ROWAN
Knock! Knock!
“Come in,” I call out quietly, my head bowed over my desk, still preoccupied with the reports and maps before me.
“Hi, mummy!” Jhenelle’s voice calls out, bringing me out of my thoughts. “We brought lunch!”
We?
I lift my head to see her as well as Louis walking with trays.
What is going on here?
“Why are you two together?” I ask.
“Louis said he wanted to make you lunch and asked me to help. He wanted to make your favorite meal,”she answers as she waddles up to my desk to place her tiny tray. “Can we eat together?”
“i-”
“We made Pasta Amatriciana,” he says, the r’s rolling of his tongue in a smooth timbre. “I hope you don’t mind.”
He places the tray and removes the napkin over it to replace a wide set of plates with the steaming dish.
The hot red sauce catches my attention first as it clings to each strand with bits of crispy guanciale bits peeking out. In the steam that rises from it I can smell the aroma of garlic and onion mixed with the cheese that is artfully dusted over the top.
My stomach grumbles at the sight of it.
“I will take that as a yes,” he says before raising the tray away.
“Wait! What… what are you doing?” I ask I make an aborted movement to stop him, barely catching myself at the last second.
His eyes hold a hint of mischief as if he is laughing at me.
I don’t blame him.
Food makes me crazy.
Especially masterpieces like that.
“I was going to take it over to the coffee table where we can all eat,” he answers.
“We?” I ask.
“Yes, mummy. Me, you and Louis,” Jhenelle speaks up as she too carries her tray and follows him to the table.
Since when did those two get close?
“When did you two become…”
“Friends?” he supplies as he takes a seat.
“Yeah. That.”
“Jhenelle is a lovely girl, it is hard not to like her. She is also very helpful,” he continues with a mischievous smile. “She was very willing to answer most of my questions. At leat to the best of her knowledge.”
“Oh, really?” I mutter as I look for a pce to sit. Jhenelle has taken the most viable place on the floor, leaving only the space next to him for me to seat.
Did they plan that?
“Yes, really. You have an intelligent daughter,”he says as he pats the space beside him. “Come sit.”
Asshole.
“He said I am genus,” Jhenelle speaks up over a mouth of food.
“GENIUS. Not genus. And don’t talk with your mouth full,” I caution. “You might choke,” I add as I finally take a seat beside him.
“Mmm.”
I take a fork full of the pasta and it is all I can do to not moan out in pleasure.
It is orgasmic.
“You cooked this?” I ask. “For real?”
“Yeah, how do you like it?”
“It is um, it’s good. I am impressed.”
“That’s good. I am glad you like it. Maybe I can prepare some meals for you.”
“Don’t stress yourself over that…”
“I don’t mind. I love cooking.”
“Is that so? Is this a recent discovery or something you have always known?” I ask with a sly smile.
“Uh, I think it is. I mean, I knew what I was doing, so I must have been very good at it.”
Nice save.
“Still, there is no need to do that for me. We have a cook who handles the meals for the pack. I am content with that.”
“Maybe. But wouldn’t it be nice to have something different once in a while. Something that is just for you.”
“And me!” Jhenelle adds. “Mummy says everything that is hers is also mine.”
“Of course,” he concedes to her. “You as well.”
“Be that as it may, we do things as a group. And again, I suggest you don’t make promises that you might not be able to keep.”
“Who says I won’t be able to keep them?” he retorts.
So much arrogance.
“So, these questions,” I say, ignoring him while changing the subject. “What were they?” I ask.
“Oh, you know the usual, I-”
“Not you,” I say, cutting him off. “Jhenelle. What questions did he ask you!” I ask as I fork another morsel into my mouth.
I see him give a small smile before he focuses on his plate.
“Um, he asked what your favorite food is and uh, your favorite color, your favorite film, your favorite person, your favorite…”
“Okay, I get it. He asked about me. What about other things that had nothing to do with me?” I ask.
“Hmm, no. Wait, yes.”
“What were they,?”
“He asked me how old I am, what my favorite food is, my favorite color, my favorite toy, my favorite toy, my favorite…”
“Got it. Thank you, Jhenelle, you have been most helpful,” I tell her.
“You look disappointed,” he mentions as he finishes his plate. “Not what you were expecting?”
“Can you blame me? Who knows what plans you have for us.”
“I already told you. I-”
“Guia!”
The door flies open and Alden rushes in, his eyes wide and excited.
“Alden? What’s wrong? What happened?” I ask as I get to my feet, instantly on alert.
“We caught a sighting of some wolves sniffing along the outer border! And one if our contacts reached out to us that there are more in the town.”
“Really? They must be looking for their fellow pack members,” I say.
“Exactly!”
“Looks like it is your lucky day,” I say as I turn to look over at Louis.
“It is? Why?”
“Didn’t you hear? There are wolves looking for something.”
“And?”
“Don’t play dumb,” I reply as I move to my desk. “Alden, have one of the teachers come get Jhenelle.”
“Yes, Guia.”
“And Louis, you are coming with us.”