Total pages in book: 64
Estimated words: 60851 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 304(@200wpm)___ 243(@250wpm)___ 203(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 60851 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 304(@200wpm)___ 243(@250wpm)___ 203(@300wpm)
Ewan knew he was getting emotionally involved, and he didn’t want to make Dev feel uncomfortable if his feelings weren’t reciprocated. He’d promised Dev a no-strings arrangement and didn’t want to mess things up by admitting his attachment.
He sighed, standing on the doorstep of his own house, lost in thought. The chill of the stone seeped into his feet, reminding him of his lack of shoes. He pushed the door, sure he’d left it ajar, but it was closed and locked now.
“Bugger,” he muttered, ringing on the bell and then banging on the door for good measure.
“Where’s the fire?” Ryan asked as he opened the door.
“Sorry, someone shut me out.”
“Nadia thought you’d gone next door with your new boyfriend.”
“He’s not my boyfriend.” Ewan didn’t mean to snap, but it came out sounding pissy.
Ryan raised placating hands as Ewan pushed past him. “Whatever, dude. You know I don’t care.”
Ewan let out an exasperated sigh. It wasn’t fair to take his frustration out on Ryan. He was a good bloke and a good mate. Ewan turned back to him. “Yeah, I’m sorry. I just….” He shrugged.
“You like him.” Ryan was perceptive. He might have been all beer and football on the surface, but there was a depth to him that Ewan appreciated.
“Yeah. But it’s complicated, though. So I’m not sure it’s gonna work out.”
“Isn’t it always?” Ryan said. “Relationships, man. I’m not sure they’re worth the hassle. But I hope it works out for you anyway.” Ryan gave him a gentle bro-punch to the shoulder.
“Thanks. Me too.” Ewan gave a half-hearted grin before heading up to his room. “See you later.”
Ewan got an email from Dev on Monday evening, with a link to a recipe for chicken and mushroom curry.
How about this? It takes a bit longer to cook than the stir-fry, but it looks nice. If you like the sound of it, I’ll buy the ingredients on my way home tomorrow. Let me know what time to come over.
Ewan replied. Sounds great. Any time after 5 is fine with me.
Dev turned up at five fifteen exactly.
Ewan knew the time because he’d been trying—and failing—not to watch the clock on the TV. He jumped up as soon as he heard the doorbell. “I’ll get it, it’s probably for me.”
“Ooh, is it your new boyfriend?” Nadia asked from where she was painting her nails at the table.
“I’m just cooking with Dev again.”
“Like I said….” She grinned knowingly.
Ewan’s housemates hadn’t let up on him since Sunday night. They all seemed to think he and Dev were an item, and he couldn’t be bothered to even try to explain what he and Dev were to each other. He’d let Nadia assume they were dating; it was easier that way.
Dev stood on the doorstep with a wide smile and two carrier bags.
“Come in.”
Ewan greeted him with a kiss on the cheek; only after he’d done it, he realised he might be overstepping. But Dev seemed okay with it because his smile widened.
Ewan reached out a hand. “Here let me take one of those.”
They carried the bags into the kitchen, which was empty for once, and unpacked the contents. Chicken thighs, onions, mushrooms, a bunch of coriander, a tin of chickpeas, a jar of curry paste, and a can of coconut milk.
“Maybe I should have got the real spices, but the recipe said this brand of curry paste is pretty good,” Dev said.
“And it’s a lot less stuff to buy.”
“Exactly.”
“Did you print the recipe off?” Ewan asked.
Dev’s face fell. “Oh no. I forgot. Sorry.”
“That’s okay. I’ll run upstairs and do it now. Why don’t you start by chopping the onion—remember how I showed you?”
“Sure.”
“Okay, back in a sec.”
When Ewan returned with the recipe, Dev had chopped the onion—into perfect, even-sized pieces—and was busy washing the mushrooms.
“Nice work.” Ewan was impressed. “You’re a fast learner.”
Dev shot him a glance, cheeks pinking under the bright overhead light. “You already knew that.”
Ewan laughed, blushing himself at being caught out in an accidental double-meaning. “I honestly wasn’t thinking about that. But yes, I did know. And now I’m thinking about it.”
Dev grinned and went back to his mushrooms. “Me too.”
“Stop distracting me. We’ve got food to cook.”
They worked together seamlessly. Dev followed all Ewan’s instructions with impressive attention to detail. Ewan let him do most of the work—he was supposed to be learning, after all—but he kept a close eye on him, standing behind Dev, watching over his shoulder as he chopped and sliced things in the preparation stage.
Once Dev was ready to start cooking, Ewan let Dev get on with it. Dev had the recipe to follow, but Ewan stayed close and answered any questions Dev had. Dev wanted to know details the recipe didn’t give.
“How often should I stir the onions? And how high should the gas ring be on?”