Stuck with You - Alexandra Moody Page 0,70

was five, but I really couldn’t blame her. Even a five-year-old probably could have cooked a frozen pizza without destroying the kitchen in the process.

By the time we started the actual cooking, I was beginning to wonder if this was such a good idea. It wasn’t at all like the cute cooking moments in all the rom-coms I’d been forced to watch with girls. We weren’t throwing flour at each other, and we weren’t lightly touching hands as we stirred the pot together.

It felt more like I was in the army being ordered around by my commander. Clary took everything she did in the kitchen very seriously and was likely terrified I’d burn the place down. But, if I was honest, the more she ordered me about, the more I enjoyed it. I liked seeing her take charge.

“Okay, now layer some of the sauce across the bottom of the dish…” She frowned as she glanced at me. “Why are you looking at me like that?”

I’d suddenly realized I’d been staring at her rather than concentrating on the next task. “Well, you’re kind of cute when you get all demanding. It’s hard not to watch.”

She blushed, but the annoyed look in her eyes didn’t disappear. “Aiden…”

“Yes?”

“Stop staring at me, and focus on the food.”

“Okay.” I laughed. I was enjoying this far too much.

By the time we’d finished the dish and put it in the oven, I was surprised by how much I’d enjoyed cooking. And it wasn’t just the part where I got to spend time with Clary either. Hell, I think I’d actually learned something.

“Thanks for teaching me to cook, Chef.” I grinned at Clary as she closed the oven door.

She gave me a smile of her own as she turned to me. “I’m shocked to say you weren’t totally terrible.”

“Well, the lasagna’s not out of the oven yet…”

She rolled her eyes. “Don’t worry, it’s not going to get burned. I put a timer on, so, unlike your pizza, I think it’s going to make it.”

“I still wouldn’t be surprised if I managed to mess it up somehow.”

She shook her head, still smiling at me. “You’ve got to have more faith.”

“Something smells good,” Mom said, entering the room. I’d hoped to see her looking more rested after a day off, but her skin was still pale and tired circles ringed her eyes. I tried to push down the worry I felt for her and pasted on a smile.

“I made lasagna,” I announced with pride. “Clary taught me.”

“She did, did she?”

“Yep,” Clary replied. “And he’s a quick study.”

“Really?” Mom sounded so surprised I was almost offended.

“Thanks, Mom,” I muttered.

“Yeah, he did really well,” Clary added.

My mother’s eyes betrayed her suspicion. I’d never once showed an iota of interest in cooking before. From the way she was looking between the two of us, it was clear she suspected I had ulterior motives for wanting to learn now. She wouldn’t be wrong.

“Well, that’s great. How long until dinner?” Mom asked.

“About twenty minutes,” Clary replied.

“That gives us some time for a family activity.” There was a sense of eagerness in Mom’s voice, and her expression became animated at the idea. “I bought us a jigsaw puzzle to do together. What do you guys think?”

I smiled at Mom. “Sounds good.”

“Great. I’ll go grab your brother, and we can start it on the dinner table before we eat.” Mom rushed from the room. Her level of excitement about doing a puzzle was completely mystifying. I couldn’t understand how anyone could look forward to such a boring activity.

“I thought you didn’t do puzzles,” Clary said as my mom left the room.

I did remember telling her that, but I just shrugged. “If it makes Mom happy, what’s the harm?”

Surprise lit Clary’s eyes, but she turned before I could get a read on the expression. I wasn’t sure why she was shocked. Doing a puzzle was hardly a big deal.

The jigsaw puzzle turned out to be one made for kids, and we all laughed when we solved it in next to no time.

“Mom, I thought you said you had a challenge out here for me,” Elliot said with a smile. It turned out that puzzles were Elliot’s secret talent, and he’d probably placed more pieces than all of us put together.

Mom lifted her hands helplessly in the air. “A hundred pieces sounded like a lot.”

“I’m sure it did,” I replied with a laugh. I was hardly about to complain though. I didn’t exactly find puzzles thrilling and wasn’t interested