She started handing out plates that were ladened with the most delicious smelling food. There was a perfectly cut side salad nestled against a beautiful square of lasagne. It smelt like it’d been made by an old Italian grandmother who’d cooked family meals for years.
“Babe this looks amazing.” Liesl smelled her plate and sighed.
“Wait til you see what I’ve got for dessert.” He wiggled his eyebrows suggestively and Elliot groaned.
“Please tell me you’re serving that one up in the privacy of your own bedroom.”
“You better believe it.” AJ still had his eyes all over his girlfriend as she blushed up a storm.
“This is Dani.” Liesl cleared her throat and pointed across the table.
AJ’s chef’s hat tipped as he turned to face her. Dimples punctured his cheeks as he held his large hand across the table. “Enchante.” He kissed her knuckles dramatically.
I rolled my eyes. She just grinned.
“Nice to meet you too. Thanks for cooking dinner.”
“Angus wants to be a chef.” Liesl poked her fork into the lasagna and broke off a small piece. “He’ll run his very own bistro one day.”
He nodded. Looking pleased that his girlfriend was so supportive. I wouldn’t be surprised if those two lasted the distance and got married. They were so together already - like an old married couple. It kind of reminded me of my parents.
I scooped up a forkful of lasagna. It melted in my mouth, exploding with a whole new set of flavors at the end. It was divine. AJ had mega talent and I really hoped his dream did come true. I’d eat at one of his restaurants any day.
Loading my fork, I spied Dani out of the corner of my eye and watched her wolf down the meal. She still ate elegantly, but you could tell she was hungry, like this was her only meal for the day or something. That girl could put away the food, that’s for sure. Her plate was getting close to empty much faster than the rest of us.
Elliot reached for the ketchup.
AJ slapped his hand over Elliot’s before he could pick up the bottle. “Dude, what are you doing?”
Elliot let out a long winded sigh. “Do we have to go through this every time we eat your food?”
Dani’s eyes popped up and whipped between the two of them. We were all used to this conversation, knowing there was a certain amount of theatrics to it. The guys always got mad, a little huffy and within ten minutes it was as if the tiff never happened.
AJ’s fingers squeezed Elliot’s knuckles. “The meal doesn’t need ketchup.”
“Well, that’s where you’re wrong. Every meal needs ketchup.”
“I have put enough flavor in that food to satisfy your taste buds for a year. Now let go of the ketchup bottle.”
Liesl pressed her lips together, obviously fighting a grin.
Elliot narrowed his eyes and went to lift the ketchup, but AJ slammed his hand back down. “Do not bastardize my food with ketchup.”
“Let go of the bottle!” Elliot warned between gritted teeth.
And the little tug and slam routine began. I tuned out and kept munching on my meal with an entertained smirk. “Don’t worry, it’ll be over soon.” I winked at Dani.
Her bemused expression softened a little, but she continued to watch, almost fascinated. Her bright blue eyes soaked it all in, her lips twitching as the boys scuffled it out.
“AJ! We need you back in the kitchen!” The main sous chef popped his head through the swinging double doors.
“Coming.” AJ grunted.
“Now!”
“Damn it, Elliot! Every time.” AJ let go of the bottle and huffed. With a triumphant grin, Elliot watched AJ stalk back to the kitchen as he whacked a large dollop of ketchup onto his plate.
Jaeda giggled. “I love it when he gets mad over food. It’s so cute.”
“Stop it.” Liesl’s reprimand was lost within her giggles. “You shouldn’t do that to him, Elliot.”
“He can take it.” Elliot shoveled a huge mouthful onto his fork and dipped it into the ketchup.
“So, how mad is he really?” Dani twirled the fork in her hand, sounding uncertain.
“Oh, don’t worry, sweetie.” Liesl waved her hand. “It’s just an act. He’ll come out chirping in a minute. He and Elliot go way back.”
“Yeah, they’re broskis all the way.” Jaeda nodded. “Since like first grade. They love each other.” She batted her eyelashes, which were colored pink today.
I laughed at Elliot’s warning look to Jae. She just giggled and slapped his arm.
Dani didn’t quite know what to make of my friends. She eyed them all carefully as she finished her meal, maybe assessing like I always did. I guess we weren’t like normal high school kids. We didn’t put on a show for anyone. We were like a little family and really didn’t care what anyone else thought. No matter what, we were always there for each other and there was no judging involved. We’d nursed Jaeda’s broken heart when her dad and sister left, we’d been there for Elliot when his grandma, the woman who raised him, died. We’d watched the blossoming romance between Liesl and AJ and had quickly figured out when to push and when to back off.