Yes, I have a new chapter up in less than month for once! Once I got started I couldn't stop writing and everything just seem to write itself. I hope everyone enjoys this chapter as much as I had fun writing it. Of course I must thank Tigersman for being my editor and also helping me with the general story as I bounce ideas off of him.
For everyone new to my series, please go back to the beginning so can get better familiar with the background and start to fall in love with the characters as many of my readers have.
*****
"Why are you so nervous?" Jackie asks completely baffled.
"I don't want to hurt your feeling if I don't like it."
"You will love it! I promise."
"I don't know Jackie," Keith says not sure if he can go through with this. His anxiety is starting to get the best of him as they walk around the grocery store.
"I know you like stir fry already. We've had it together before."
"I just..." Keith isn't quite sure what to say. All of a sudden Jackie became very persistent that she make dinner for them. He wasn't apprehensive about the idea of having a stir fry, he just didn't want to make Jackie feel horrible if he didn't like it. He was always weary of when people made things their way because once in a while they would add something that would make him not want to eat the dish anymore.
Jackie stops walking and lays her hand on Keith's arm as he is pushing the cart. "Keith, look at me." He turns his head to look at her big smile. "The recipe I have in mind is something you will love. Beef, peppers, onions, baby shrimp, carrots, water chestnuts, and of course noodles, all with a teriyaki sauce. Name one of those things you don't like."
Keith laughs at himself for feeling so stupid. "I should have known you would make sure you only put in things I like."
"Duh! What type of girlfriend would I be if I didn't?" They continue to walk around, gathering everything Jackie needs. Just when Keith thinks they are all set, he sees Jackie grab a small package of mushrooms. "These will be for me. I can't completely compromise on everything when it comes to food."
"True, but really? Mushrooms?"
"Yes mushrooms. How else will I be able to survive a hit from a goomba?"
Keith busts out in laughter not anticipating that response. "First Star Trek and now video game references. How are you not the complete package?"
"Maybe if I start liking the same anime as you then I'll be the complete package."
"That would be awesome, but I don't think you can handle some of the anime that I like."
"Is that a challenge?" Jackie asks not feeling intimidated.
"No, it is not a challenge. I just think some of the anime I have watched and re-watch might be too intense. Not many shows made here in the States push the limits of morality and ethics like some anime can."
"I watch Game of Thrones and that pushes it pretty far."
"Incest and killing nearly a whole family in a wedding still have nothing on Death Note," Keith says very confidently."
"That's it, after dinner we're watching Death Note."
Keith stops in his tracks shocked at Jackie's decision. "Jackie, I love you but Death Note is not for everyone."
"Oh come on," Jackie objects. "I got through the first half of Sword Art Online. How bad could it be?"
Keith is having a hard time figuring out what the hell is going on with Jackie. It didn't surprise him that much when she offered to make him dinner tonight. But now she is wanting to watch more anime with him, something she never expressed interest in doing before. He never experienced anything like this before with any woman he has dated. Then he realizes maybe this is something to not question, but to accept.
"Ok, we'll start the first episode after we clean up all dishes."
Jackie's face beams with excitement and happiness when she hears this. More than ever, she wants to make the person she loves feel loved.
They continue gathering the food needed for Jackie to make the stir fry, steak for Keith to make the next evening and snack foods to munch on. Keith also grabs a six pack of beer. Once they get through the checkout they load the car up, make the short drive back to the lake house, unload the groceries and Jackie gets started prepping the food.
"Do you need to prep this early sweetie?" Keith asks, noticing it is only four in the afternoon.
"Yes honey," Jackie responds smiling and shaking her head. "There is a lot of things that need to be cut and diced. Peppers for example take a good amount of time and effect. I'm also making a lot so we don't have to worry about lunch tomorrow."
"I thought we were just going to have each other for lunch," Keith says with a naughty grin.
"We can have each other for our after lunch dessert. I'm sure we'll need to burn off all the calories we'll be eating."
Keith watches as Jackie cuts everything up noticing that she is pretty good with a knife. There seems to be no waste in time or effort for her. After getting the peppers, onions, mushrooms, and water chestnuts prepared, she heats up the skillets and starts cutting beef. Each slice, each cut seems so precise.
"Who taught you how to cut like that?"
"Myself and YouTube," Jackie responded not losing focus.
Keith continues to watch her, amazed how proficient she is. Once everything is prepped she puts all the vegetables and noodles in one skillet and beef in another. She adds seasoning to the meat as it cooks.
The passion, the care, everything how she approaches making the food seems down to an art. Keith can't help but wonder what other good secrets she's been keeping from him.
Jackie finishes cooking everything and puts a hardy portion on two plates and the rest in a Tupperware bowl. She puts the leftovers in fridge and sets the plates down on the table.
"Dinner is served."
"This looks really good," Keith says, ready to dig into the food. "What do you want to drink?"
"One of your beers if you don't mind."
