If the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach then I am afraid I can never reach any man’s heart.
I thought mournfully.
“Joanna what did you do now?” My mother’s angry yet worried voice came through the laundry room.
I frowned at the mess in kitchen and then at the almost burning oven. “Frankly? I don’t know.”
I heard running feet and then a loud gasp from my mother as soon as she entered the kitchen.
“I vaguely remember saying that you are banned absolutely forbidden from using the gas or oven.” My mom scolded, her hands on her hips.
She looked like the unknown lady in Tom and Jerry, only a lot thinner.
“Sorry mom, I was just trying to help you.”
She scoffed, muttering something under her breath. “What were you making?”
“Uh pizza?”
Her eyes narrowed at the spilt milk on the gas, “Your Pizza has milk?”
“No! I was also making hot milkshake.”
“Oh God Joanna, even that you couldn’t make?” My mom groaned in disappointment.
“Mom! I can make that. But I switched off the vegetable gas instead of the milk one and then went back to read book.”
“You do not read while cooking Joanna.” She scolded as if speaking to a naughty child. But then again, I’m naughty.
I smiled sheepishly. “Sorry?”
Her answer was grunt. “And what happened to the oven?” She went near it and before I could warn her, she touched it and instantly pulled away screaming. “Holy mosses! It’s burning.”
“I may have kept the temperature high and then went to read a book.” I shifted my legs, my crossing my fingers behind my back. Please don’t let her have a dramatic trauma.
“You forgot? What do you mean you forgot?” Oh dear! “Didn’t you even smell the burning food, I could smell it all the way up to the laundry room and you were just in the living room. And who’s going to clear this mess now? It looks like there was a tornado in here. I don’t know how you are going to handle your own home or what you are going to make and give your husband. Who will even marry a woman who can’t cook? Why are you just standing there now? Go get a broom and start sweeping. Girls these days! I swear-”
I hurriedly rushed to get a broom not wanting to listen anymore. I don’t know if it is just mine or every girl’s mother who worries a little too much about her daughter’s future husband, his eating habits and thinks that the modern generation girls are utterly spoiled.
But I may have to agree with the last one. Some are stinky spoilt.
“Joanna your stupid phone is ringing.” My mother shouted from the kitchen and I ran back leaving the broom on the ground, I grabbed my phone and ran upstairs before my mom could oppose. Bless the caller!
I pressed the phone to my ear, breathing heavily.
“Ran a marathon?” Ace’s silky voice came through the phone.
I chuckled. “Ran up the stairs.”
“And so tired? You need more stamina muffin.” He teased, knowing I don’t like to exercise.
“I have enough stamina, Thank you.”
“Oh yeah? Want to check out how much?” The innuendo wasn’t lost on me.
I rolled my eyes. “No thanks.”
“Hm hm. So why were you running?” I heard shuffling and then Max’s voice.
“Are you busy?”
“Nope, we are in the warehouse.” He informed.
“But I thought you left the drugs and gun thing.” I spoke accusingly.
“I left the drug dealing, guns is legal.” I could imagine him smirking at me.
“My foot legal. Are you mad? What if you get caught? Mother of God, Bryan! Do you shoot people too and then say legally?”
Bryan laughed, a melodic laughter that warmed my heart to its roots. “No muffin we don’t shoot people, we just provide guns to legit people.”
“Is that what you’re going to do in future?”
He paused and I felt anxiety embrace me. He is seriously thinking about selling guns in future? What the green smurfs?
“I don’t think so. I want to become a businessman.”
I sighed in relief. No selling guns. No dangers. Happy wife. Happy life. Why am I even thinking about us in future?
“So why were you running?”
I grinned, my previous abrupt thoughts discarded as I told him my pitiful story of not knowing how to cook.
“Damn! Your poor future husband.” Was the first thing he said after I finished telling him everything?
“Oh please my looks make up for the lack in cooking.” I boasted smugly.
He snorted, “Keep dreaming. Are you hungry?”
“Obviously.” When am I not?
“I’ll pick you up in 10.”
“No wait! I can’t come, my mom’s pissed off and if I even step out of my room, she will start throwing verbal bombs on me.”
He sighed, “How about I come and tell that you have to tutor me?”
I thought about it and then agreed. Hopefully mom would allow.
After almost twenty long minutes the bell rang and my mother’s shout came, “Open that damn door. I am busy cleaning your mess.”
I gulped nervously and ran down, muttering another quick apology to mom, I opened the door.
I gasped in shock and awe as I took in the sight before me. Ace standing anxiously, running his hand through his hair trying to gauge my expression. But that wasn’t what shocked me, it was the fact that he was wearing a light blue jeans and plain red T-shirt that had collar and was full sleeves, wisely hiding his tattoos. For the first time he was wearing something of a light color and looked completely cleaned up. Ironed clothes, shaved face, nicely combed hair. He looked nothing like a bad boy, in fact he looked like a hot geek.
“What is all this?” I finally asked, looking all over him again and enjoying the view.
He shifted his foot and coughed, “I was meeting your mother so. . .”
I resisted the urge to laugh at him. This was probably the first time he was meeting some girl’s parents and he obviously didn’t know what to do. I mentally squealed realizing he is going through this for me.
“Who is it Joanna?” My mother’s sharp voice and pulled Ace in, shutting the door.
“Uh a friend mom.”
“If its Logan or Alan tell them the next time they touch my cookie jar, I’ll throw my stilettoes at them.”
Ace raised an eyebrow at me bemused and I blushed from neck to forehead. “Mom, it’s not them.”
She didn’t reply for a few seconds and then came out, wiping her hands on her apron. She stopped as she noticed the stranger besides me.
“Who is this?” Her eyes narrowed and then looked over him from toe to head, trying to find faults. I heard him gulp softly under my mother’s strict scrutiny.
“A friend. Bryan Cooper.” I answered hastily.
“Is he the one Connor doesn’t like?”
I stared at her is disbelief. Connor told mom that he bunked college and saw Ace here? You’re in deep shit bro!
“I don’t know.” I answered truthfully.
“Uh good morning, I mean good afternoon Mrs. Williams.” Ace said, struggling to keep his voice strong. This was the first time I had seen Ace so apprehensive and disoriented. I loved it.
A mother’s strong and hard gaze can make any guy squirm.
My mother raised her eyebrows at his voice. “Are you nervous?”
“Uh ye-no. No.” Ace shook his head.
My mother looked thoroughly entertained by now. “Are you afraid of me?”
I shook my head mentally. My mother found a weird happiness in torturing my friends.
“No Mrs. Williams.” He answered, his voice stronger this time.
My mom paused. “Lillian. Mrs. Williams makes me feel old.” My mother turned to go and I pinched Ace’s arm, reminding him what he came here for.
“Mrs. Wi- I mean Lillian, can I take muf-Joanna somewhere?”
I slapped my forehead mentally, he was supposed to say for tutoring.
“Are you trying to get into my daughter’s pants?”
“Mom!” I hissed, embarrassed, the almost kisses immediately invading my mind.
“No, I mean she has to tutor me so.” Ace corrected and I noted slight pinkness on his neck and cheeks, was he blushing? Aww.
My mother looked at me and then at Bryan. “This tutoring doesn’t involve removing pants and getting underneath or above sheets resulting in any sort of penetration, does it?”
“Mom! No!” I exclaimed in horror, my face reddening in process.
Even Bryan looked uncomfortable and licked in lips nervously. “No. Not at all.”