Page 69 of Addicted

“I found the recipe online and decided to give it a try. Also, a lot of people pull their steaks out of the fridge and barbecue them right away but they taste better if you let them warm up to room temperature before you grill them. I’ve had these out for a few hours.” He pulled up one of the slabs of meat with a pair of tongs, checking the sear on the bottom. “I have these off to the side because you need two zones when grilling, one to cook hot and one to cook not-as-hot, I’ve done that by building a slant with the charcoal. It also helps to have a cooler side because sometimes fat or gristle will drip down, causing a flare-up and burning a bit of the steak. You don’t want that. So, if there is a flare-up, you can move the meat over.”

“You should have your own cooking show. LikeOwen’s EatsorGrilling with Owen.“ Liam moved his hands in an arc like Vanna White as if he were highlighting the title.

Owen chuckled, shaking his head. “I don’t know if I’d be good in front of a camera.”

“Have you seen yourself? If you did a show you’d have a drooling fanbase in under five minutes.”

Leaning down, Owen gave Liam a quick kiss. “You are a flatterer.”

“It’s not flattery if it’s true.” Liam licked his lips.

“You’re very distracting.” Owen gave the meat a flip. “Don’t make me burn these because it would be a terrible mis-steak.”

Liam let out a cute little groan and then stood. “Can I set the table? Are we eating inside or outside?”

“Your choice.”

“It’s a nice night. Out here?”

“I was thinking the same thing.” Grabbing the steaks, Owen shifted them to the cooler side. “The plates are in the cabinet above the dishwasher and utensils are in the top drawer beside the stove.”

Within minutes the outdoor table was set and Owen had readied the side dishes while the steaks rested.

“Another important thing to remember is that meat needs to rest before eating. It allows the fibers to relax and the juices inside to settle, making it more tender.” Owen placed the food on the table, along with a pitcher of water for Liam and a beer for himself. Before Liam could sit, Owen darted around, pulling the chair out for him and he received one of those soft smiles in return. Removing his apron, Owen put it on a hook by the sliding door and settled down opposite Liam. Carefully picking up one of the steaks with tongs, he placed it on Liam’s plate and then served himself.

“Would you like some music?” He pulled out his phone, wirelessly connecting it to a speaker he kept on a small table by the door. Selecting the radio app, he handed his cell to Liam. “Please, pick anything but wedding songs.”

“I’m not a masochist,” Liam snorted, taking the phone and scrolling. A moment later the sound of a new wave synthesizer washed over them, the volume low enough for them to carry on a conversation and not disturb any neighbors.

Owen’s fork stopped halfway to his mouth. “You picked the classic alternative station? You like this music?”

“Yes?” Liam fidgeted, pushing a piece of steak around on his plate. “Do you want me to change it?”

“No, not at all. I love this genre.” Owen gave Liam a reassuring smile and Liam lit up, returning it.

“Mom listened to it all the time when I was growing up and it stuck. I like a lot of other types of music but I always seem to come back to this. I don’t know why but it makes me feel safe.”

“Me too. It has a distinctive nostalgic feel.”

“Exactly,” Liam stated, taking the first bite of his steak. His eyes went wide, then heavy-lidded as he hummed. “This is amazing Owen. Really good. Youneedto do that cooking show.”

Owen was no stranger to compliments on his food but, for some reason, Liam’s praise went straight to his head. It made him proud that he could please Liam with his efforts. It was a new experience to care for someone who cared right back, who thought he was interesting, and who liked the things he did for them.

“Maybe. But all I know how to do is grill.” He tried the meat and had to agree, the marinade was spectacular. He’d have to use it again.

“And use a smoker.” Liam pointed at the Kamado in the corner. It looked like a big green egg but it was a beast of a machine and one of the few things that Owen had refused to sell during the divorce.

“You’re right. You should taste the ribs that come out of there. And it’s not only a smoker, it’s also a secondary grill, a roaster, and an outdoor oven.”

“Does it transform into a robot and fight crime too?” Liam tried the potatoes and let out another sweet hum, bliss on his face.

“I think it needs morecircuittraining for that, its skills are a bitrusty.“ Owen grinned as Liam rolled his eyes.

“You’re gonna make me lose my appetite.” He wiggled his fork at Owen and then speared some green beans with it, moaning as he tasted them.

“I cooked those in butter,” Owen told him, taking a sip of his beer.

“I lied. Even if you cracked bad jokes all night, I would never lose my appetite with this kind of food in front of me.” Liam dug in and Owen joined him, savoring not only the food but the atmosphere. Between the music, the company, and the gorgeous summer night, Owen relaxed, feeling a little bit like himself for the first time in ages. Between bites they talked about everything, even work, and Owen was surprised to find that they had more in common than he’d realized. They both liked fantasy movies and books, especially ones with wizards. They enjoyed the outdoors even though neither of them had gone for a hike in a while, and their favorite season was fall because it was a colorful end to the summer heat that brought Halloween with it. They even discussed doing matching costumes and Owen pelted Liam with silly ideas until he almost choked on his potatoes.

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