in the closet earlier when hanging up some clothes.” Her eyes swung back to me. “What are you doing here…and in the pantry?”

I set the hot chocolate down by the stove and looked at Sally. “Are the pans still in the same place?”

She smiled as she pointed to an electric kettle. “We have this fancy little thing here that boils the water or milk in less than two minutes.”

I turned to Cadie and said, “Sorry, I should have texted you, but it was late. I did call Sally to tell her I was coming up here to stay.”

Blinking rapidly, she asked, “What do you mean…to stay?”

I reached up and pulled out three mugs.

Sally waved her hands in front of her. “Not for me. I’m heading back up to bed. Be sure to unplug this.”

When Sally walked by, I kissed her on the cheek. “I’m sorry to scare you like that.”

She chuckled. “You didn’t scare me. The second I heard the two of you scream, I knew what happened.” Sally faced Cadie. “Do you need anything, sweetheart?”

With a shake of her head, Cadie smiled. “I’m good. Thank you so much, Sally.”

With a goodnight to both of us, she disappeared out of thekitchen.

“Want some hot chocolate?” I asked as I held up a Tigger mug.

Cadie’s mouth opened but then quickly shut. Her eyes looked confused as her gaze searched my face, the kitchen, then back to my face.

“You don’t have to feel like you need to keep me company. I just need to heat up some before I head to the room Sally made up for me.”

Her mouth dropped open once again, but she remained silent.

I scooped some hot chocolate mix into my mug as I said, “I’m guessing I’ll only be here tonight. Once the repair guy comes tomorrow, I’ll have heat back at my place.”

Sally had added milk to the glass kettle. She was right; the milk was already boiling. I took it off and poured the milk into my mug. I looked at Cadie and silently asked her about the hot chocolate. She grabbed the mug, put some hot chocolate in, and stepped back for me to pour the milk in.

“Thank you,” she softly said as she slid onto one of the stools. I put the mix back into the pantry, poured the leftover milk out, and set the kettle back on its heating element. Once I unplugged it, I sat at the island’s opposite end.

“I’m sorry I scared you.”

She held the mug with both hands while she blew on the hot chocolate. “It’s okay.”

“Do you always scare so easily?”

Her eyes lifted and met mine. “I’m in a strange house, Kian. I heard the front door open and then heard voices in the kitchen. Of course, I would be scared.”

“Voices? It was just me.”

She looked at me like she wanted to throat-punch me. “How was I supposed to know you would be down here talking to yourself?”

I nodded. “Fair point.”

We sat silently for a few moments as we sipped the hot chocolate.

“So? What do you think?” I asked as I set my mug down.

“This is delicious hot chocolate.”

“I know! I was so happy to see it in the pantry.”

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