Stay For Me

15 | welcome to the family

"Hi," I reply politely. "Good day at school?" I ask and he nods, pushing his backpack onto the floor in front of him while he fastens his seatbelt.

Rio opens the door beside Knox and playfully launches Ellerie into her car seat. "Thea!" She exclaims as she offers me a warm, toothy smile.

"Ellerie!" I say back just as enthusiastically and she giggles, lifting her arms up and allowing Rio to fasten her seatbelt.

He opens the door and gets back in next to me, turning the car on and pulling away from the school grounds.

"Ti sei divertito oggi?" Rio says, glancing in the rear view mirror at Ellerie.
[translation: did you have fun today?]

She nods her head a few times, clasping her hands together on her lap. "Sì! Ho letto due libri e ho giocato con Theo." She replies and I find myself smiling at the fact she is friends with my little cousin.
[translation: yes! I read two books and played with Theo]

I've never heard Ellerie speak Italian before. I didn't actually think she could even speak it to be honest. She sounds adorable with her high pitched voice and her little accent appearing every now and then.

Rio chuckles beside me and I catch him glance at me through my peripheral vision. "E tu, Knox?" Rio asks and I watch Knox as he shrugs his shoulder casually.
[translation: and you, Knox?]

"Era ok." He simply replies and I inadvertently chuckle. So we're back to this Knox again.
[translation: it was ok]

Rio's hand lands on my thigh and I glance down towards it, smiling at how much it actually covers my leg. His hands really are huge. His fingers are long and slender with veins covering his palms.

I place my much smaller hand on top of his and find myself smiling as I compare the two sizes. His thumb strokes back and forth across my skin as he continues to drive.

"You good?" He asks quietly and I offer a small nod in response, settling into my seat and making the most of the journey back to his house.

"How did you learn to cook so well?" I ask as I rest my elbows on the counter of the small island in his kitchen.

He glances up at me, his green eyes meeting mine through the frames of his black glasses. "My mom," he replies and I find myself wishing I never pried. "It's okay, Thea. I don't mind talking about her."

My eyes flick down to watch as he continues cutting the ends off a small bunch of asparagus. "How are you cooking that?" I ask, feeling myself becoming curious at his cooking techniques.

"I'll just pan-roast this, they taste a bit different this way than if you boil them in water." He replies and I raise my brows, impressed by his knowledge on food.

I can barely make toast without burning it.

"I'll fry the mushrooms and tomatoes at the same time as the asparagus, then just fry the chicken in a pan and keep turning it so it cooks well on both sides." He says and I just stare at him in awe as he talks so calmly about cooking. Who the hell is this man? Gordon Ramsay?

I nod my head slowly, pretending that I actually know what he's talking about. "What's that?" I ask as I point to the liquid that he's pouring into the pan.