Chapter 212.

Thirty minutes later.

The kitchen looked nothing like it had when they first walked in.

Kylie had somehow managed to turn a spotless luxury kitchen into a place that looked lived in within half an hour.

There was a cutting board on the marble island.

A bowl of strawberries sat beside a bunch of bananas, several grapes, two apples, and a handful of blueberries. There was a plate between them, already half-filled with fruit.

Christian stood on the opposite side of the island, with his sleeves pushed up to his elbows.

Kylie held a knife in one hand. She pointed it at him.

Christian raised an eyebrow. "I haven’t done anything."

"Your face is doing something."

"My face?"

"Yes."

He glanced at his reflection in the dark window behind him. "What is my face doing?" He asked, completely clueless.

"Judging me."

Christian smiled.

Kylie narrowed her eyes at him. "Stop smiling."

"I can’t."

"Why?"

"Because you’re standing in your kitchen, and threatening me with a butter knife."

She looked down at the knife. Then back at him. "It’s not a butter knife." She rolled her eyes and returned to cutting the apple.

Christian watched her for a few seconds. Then he reached for a strawberry.

Kylie slapped his hand away.

He looked at her hand. "I was helping."

"You were stealing."

Kylie shook her head. "Give me the strawberry."

Christian held it up between his fingers. "No."

"Christian."

He popped it into his mouth.

Her jaw dropped. "You did not."

He chewed slowly.

She stared at him in disbelief.

He swallowed. "Delicious."

Kylie gasped in disbelief.

He reached for another strawberry.

She immediately slapped his hand away again. "No."

"For eating a strawberry?"

"For eating the strawberry I was saving."

"You have seventeen more."

"I was saving that one."

Christian looked at the bowl. "How did you know I was going to take it?"

"Because I know you." Kylie looked down at the cutting board. "Stop taking my fruuts."

Christian’s expression softened. "You know me?"

She glanced up. "Unfortunately."

His smile widened. "That’s cute."

She shook her head, but she was smiling.

Christian leaned against the counter. "Okay."

"What?"

"You know me."

"Yes."

"Then answer something."

Kylie lifted an eyebrow. "What?"

"This or that."

She laughed. "Already?"

"Yes."

"We’re cutting fruit."

"Exactly. High-pressure environment."

She snorted. "Fine."

Christian crossed his arms. "Coffee or tea?"

"Coffee."

"Easy."

"Your turn."

"Coffee."

She stared at him. "You don’t even drink coffee."

"I do."

"You drink two sips and forget about it."

"That still counts."

"No, it doesn’t."

"Who made you the coffee police?" He taunt.

"You."

"Me?"

"You make coffee like you’re trying to punish yourself."

Christian laughed. "Okay. Tea."

Kylie nodded. "Better."

"Your turn."

She thought for a second. "Beach or mountains?"

"Beach." He answered.

"Why?"

"Because I like water."

Christian’s expression changed slightly when he realized the effect water might now have on her.

She gave him a small smile. "I like water when nobody is trying to drown me." She commented.

Christian’s jaw tightened for a second.

Kylie immediately reached across the counter and touched his wrist.

"Hey."

He looked at her.

"I’m okay."

He nodded. "I know."

She squeezed his wrist once before letting go.

"Your turn."

"Again?"

She nodded. "Again."

He took a breath.

"City or countryside?"

"City."

"Obviously." She laughed.

"What’s that supposed to mean?"

"You’d last three days in the countryside."

"I’d last longer than three days."

"How long?"

"Two weeks."

"Five days." She challenged.

"Ten."

"Seven." She argued.

Christain scoffed. "Eight."

"Deal."

She smiled. "Your turn."

Christian pretended to think. "Morning or night?"

"Night."

"Why?"

"Because people are quieter."

Christian smiled. "That’s very you."

"What does that mean?"

"You like the world better when it’s not asking you for anything."

Kylie went still for a moment. Then she looked at him. "That was surprisingly deep."

"I’m capable of depth."

"Occasionally."

"Very occasionally."

She laughed. "Okay. Your turn."

"Night."

She looked at him suspiciously. "You copied me."

"I didn’t."

"You did."

Christian defended himself. "I like nights."

"Why?"

He shrugged. "Because you’re usually awake."

Kylie stared at him.

Christian’s mouth curved.

She shook her head. "That was smooth."

"I’ll try harder next time."

She picked up a grape and threw it at him.

Christian caught it.

He looked at the grape in his palm, and then popped the grape into his mouth.

Kylie pointed at him. She glared at him sternly. "That was mine."

"You threw it."

"I didn’t say you could eat it."

"You threw food at me."

"You’re supposed to throw it back."

"Why would I waste a perfectly good grape?"

She sighed. "Okay, let’s finish this. It’s almost late."

Christain nodded.

Kylie went back to cutting the fruit. Christian began washing the blueberries. There was something strangely peaceful about it.

Just the two of them standing in a kitchen that had belonged to no one yesterday and somehow already felt like theirs.

Kylie glanced at him. "Very impressive." She noticed how he cut the fruit.

He dried his hands with a towel. "I could cook."

She laughed, and then she picked up another strawberry. "This one is yours."

She held it out.

Christian leaned forward.

She pulled it away at the last second.

He laughed in disbelief. "Seriously?"

"You should’ve seen your face."

"Kylie."

She laughed. "You deserved that."

"I did nothing."

She held the strawberry out again.

He reached for it again, and she moved it away.

He raised an eyebrow. "Are we going to do this all afternoon?"

"Maybe."

"Kylie."

"Christian."

He stepped around the island.

She immediately backed away.

He smiled.

"Stay there."

"Why?"

"Because I know that look."

"What look?"

"The one that means you’re about to do something annoying."

"I’m offended."

"You should be."

He took another step.

She took another step backward. "Don’t come close."

He grinned.

"You started this."

"I gave you a strawberry."

"You teased me with it."

"That doesn’t count."

"It absolutely counts."

He moved again.

Kylie laughed and ran around the island.

Christian followed.

"Christian!"

"You started it."

"I was joking." She wheezed.

"So was I."