. /

I reached down and saw him in his hoodie and fit jogger pants. He was looking dashing.

"Come here" he motioned to me with his two fingers.

I shyly reached towards him and he picked me up on his back. I was a koala again.

I kissed his soft, fluffy hair and started massaging his scalp.

"What's your last name, koala bear?" he asked while cutting garlic.

"Campbell" I pulled his hair a bit and he groaned.

He glared at me and spanked me again.

This guy must be fit fit.

"Stop doing that" I whined.

"You like it," he said as a matter of fact.

Indeed.

"Do you have any siblings bubs?" I asked him.

"I do. Esmée is her name. She's in Asia. A photographer." he replied while adding something into the dish.

"What are they?" I asked.

"Spanish noodles," he replied.

"What are you making by the way, Jr. Chef Araztimuño?" I teased and bit his cheek.

"Avha, you are asking for it now," he said sternly.

I kissed the same cheek, where I had bitten him. Slightly caressing the mark.

"I'm sorry" I didn't even mean it.

He's a bad influence.

Bad Bad one.

After 25 minutes the dish was ready and it was smelling good.

"It smells amazing. Can I try?" I tried to take the fork when he hit my arm.

"Get away. Let me serve, Avha" he glared at me.

"No. You'll feed me. I'm tired" I kept my head in the crook of his neck and blew air.

He tensed visibly.

"Stop doing that baby," he grunted and took me to the dinner table.

Did he- He called me- Oh my

Oh my!

I danced in my head.

My cheeks reddened.

"How will I feed you?" he asked and kept the dishes on the table.

I didn't help him.

I'm not being a good girl.

Mama always said to help others. Or they'd think bad of you.

And I don't want him to think bad of me. He's the only one who is nice to me.

I turned to his front and now I had my legs and arms around him like before. Child-like.

I remained silent and didn't say anything. What if he won't talk to me for not being a good girl. I'm a good girl. I save money and try to help people. I don't fight and not cuss.

"What happened, baby. Why this sad face?" he asked as he sat us down on the chair.

I shook my head.

"Avha, look at me. What happened? You can tell me anything. I trust you. You trust me" he smiled encouragingly.

"I didn't help you in the kitchen. Does that make me a bad girl? I promise I'm not" I confessed.

I wasn't overreacting.

I don't want him to hate me, dislike me.

"Did I say you are a bad girl? You are an amazing person. And you helped me. You talked to me, massaged my head and I enjoyed it. You help me keep calm, baby. Never say that again, okay?" He said and kissed both of my closed eyes.

"These beautiful eyes don't get to cry on petty things. Okay?" he looked at me with utter softness.

I nodded my head.

"Words, baby"

"Okay"

"Come on. Let me feed you, my silly girl" he laughed.

Aiii, the dimples.

I ate the first bite. "It's tasty. Thank you" I hugged him.

His glove-clad hands fed me. He wore them every time.

Maybe we both had our reasons for it.

=====================================