Page 23 of To Love and Protect
Tyree smacked his glossy lips and scooted forward in his seat. “Fat ass.”
He reached for the fries while Nico made himself busy making a plate. When he finished, he handed it to Remedie, who looked up at him in surprise.
“Oh, no thanks. That’s for y’all. I can eat later.”
Nico simply stared her down until she heaved a long breath and took the plate. A triumphant smile graced his face. He didn’t know why she insisted on testing him every single day at mealtimes. Although he hired her as his personal chef, something didn’t sit right in him allowing her to cook for him and not join him for the meals she prepared.
Once they were settled with their food, the room fell silent as everyone ate happily.
Tyree’s loud mouth was the one to finally break the silence as he reached for the coffee table to grab seconds. “This shit is bussin’, girl. You ever thought of opening up your own wing joint?”
Nico peeped how Remedie shook her head like Tyree’s question offended her.
“I definitely want to open up my own spot one day, but it won’t be no damn wings.”
“What you got against wings, young lady? These the best I ever tasted,” Gramps said as he sucked on a chicken bone.
“Because I can cook better than this. Wings is light work, and there isn’t much creativity to tap into there.” Remedie shrugged as if she was bored with the conversation.
Nico’s brows rose as her words sank in. “Let me find out you’re bored with your job because I eat regular.”
Her shoulders bounced once again before she grinned at him. “I mean, you pay good, so that kind of makes up for it.”
Nico’s face dropped. “Wait, you’re serious? You’re for real bored, ain’t you? I thought you loved cooking.”
For some reason, that worried him. What happened when people got bored with their jobs? They found another one. He didn’t want that to happen.
“I do,” she assured him. “But . . . I don’t really know how else to explain it. Like, what if when you were boxing, you only got to go up against people who weren’t nowhere near as good as you? Wouldn’t you get bored?”
Nico didn’t hesitate to respond. “Hell yeah.”
She nodded. “Exactly. Making wings and cheesesteak sandwiches is my equivalent to fighting against someone not as good as you.”
“So why you don’t make something else?” Tyree asked as he licked his fingers clean. He tore those wings all the way up and left not one crumb.
Remedie eyed Tyree. “Have you met your brother? He’s kind of picky and particular about his food.”
“True that,” Tyree agreed.
“And stubborn.” Gramps added his two cents.
“Aye, man. How this turn into a bashing session against me?” Nico asked as he looked around at everyone.
Gramps shrugged, Tyree ignored him and grabbed another wing, but Remedie responded. “Because you’re the person I cook for every day.”
Nico sat up straight and puffed out his chest. “Aight, fine. What kind of food do you like to cook?”
If she wanted more creativity and fun in the kitchen, he would give her that, even if it meant he’d have to starve. She wasn’t lying. He was pretty picky.
The way her eyes lit up made his heart skip a beat. He’d never seen her like that before.
“Have you ever had oxtail ravioli with collard green pesto and sweet potato cornbread breadcrumbs?”
Nico’s face immediately screwed up. Whatever she just said sounded complicated and like nothing he ever wanted to try. He was more of a mac and cheese and fried chicken kind of guy. He kept shit real simple.
“What the hell? Nah. Never.”
“That sounds good as hell. You ever been to Prime & Ember? It’s a steakhouse, but they do a southern twist on their food, and it’s so damn good.” Tyree gushed. He’d always been a foodie. Nico instantly became jealous. It was childish, for sure, but he hated that Tyree and Remedie could bond over her passion, and he couldn’t.
