Evaline:
By the time River started giving the final finishing touches to his dishes, the kitchen was smelling warm and heavenly. A mix of spices, herbs, and that rich savory scent of roasted chicken filled the air, making my stomach curl with impatience.
But I kept myself busy with the counter so I wouldn't stare at him like an idiot... again.
I wiped the marble surface clean, polished it until it gleamed beneath the lights, and neatly set up the cutlery. Forks, spoons, plates, and water glasses... all aligned as perfectly as possible. It gave me something to do, a reason to keep my hands occupied, and more importantly, it kept my eyes away from him as he plated the dishes.
When I carried the last plate over, I realized something I had completely overlooked. We weren't going to eat in the dining hall tonight. It was just the two of us, so we were eating here at the kitchen counter.
Which meant… we would be sitting side by side.
