"You really know how to win people over," Gilbert remarked, leaning against the kitchen doorframe. His hands were tucked into his pockets as he craned his neck toward the counter, now crowded with colorful, fragrant dishes. Though his words sounded admiring, the tone was unmistakably teasing.
Claire nearly dropped the pot lid. She turned sharply, startled by his sudden and silent appearance.
"Are you a ghost now? Why didn't you make a sound?" she snapped, stepping aside and scowling at him.
Unbothered, Gilbert reached out and picked up a crisp radish stick from one of the plates. He popped it into his mouth with a smirk. "You made all this for me, didn't you? Still in love with me?"
The table was filled with his favorite dishes, ones she used to cook often. A flicker of something warm stirred in his chest, uninvited.
Claire's ears turned red. She snatched the radish from his mouth before he could chew and tossed it straight into the trash.
