Chapter 63
By the time I pull up outside Lucas’s place, my stomach is already tight. Not because I’m nervous to see them or anything like that but because Noah texted earlier that he was cooking.
I sit in the car for a moment, keys still in my hand, staring at the front door. It’s wide open, which is normal for Lucas. What is not normal is the faint smell drifting out Did something burn? With Something oily underneath it. Just incase you were wondering yes I slipped out from my new body guards hold. Now I know I knwo I know, I shouldn’t have but I don’t plan on taking too much time outside here, I’m just here for lunch then I’ll leave, I’ll leave before anyone even notices that I’m gone. I missed my family so when I got that text messaged I hurried up to Lucas’s house, despite Noah being shut at cooking.
I sigh and get out of the car.
Inside, the house is loud. Not chaotic loud, just lived-in unlike Zane’s house. Music playing from someone’s phone. A cupboard slamming shut with voices overlapping from the kitchen.
“I told you to turn it down!.” Caleb practically shouts from his position in the kitchen.
“I did turn it down,” Noah replies. “That’s medium p>
“That is not medium Noah p>
I drop my bag on the chair by the door and walk toward the kitchen.
Lucas is leaning against the counter with a glass of water in his hand, watching Noah work at the stove like he’s witnessing a crime and waiting for the right moment to intervene. Caleb is at the sink, rinsing something aggressively.
Noah is at the stove, wooden spoon in hand, jaw tight, looking fully committed.
“Hey,” I say.
All three of them look up.
Lucas smiles. “Oh there she is, sunshine p>
Caleb’s face softens upon seeing me. “Hey, El p>
Noah barely glances at me. “You’re late p>
“I’m ten minutes late,” I say. “And based on the smell, that might have saved my life, what got burnt in here p>
Lucas snorts into his water.
Noah shoots him a look. “Don’t encourage her p>
I lean against the counter, arms crossed, watching the pan. “What is it p>
“Cacio e pepe,” Noah says. “Simple p>
Caleb mutters, ” that’s what It was supposed to be p>
Noah glares at him. “It still is p>
Lucas tilts his head. “How many times did you add pepper p>
Noah ignores him and turns back to me. “Sit El, food is almo almost ready p>
“I’m scared, ” I say honestly.
“You always say that p>
“And I’m usually right p>
I sit anyway. Lucas pulls out a chair for me with his foot and I drop into it, listening to the pan sizzle behind me.
Noah plates the food with so much confidence, he sets a plate in front of me first
“Go on,” he says. “Try it p>
I look at it. It’s pasta, sure, but it’s dark and speckled in a way pasta shouldn’t be.
Closing my eyes take a bite then chew.
And oh my living lord It’s bad.
It’s not totally unedible, but it’s bad in a very Noah way. Overly seasoned, way too much pepper so much that my throat burns a little.
I swallow.
“Well?” Noah says. “Thoughts p>
Lucas doesn’t even try to hide it. He coughs and reaches for his water.
Caleb winces mid-chew.
I choose my words carefully. “It’s uhmmmm… it’s a lot p>
“A lot how, what do you mean ” Noah presses.
“It’s very pepper-forward p>
Lucas chokes on a laugh. “That’s a polite way of putting it p>
Noah turns on him. “Eat it p>
“I am eating it p>
“You took only one bite p>
“Hey I’m pacing myself, don’t rush me p>
Caleb finally swallows. “Really good Noah, really p>
Noah relaxes slightly. “Thank you p>
“But,” Caleb adds, “I think you out did yourself with the pepper p>
Noah stiffens. “I did not, it’s called Cassio e Pepe for a reason dude p>
“Yea put you put wayyyy too much pepper ” Lucas says. “You always do p>
“I did not p>
“You added lemon p>
“That’s normal p>
“You added more cheese p>
“That’s encouraged p>
“Then added more pepper p>
“That’s literally the name of the dish p>
Lucas leans back in his chair. “You added death, death by pepper p>
I laugh before I can stop myself.
Noah looks at me. “Don’t laugh p>
“I’m sorry, I’m sorry” I say. “It just tastes like you were arguing with the recipe then decided to do something else entirely different from it p>
The room goes quiet for a second.
Then Lucas laughs, full belly laugh. Caleb smiles. Even Noah lets out a breath and rubs his face.
“I just wanted to do something special for my family,” Noah says
I reach for my water. “This is nice Noah, thank you p>
Caleb nods. “Yeah. This is exactly what we grew up with p>
Lucas adds, “Minus Mom yelling from the hallway p>
Noah exhales, shoulders dropping. “You okay, El p>
I meet his eyes. “I’m fine p>
Lucas watches me over the rim of his glass. “You don’t have to lie to us sunshine p>
“I know p>
Caleb sits down beside me. “You staying a bit p>
“Yeah,” I say. “If that’s okay p>
Noah nods immediately. ” Of course it is p>
“Where’s Ivy?. It feels like I haven’t seen her in a decade p>
” Yeah she’s at school, she’s almost always there these days p>
“Mhmm” I’ll have to get hold of her later, see what she’s up.
We eat slowly, even though Lucas and Caleb discreetly abandon parts of their plates and Noah pretends not to notice.
Conversation drifts, Caleb talks about a project at work, Lucas complains about traffic today, Noah argues about opening up another branch somewhere in the south.
At some point, I realize my shoulders have dropped and my breathing has evened out.
This feels safe.
After lunch, I stand to help clear plates.
“No,” Noah says. “Sit p>
“I want to help p>
“You don’t have to p>
“I know p>
Lucas takes plates from both of us. “Let her help p>
We move around each other easily with familiarity.
When I rinse a plate, Noah stands beside me. “You can stay the night if you want p>
I shake my head. “Not tonight p>
“Anytime,” he says.
I nod.
When I leave later, Lucas walks me to the door.
“You good?.” he asks again.
I look at him. “I will be p>
He nods. “Call if you need us for anything p>
“I know p>
And I mean it.