Page 52 of Seventeen Years Ago

“I wished I did have cards. Maybe we can do it with something else.”

“Nope. Looks like we can’t play that game today and I’ll just have to wait to collect on any more bets,” I teased as I served up our brunch.

“Okay, as long as we don’t put cooking on there. I know you tried, but this looks horrible,” she said.

“And it probably looks better than it tastes,” I warned.

“Steven, if I remember correctly, the deal was you cook for me, not that I actually have to eat the food, right?” She wrinkled her nose as she looked at the food that I had just plated in front of her.

“You are correct,” I replied.

“Oh, thank God. I hear the hospital is still quite crowded with people who’d gotten hurt during the storm. I would want to go there for food poisoning,” she teased.

“You were given an advance warning concerning my cooking skills. Do not blame me if you chose not to heed it.”

“I thought that it might still be edible. Boy, was I wrong. You really...can’t cook,” she said, pushing the plate away.

“I told you, that the backrub I give is better than anything I would even cook,” I reminded her.

“That doesn’t say much. I think leaning against a tree to scratch my own back would still be better than getting a backrub from you if it is even remotely close to your cooking,” she said, making another face. “Although I was looking forward to it, I think I’m going to pass on both. Consider your debt paid in full,” she smirked.

“Ouch. That hurt,” I said, holding a hand over my heart pretending to be insulted.

“I have a feeling that I’m not the first person who looked at what you cooked and didn’t want to eat it,” she stated.

“Actually, you are.”

“No one at all,” she glared at me in disbelief.

“You are the first.” Most likely the last too by her reaction. “Guess it’s not an honor to be the first when it comes to something horrible,” I chuckled.

Aiza giggled. “I’m sorry. I know I should’ve been gracious and at least tried to eat it, but I saw what you put in it. I’ve never had eggs with garlic paste and chili powder.”

“I heard one of the waitresses at New Hope say that you use a lot of garlic in Tabiq,” I stated.

“We do. Just not like that. If there were any clean pans, I’d offer to show you how to make a proper egg,” she offered.

“I appreciate that, but your time would be wasted. I’m never going to cook for anyone again,” I stated.

“Not even for me?” she asked.

I raised a brow. “You’re joking, right? I mean after the fiasco you just saw, no way can you want me to attempt anything else.”

“Okay, maybe not cookforme but we could cook together.”

I looked around her kitchen and realized she was right. Not only did I ruin breakfast, but I trashed her kitchen. “Is there someone I can hire to clean this up?”

“Hire? Why would you pay someone to do it if you can do it yourself? And I meanweand not justyou,”she said.

“We don’t have much more time together, why spend it scrubbing the mess I made?” I asked.We could go for a walk on the beach, take a ride, sit and talk, why work?

“Steven, I know you didn’t grow up with a normal family, but it’s not about what you are doing, but who you are doing it with that makes the memories special.” Aiza got up and grabbed a dry cloth and tossed it to me. “I’ll wash and you dry.”

I looked at her amazed. “You mean it. This is how you want to spend your morning?”

She shook her head. “No. This is how I wantusto spend our morning. And then later, I’ll show you how to cook dinner. Don’t worry. I’ll do the cooking and you can help by peeling the vegetables.”

“I can manage that,” I replied.

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