Page 66 of As It Was

“I—what? You said we don’t share food.”

“I’m being nice tonight. As long as you put the laptop away.”

The only reason I listened was because I was starving. I got up and tossed my computer over the back of the couch. When I returned, Cain had his own plate and sat across from me.

Eric was digging in, grabbing long noodles with his hands and shoving them into his mouth. I was tempted to do the same, but I used the fork instead.

It tasted as good as it looked. Better even. There were notes of garlic and onion, as well as perfectly al dente noodles.

When I looked up, Cain was watching me.

“Oh, uh. Thank you for the food.”

“Were you hungry?”

More so than I wanted to admit. “It was a ... weird day. I forgot to eat.”

He knew it more than I did.

“It’s so good,” Eric said, his mouth full.

“It really is. What brand is this?”

“I make it myself and can it.”

Damn.I didn’t think he could get hotter.

“Let me guess, it’s a family recipe that you share with no one.”

“Not a family recipe, but I probably wouldn’t share it with you.”

“Because I’m annoying?”

“Got it in one go, princess.”

I rolled my eyes, but the rudeness felt familiar, almost like a hug.

“I haven’t had homemade food in forever.”

“What did you eat in the city, Mollie?” Eric asked.

“Sometimes I went out to get food if my—if other people wanted to. And sometimes I cooked something basic, and we would eat on the couch.”

“You didn’t eat at the table?”

I shook my head. “Our apartment was too small for that.”

“Too small for a dining table?” Cain asked.

“Yep.”

“And let me guess, you paid an arm and a leg.”

“Too much,” I said. “We were sandwiched in between smaller buildings, and it was so loud. There was never silence. Not all of Nashville is like that, but where I lived was.”

Trevor had wanted to be close to work. Trevor had wanted an apartment with luxuries.

Had I wantedanythingabout that place?

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