Someone's bound to get burned

«Remind me again how you achieve convincing me that you knew how to cook?» asked Chloé while vigorously whisking eggs.

-When I said I loved to cook, I was really meaning that I love to eat, responded Brandon, wildly at her without an ounce of shame on his face.
-I figured that after taking a look at your pantry, said Chloé, laughing.
-It is a very nice pantry, what is wrong with my pantry? Asked Brandon, faking being offended.
-Well, when you got me into this plan of receiving your buddies for dinner at your place, I was expecting finding more than a lonely box of Cherrios on the shelves...!
-When you’ve got Cheerios, you don’t need anything else!
-What about flour? Baking powder? Some spices? Wondered Chloé, teasing him.
-Spices? But I’ve got spices! Cried Brandon.
-... except salt and pepper...
-I’m so lucky to have my own little Juliette Child, teaching me about cooking and spices, putting a strand of hair falling in front of her eyes between her ear.
-I think you mean Juliette, said Chloé, smirking.
-I was just obviously checking if you knew your stuff, responded Brandon, kissing her lightly.

Chloé dipped her index into the measuring cup filled with flour and lightly touched Brandon’s nose. The couple were at the counters of Brandon’s apartment, preparing food for dinner. Brandon’s apartment was the typical bachelor place; modern and classy furniture in black, white and grey tones, big expensive TV system, video games... Chloé couldn’t help but feel like she was crawling into the typical man lair every time she came over. But right, Brandon had put on a Norah Jones’ disc and the two of them were sipping on some white wine as the smell of Bolognese sauce cooking was spreading through the apartment.

They had been date for a few weeks now. Brandon had invited a few of his best friends on the team over for dinner, pledging that he wanted to have a relax evening before the stress and the the crazy schedules of the playoff began. Actually he more excited about having a few of his friends over so they can get to know Chloé better. He was wishing she’d get along with them and was secretly hoping she’d become friends with the others players’ wives or girlfriends. Chloé had become more than just a fling to him; he wanted to make it works.

***

«Bolly, I always loved your priorities” teased Bickell, sitting down by his wife at the dining room table.

-If you mean giving wine to everyone before you, that is my kind of priorities, said Brandon, punching the upper arm of his friend as he poured red wine into Bickell’s cup.
-No, I mean focusing on the wine while your girl is in the kitchen trying to get us fed, responded Bickell.
-It’s not my fault; she kicked me out of the kitchen after I mixed up sugar and salt for the second times...
-I’d kill to see you with an apron, Bolly, laughed Kane.
-I would not laugh Kane, considering your food intake if about 90% take-out food and 10% HoneyCombs, said Bickell.
-Guys, seriously, what is up with the grudge with the HoneyCombs? You all jealous your wives do not allow you to buy some!? Cried Kane.
-I’ll go check if Chloé need helps, said Jonathan to Amanda, patting the back of her hand lightly.

Chloé was in the kitchen as Jonathan walked in, putting carefully pieces of lasagna in plates. She was wearing a dark blue wash skinny jeans, a white with blue flowers print blouse and a pair of red heels. Her hair was tucked into a bun low on her neck and sparkly silver studs earrings were catching the light every time she moved.

“Need any help here?” asked Jonathan, leaning against the counter.

-Could you hand these two empty plates over please? Said Chloé, trying to blow the usual strands of hair from her face.
-There you go, said Jonathan, handing her the plates, and there... you go, said Jonathan, putting the strand of hair behind her ear.

Their eyes locked for a few seconds. Laughers coming from the dining room brought Chloé back to reality. “Making sure there is no hair in your lasagna, right?” said Chloé, giggling nervously.

-Hey Tazer, trying to get to taste, before anyone else? Joked loudly Brandon, walking in the kitchen.

The two friends turned toward him, startled. “Just trying to know if I could help with anything. You know how Kaner gets when he’s hungry.”

Brandon laughed. “Yeah, we don’t want that to happen”. He leaned toward Chloé and said, putting one arm around her waist and kissing her on the cheek “Is everything ready, sweetie?”
Jonathan turned and looked away as Brandon was rubbing Chloé’s back as she showed them the plates that were ready to be taken to the table. He thought being all together, with Amanda there, seeing Chloé and Brandon together would helps confirm and shut down those crazy thoughts once and for all.

Now, he mostly thought it was just a huge mistake.

***

“Okay, these brownies are so good, I am literally dying, said Kane, his mouth stuffed with brownies and caramel sauce. Can I come live with you and eat those brownies every single day for the rest of my live?”

-Hold your horses, Patrick, we don’t live together, responded Chloé.
-It is even better that way; I don’t care much about Bolly. So Choé, when am I moving in with you? said Patrick, a grin on his face while he looked at his teammate.
-Don’t even think about it, Kaner, said Brandon, putting an arm around Chloé’s shoulders.

The evening had been fun and relax. Wine had been drank; scotch was now being poured into glasses while Irish Cream Baileys was being poured into coffee mugs.

“I think Patrick is making sure we got Chloé around for a long time, said Abby, who was sitting on the other side of their hostess, putting her hand on Chloé’s arm. The food was fabulous.”

-You’d believe the team got into a match-making business or something. Jonny organizing their first date, Kaner pushing them to move in together... Next thing we know Bickell will officiate at their wedding! Said Sharp, laughing, as he sipped on his scotch.
-Thank you guys; way to freak someone out for mentioning the word “wedding” after they’ve been dating for only a few weeks, said grumpily Bollig,
-Don’t worry Patrick, we’ll keep the flower girl spot for you, joked Chloé while looking at Kane.
-I can’t wait to see you in your white dress, Kaner, said Jonathan.
-My friends are so great, gosh, responded Kaner.
-Do you want more brownies, asked Chloé to Kane, winking.
-Yes, please! Bollig, I love this girl. Did I ever tell you I love this girl?
-Yes, actually. Maybe even a bit too much to my own taste...

Chloé was in the kitchen, putting a second service of brownies in Kane’s and napping it heavily with caramel sauce. She was considering brewing more coffee when voices came to ear from the dining room.

“Kane might not be the one who will need a white dress in the next years” casually said Amanda.

The group fell momentarily silent.

“Are you two..!?”

-We’ve been giving it some though, about moving in together, and you know, the next steps, said Amanda, taking Jonathan hand and throwing a loving look at her boyfriend.
-Oh my god! Cried Abby.
-Tazer, you little sneaky bastard! Cried Bickell.
-There is nothing official, guys! Said Jonathan, trying to calm their reactions.
-... but it is in the air! I love weddings! Smiled Abby.
-Maddy would be the cutest flower girl, said Amanda to Abby.
-Sweetie, you okay back there? Cried Brandon toward the kitchen.

“Yeah, I’m brewing more coffee, coming right up!”

The words she just heard had hit her like a violent slap in the face. It was one thing coming to term with the fact that her relationship with Jonathan was a friendship, and would never be anything but that, but hearing those plan of moving in and wedding was the cruel confirmation that whatever she ever felt toward her friend had never been felt on his side. He was just having fun with her. He liked the attention. He liked he always had someone to run back to.

Breathe in, breathe out. You are moving on. You’ve got this. You’ve got Brandon. You’ve got this.

Chloé grabbed Kane’s plate and the coffee pot and walked back into the dining room, a big smile plastered on her face. Jonathan was looking at her, but his eyes never met his.

She knew what she had to do.

Notes

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