Read Online Suffer Love by Ashley Herring Blake - Free Book Online Page B

waves a gloved hand. “Whatever. It’s dinner.”
    â€œYou cook?”
    He smiles while he moves aside some mushrooms and melted cheese, cutting into a piece of chicken to inspect it. “Surprised?”
    â€œA little.”
    â€œI started when my dad left. My mom’s not very domestic.”
    â€œOh. I’m sorry. About your dad I mean.”
    He shrugs and lays down the knife. “He had a good reason.” I’m not sure what to say to that, but he saves me by continuing. “Anyway, it was either cook or let my sister live on frozen pizzas. After a few rubbery chickens and a couple of kitchen fires, I actually got pretty good. It’s fun.”
    â€œKitchen fires?”
    â€œNo one was hurt except an oven mitt or two.”
    I laugh, breathing in the savory smell of the casserole before he covers it with foil. Another timer dings and he slides a coffeecake out of the bottom oven. Cinnamon.
    â€œWow. And you bake?” I lean over the counter and inhale again. “That smells incredible.”
    â€œThanks. My grandma taught me how to make this while we lived in Atlanta. Took me a while to get it right.”
    My mouth spreads into a smile as he sprinkles some raw sugar over the top of the cake.
    â€œWhat?” he asks, one corner of his mouth ticked up.
    â€œNothing. It’s just . . . well, you’re a baseball player, right?”
    â€œYeah.”
    â€œAnd a guy.”
    â€œAstute observation.”
    â€œYou have to admit, it’s a little unusual to meet a teenage-boy-slash-baker-slash-athlete.”
    He purses his lips and opens a door next to the refrigerator, disappearing into what I assume is the pantry. I hear him rummaging around, and when he emerges, he’s smocked in an extremely ruffly green and white striped apron. He spreads his arms wide. “Well, now you’ve met one.”
    I cover my mouth and laugh. “I guess I have. What would Josh say?”
    â€œHe’d say ‘Dude, this cake kicks ass.’”
    â€œOh my God, you sound just like him.”
    â€œHe’s not a tough one to imitate.” He takes out two plates from the cabinet. “Want to try some?”
    â€œYeah?”
    â€œSure. You can be my taste-tester.”
    â€œOkay, but only if you take off that apron.”
    â€œNot my color?”
    â€œI don’t think the color is the problem.”
    He removes the apron as he rounds the island. Before I have a chance to protest, he loops it over my head and pulls my hair out of the strap’s grasp. His fingers graze my neck a little and I bite the inside of my cheek to keep from shivering.
    â€œYou’re right. Looks much better on you.”
    I laugh nervously and look down at the starchy, cottony stripes. He grins and returns to the cake, slicing two large pieces onto the plates. He slides one over to me with a fork. I quickly take a bite, my mouth already watering.
    â€œHoly crap,” I manage through a sugary mouthful. There must be a pound of butter in this thing. “That’s amazing. I’m officially impressed.”
    His smile is huge, spilling into his eyes and crinkling the corners. “It’s Livy’s favorite.”
    â€œYour sister?”
    â€œYep. She just turned fourteen in July.”
    â€œAre you close?”
    He nods and digs around in a cardboard box near the sink, coming up with two glasses. “She’s a pain in my ass half the time, but I love her. She’s all I have, really.”
    I want to ask what he means by this, but any question I form in my mind sounds intrusive. I finish off my cake as he pours Coke into the glasses and hands one to me. “I’m an only child. I’ve always sort of liked that, but . . .” I take a sip of Coke, my throat suddenly dry.
    He tilts his head at me. “But what?”
    I take a deep breath. “I don’t know. I used to be super close with my dad, but now