Chapter 78
Chapter 78
Caleb
I’ve never been this stressed in my entire life! I spent the night watching videos on how to make the perfect pancakes, but a spoiled man like me clearly wasn’t meant to cook food. At least not the edible kind, since everything is burnt!
I look around in a wild panic. There are three plates with pancakes–all of them burnt. Butter, eggs, and two pans sticky with pancake batter fill the kitchen counter, and when I hear footsteps coming from the bedroom, my heart just about jumps up into my throat. I feel like screaming since this isn’t the vision I had when I started.
I wanted to impress Leah, not scare her away!
“Something smells burnt,” Leah’s voice says from the corridor, and I release a heavy sigh.
How do I make this disastrous place less disappointing? What do have to offer that might make her happy–
I look down at my dirty, white t–shirt. Hmm, maybe something can be done here to add some magic to the moment? Should I do it? Probably. In a last–ditch effort to put a smile on my fiancée’s face, I take off the t–shirt. Girls like abs, right?
Leah rounds the corner and gawks at the scene. The kitchen is covered in flour. It’s like a winter wonderland, and there, in the middle of the chaos, I stand shirtless, wild–eyed, and wielding a spatula like a weapon.
“Ta–da?” I say weakly, gesturing at the disaster zone with a forced smile.
Leah’s gaze travels from the smoking pan on the stove to the sad stack of charred pancakes on the counter. One of her eyebrows lifts from its place, and then she turns to me and my sheepish expression. She doesn’t,meet my eyes immediately. Her eyes linger on my exposed abs before snapping up to my face. She then opens her mouth, closes it, then opens it again.
“Well,” she finally manages, “I see you’ve been…busy”
I run a flour–covered hand through my hair, leaving white streaks that must make me look like a prematurely graying mad scientist. “I may have underestimated the difficulty of pancake–making,” I admit embarrassedly.
Leah bites her lip, clearly trying to hold back laughter. “I can see that…”
“I’m sorry,” I pout and throw the spatula into the sink. “I didn’t think cooking would be this hard, but it is, and II never cook for myself. I’m rich as fuck, so I never really bothered. Please don’t hate me for not having breakfast ready.”
1 against… I expect Leah to point out that the “other Caleb” would have made her perfect pancakes, and the mere thought makes me bitter. It feels like I’m competing with a better version of myself that I can never
“I don’t hate you,” Leah smiles. “But maybe we
should head out to get breakfast somewhere else?”
“That’s probably a good idea,” I say, relieved that Leah isn’t upset about the ruined breakfast. “There’s a great café not far from here that serves amazing pastries and coffee. One of their arts came up on my phone. We could head them if you’d like
Leah’s eyes light up. “Ooh, pastries sound wonderful. Let me just grab my coat, and we can go.”
As she turns to leave the kitchen, I call out, “Wait!”
She pauses, looking back at me questioningly.
19:07 Sat, Feb 1 13 O
Chapter 78
“Don’t put your coat on just yet. I need to find something else to wear that isn’t covered in pancake batter..” I tell her, suddenly feeling self–conscious about my hare chest.
Leah’s gaze drops to my abs again, a faint blush coloring her checks. “Um, yes. That would probably..”
A tiny smirk curls my lips. “Like what you see?”
That cliché sentence makes her return to earth and roll her beautiful eyes at me. “Uh, no? I’ve seen you like what, a hundred times before without a shirt on?”
“True, but that doesn’t change the fact you were rendered speechless for a minute there.”
“Pfft!” Leah is about to roll her eyes again, but it doesn’t give the same effect when I see she is blushing up to her ears.
My smirk grows and then I’m moving, walking towards her to place my hand on her shoulder and whisper into her ear. “Careful, Leah. If you get any redder, people might mistake you for the firetruck.”
She gasps and swats in my direction–big mistake. Her hand lands on my upper abs, and I turn deathly still, eyeing her hand with raised eyebrows before I look into her blushing face.
“You’re very forward this morning,” I tease.
Sne snatches her hand away from my abs as if my skin somehow burnt her. “I–I didn’t mean to… You moved, and L…
My smirk widens to godlike levels. “No need to explain. I know I’m irresistible.”
She narrows her eyes at me. “You wish. Now go put a shirt on before your ego gets any bigger.”
I chuckle, holding my hands up in surrender since the look she is giving could kill a man. “Alright, alright. I’m going.” I turn to leave, then pause, glancing back at Leah over my broad shoulder. “Unless you’d prefer I stay like this?”
She grabs the nearest object-a dish towel–and throws it at my face. “Go!”
Laughing, I dodge the towel with ease and disappear down the hallway. Even without my memories, I know exactly how to push Leah’s buttons. And my, isn’t she a cutie when she is mad at me. So pretty.
With a stupid smile, I open the wardrobe and get dressed in something more designed to win hearts.
After getting dressed in clean clothes, I rejoin Leah in the kitchen. She’s tidied up a bit while I was gone, stacking the dirty pans in the sink.
“Ready to go?” I ask.
Leah nods, grabbing her coat and purse. “Lead the way to these amazing pastries you promised.”
We head out into the crisp Stockholm morning. As we walk, I steal glances at Leah. To be honest, I didn’t think she was my type the first time I saw her at the hospital. But…she is growing at me.
I can definitely see how the other me fell in love with this woman. She is so alive. Yes, that’s the word! In a world filled with
who only look at their phone screens, Leah looks at the world instead. I love that about her.
people
Wait…
Love?
19:07 Sat, Feb i
Chapter 78
3
Shit, I need to get a grip. I can’t be falling this fast for a complete and utter stranger!
Calm down, Caleb!
1 resume walking and soon, we settle into a cozy corner table at the cafe. Leah orders a chocolate croissant and hot chocolate, while I go for a cinnamon roll and coffee.
“So.” I say after we’ve taken a few bites, “how do you like Sweden
Leah’s eyes light up as she swallows a bite of croissant. “Oh, I love it! The architecture is stunning, and everyone has been so friendly. Plus, the pastries are to die for.” She takes another big bite as if to emphasize her point.
I chuckle, sipping my coffee. “I’m glad you’re enjoying it. I have to admit, I don’t remember much about Stockholm, but it does seem like a beautiful city.”
Leah nods, then hesitates. “Do you…do you remember anything new? About us, I mean?”
I feel a pang of guilt at the hopeful look in her eyes. “I’m sorry, not yet. But I do feel…drawn to you. Like there’s a connection between us, even if I can’t remember the details.”
She smiles softly. “That’s something, at least. And hey, the doctors said your memories should come back eventually, right?”
rh I can’t help 1
“Right,” I agree, worry. What if my stupid head never recovers my memories? What if never remember our life together?
Leah must sense my unease. She gives me a concerned look and then takes my hand in hers. “Hey, it’s okay. You and I are soulmates, and we will figure this out together.
try not to overthink the fact that we are actually touching and how natural it feels. Instead, 1 give her a smile. “Together, I like the sound of that.”
1
Ө
AD
