Page 75 of Pack Scratch Fever
“Only to keep me company,” he warns me. “Not because I need your help. Please just…let me do this for you.”
My lips part in surprise, and I nod.
“Just to keep you company,” I agree, and he gifts me another smile.
I’m beginning to adore this side of Poe.
14
POE
I can’t messthis up.
I can’t ruin my second chance.
Piper is in our kitchen, her lemon and mint scent perfuming the area. Maddox and Avery’s subtle scents are on her skin as well, and I try not to let jealousy take over.
They were kind to her first.
I was an asshole.
Yet somehow, she still agreed to dinner with me.
Avery and Maddox aren’t coming back for a while—I have Piper all to myself.
Myscent match.
I stopped lying to myself about it the day I gave her the plant.
She’s here, she’s my scent match, and I won’t fuck this up.
“You have to let me dosomething,” she insists, standing at the counter and watching me chop baby spinach.
I quit my knife work to look into her inviting eyes. “Fine. You can juice a lime if you insist.”
She laughs. “I can do more than that. I’m not going to just sit idly by while you do all this!”
“When’s the last time someone cooked for you?” I ask pointedly.
When she remains silent, I resume chopping. “Exactly,” I say. “Allow me to do something nice for you.”
Hopefully, it will be the first of many things.
Dinner tonight is poached white fish in coconut milk. I had asked her what her preferences were, and when she said she was pescatarian, I let out a pleased hum.
I mastered this meal in college, and it’s one of my favorites when I take the time to cook.
“I didn’t take you for a cooking guy,” she admits.
“What did you take me for, then?”
I dread her answer.
“I figured you lived off spite and energy drinks.” Her expression is playful, and I can’t help but smile, too. “At least that’s what I thought the first day we met.”
“I was insufferable. I’m surprised you didn’t punch me in the face.”
“I thought about it,” she admits, leaning against the counter. “But you brought in that kitten, and it’s hard to remain angry when there’s an animal in need.”
