Chapter 17 Comfort Food

Chapter 17 Comfort Food
Quinn's POV

"Are you up now?"

I opened my eyes because I smelled something delicious. And instead of food, the first thing I saw was Grayson standing at the door with his apron on.

"Oh no, what time is it?" I hurriedly looked for my phone because I realized from the direction of the sun shining on my hand, it was coming from the west. 

"I granted you permission to take off today.”

I blinked my eyes a few times in disbelief. I mean, I had no idea that Grayson wanted to deal with such trouble. 

And if I slept until the sunset, that means I've been staying at his penthouse since last night. Ouch, I feel terrible. I must have given him a hard time. And it's not the first time, when I had a fever Grayson also took care of me.

I carefully glanced at Grayson who was still in the same spot. "Did I do something crazy?"

Grayson shrugged. "Just passed out."

Oh I'm relieved. At least it wasn't like my thought where I grabbed or kicked him unconsciously. 

"Do you always have nightmares? It happens even every time you sleep here." 

Although Grayson said it quietly, I could still hear it. And it was true.

I did often have nightmares about my childhood that I vaguely remembered. About how Dylan and I ended up alone. That's what I still couldn't solve until now, so the dream still haunts me. 

"Yes, I'm sorry about that. Also, I'm sorry for troubling you for the second time."

"Three times," he corrected.

I pursed my lips. "Sorry to trouble you three times. But why are you dressed like that?"

"Because I was cooking."

"You can cook?"

Grayson sighed and moved his finger, signaling me to follow him.

I finally got up from the bed. Then I realized that I had an IV scar in my hand and my clothes had changed into Grayson's. This shirt was so oversized, it looked like it could fit three people like me. 

I also then realized that the view in this place is amazing. From here, I can directly see the sunset and the lights on the city buildings that are starting to turn on one by one. 

"What are you looking at?"

"Uh huh? Oh nothing, just admiring the view. You're lucky to see that every day."

"I didn't pay much attention to it."

I immediately glanced at Grayson sarcastically. "You miss such a beautiful thing? Tsk, you should enjoy the beauty of the world too besides being at the rink all the time."

Grayson turns out could roll his eyeballs. He did so after setting the table. "The enjoyment you mean and what I mean are different."

I immediately crossed my arms in front of my chest when Grayson looked at my chest after saying that. What a perverted wolf!

"Sit down," he ordered.

I sat down on the chair Grayson pulled out on the right. In front of me were several bowls and plates from his cooking.

Know what shocked me? It wasn't a simple meal cooked from frozen food, but a real home-cooked meal. No wonder it smelled so good that it wafted into his bedroom. 

"Do you have any allergies?"

I grimaced and shook my head. "None. I was just faking it yesterday."

Grayson then pointed to the smallest bowl. 

"That's carrot and celery salad with orange rice vinegar dressing," Grayson explained straightforwardly.

I immediately used my phone to search the internet about the appetizer. Then Grayson's hand moved to the wide, concave plate in the center. "It's beef. I didn't use wine. So it's safe for you."

As before, I looked up information about the main dish. And I was gobsmacked because it turned out that the main dish took a very long time to make, up to hours. Which is probably a few hours ago Grayson was already in the kitchen cooking.

Oh man, he's really good. 

"Then there are sweet desserts. Egg tarts, pumpkin pancakes, and grass jelly."

I was really amazed by him. I mean, he prepared food from all over the world. All by himself. Without anyone's help. How is that possible?

"I'm done explaining. You're not going to eat?"

I immediately picked up chopsticks to eat the salad. "Is this really all your cooking? I don't mean to doubt you, it's just that this isn't an easy meal to make."

Grayson chuckled and ate his salad. "What's a question if not a doubt?"

"Curious. Yes, I'm very curious about where you learned to cook. You're so busy with training and games. How did you master all those things at the same time?"

Grayson glanced at me. "From my mom. She's a chef."

I almost spit out the food in my mouth. Luckily I managed to cover my mouth with my hand. "I didn't know your mom was a chef, sorry."

"Why are you always apologizing?"

I put down my chopsticks and stood bowing. I knew this was a polite way to apologize. "This time for doubting your abilities."

"That's why you shouldn't judge a person by the outside," he said, this time arrogantly. I don't know, I just can feel it. It seemed like Grayson was the type who was praised and immediately grew a big head.

"You wouldn't think that someone like me could cook food this good, would you?"

I nodded and sat down again. "You look like a bouncer. So I didn't expect you to be able to make food this good."

"What did you say?"

I grimaced and stuffed his open mouth with an egg tart. That made him glare.

"Is it good?" I asked curiously. I then tried it. 

Damn, it's so good! This is the best tart I've ever eaten in my entire life. Oh my gosh, I wanted to eat the whole thing. But if I'm a glutton, Grayson will definitely say I'm like someone who never eats. Well even if it's true, it's still embarrassing.

"Eat that after you finish the main dish. Otherwise, you'll be full first."

I nodded quickly. Without being told, I would actually finish everything. I'm not picky about food, I'll eat it as long as it's not moldy. Especially home-cooked food like this, of course it will run out quickly.

"After all, you have to eat a lot so you have the energy to have sex with me and not get sick."

That made me choke on the food in my mouth. Just now I was praising him, but then he seemed like a different person again. 

"I'm right?"

"You're not wrong. But can we not talk about it while we eat?"

Grayson finally shut up. And I could enjoy this meal in peace.

Honestly, every bite tasted like heaven. The marinade was so pervasive that it made everything perfect. 

It was about to eat my third bite when Grayson suddenly rambled again, "You know, food is the easiest way to melt someone's heart."

I raised my head. What did he mean? 

"Stop talking. Just eat. I have to leave soon for today's game."

Huh? Isn't it wrong for him to say that? He’s the one who keeps talking when I'm already quietly eating.

But I was honestly curious about one thing. 

I wonder if Grayson was this kind with his previous therapist. Because I didn't want to misinterpret his kindness. 

I stopped chewing and looked at Grayson. "Did you always cook for your therapist? It's nothing, I'm just curious if you're nice to everyone."

He abruptly stuck his fork into the meat still on his plate. "I cooked for you because I wanted you to recover quickly. I never ask for anything out of the ordinary. So you should at least be able to take care of yourself, so you don't faint often while providing service for me."

He was right. I should take care of myself too. At least not passing out while we were wrestling on the bed would be enough.

"Do I need to take care of you too?"

I shook my head quickly. "No need."

"So just do what I said earlier. Do you understand?"

"Yes, I understand. I'll be fit again after this meal. So I can be ready when I watch the game tonight," I said passionately. It was to prove that I meant what I said.

"You don't need to come tonight. Just recover rather than fainting there and adding to the burden."

"But-"

"I don't like being argued with, Quinn," he said dully.

I sighed softly. Usually after being nice like this, he’d be grumpy later.

"But don't forget that I have a game on Sunday. And I need sex before I go to the rink."

I nodded in understanding. "I'll come to you the day before the game."

"Good. I'll also give you your paycheck on Sunday like you asked."

"Thank you," I said sincerely.

"Then when are you going to move to a new place?"

I put down the cutlery slowly after finishing the food on my plate. "You don't have to worry about that. I'll get it done before the game on Sunday. I promise it won't interfere with your schedule or my work."

Grayson just nodded and then went to his room when he finished his meal.