Bound to my Enemy novel Chapter 63

Chapter 63: Chapter 63.

By the time I pull up outside Lucas’s place, my stomach is already tight. Not because I’m nervous to see them or anything like that but because Noah texted earlier that he was cooking.

I sit in the car for a moment, keys still in my hand, staring at the front door. It’s wide open, which is normal for Lucas. What is not normal is the faint smell drifting out.... Did something burn? With Something oily underneath it. Just incase you were wondering ........ yes I slipped out from my new body guards hold. Now I know I knwo I know, I shouldn’t have but I don’t plan on taking too much time outside here, I’m just here for lunch then I’ll leave, I’ll leave before anyone even notices that I’m gone. I missed my family so when I got that text messaged I hurried up to Lucas’s house, despite Noah being shut at cooking.

I sigh and get out of the car.

Inside, the house is loud. Not chaotic loud, just lived-in unlike Zane’s house. Music playing from someone’s phone. A cupboard slamming shut with voices overlapping from the kitchen.

"I told you to turn it down!." Caleb practically shouts from his position in the kitchen.

"I did turn it down," Noah replies. "That’s medium."

"That is not medium Noah."

I drop my bag on the chair by the door and walk toward the kitchen.

Lucas is leaning against the counter with a glass of water in his hand, watching Noah work at the stove like he’s witnessing a crime and waiting for the right moment to intervene. Caleb is at the sink, rinsing something aggressively.

Noah is at the stove, wooden spoon in hand, jaw tight, looking fully committed.

"Hey," I say.

All three of them look up.

Lucas smiles. "Oh there she is, sunshine."

Caleb’s face softens upon seeing me . "Hey, El."

Noah barely glances at me. "You’re late."

"I’m ten minutes late," I say. "And based on the smell, that might have saved my life, what got burnt in here."

Lucas snorts into his water.

Noah shoots him a look. "Don’t encourage her."

I lean against the counter, arms crossed, watching the pan. "What is it."

"Cacio e pepe," Noah says. "Simple."

Caleb mutters, " that’s what It was supposed to be."

Noah glares at him. "It still is."

Lucas tilts his head. "How many times did you add pepper."

Noah ignores him and turns back to me. "Sit El, food is almo almost ready."

"I’m scared, " I say honestly.

"You always say that."

"And I’m usually right."

I sit anyway. Lucas pulls out a chair for me with his foot and I drop into it, listening to the pan sizzle behind me.

Noah plates the food with so much confidence, he sets a plate in front of me first

"Go on," he says. "Try it."

I look at it. It’s pasta, sure, but it’s dark and speckled in a way pasta shouldn’t be.

Closing my eyes take a bite..... then chew.

And oh my living lord It’s bad.

It’s not totally unedible, but it’s bad in a very Noah way. Overly seasoned, way too much pepper so much that my throat burns a little.

I swallow.

"Well?" Noah says. "Thoughts."

Lucas doesn’t even try to hide it. He coughs and reaches for his water.

Caleb winces mid-chew.

I choose my words carefully. "It’s uhmmmm... it’s a lot."

"A lot how, what do you mean " Noah presses.

"It’s very pepper-forward."

Lucas chokes on a laugh. "That’s a polite way of putting it."

Noah turns on him. "Eat it."

"I am eating it."

"You took only one bite."

"Hey I’m pacing myself, don’t rush me."

Caleb finally swallows. "Really good Noah, really."

Noah relaxes slightly. "Thank you."

"But," Caleb adds, "I think you out did yourself with the pepper."

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