“Even you,” Dante nodded with a smirk, cutting some vegetables.
Eden grabbed a piece of cheese to nibble while waiting, and sighed.
“To be honest, I like his rambling more than I’d care to admit. He’s never really serious, unlike me, and he can find the stupidest jokes in the worst situations too. He has... no care for his surroundings or any kind of social convention, but he’s still mindful enough not to hurt people he actually cares about with his words. He helped me relax in situations I never thought I could. He was just... there too when I needed him but would never say it. Sometimes, it was nice to just listen to his crazy nonsense at night, when I couldn’t sleep... or when I felt lonely. It was like a little radio in my head, to remind me I’m not alone. He’s crazy on many levels, but he’s... he’s been there for a while.”
Dante put a pan on the stove, stirred it a little, and put a towel over his shoulder. He was still half-naked, for some reason that Eden didn’t care to know. The half-naked Italian cooking for her was like a fantasy come to life... He noticed her gaze on him, her mouth half-open, and walked up to her again, biting the piece of cheese she was holding.
“...Hungry?” he asked, with a tone that had nothing to do with actual hunger.
“...Starving,” Eden muttered, her cheeks a bit red.
Dante smiled and leaned over to kiss her. Eden was a bit amused that their mouths tasted of cheese... and pulled back, licking her lips.
“Can I have some wine, chef?”
“Sure.”
Dante quickly poured them two generous glasses of some fancy white wine. Eden had no knowledge of wine, but the dry, slightly sour, and fruity taste that quickly filled her mouth was completely to her liking. She enjoyed it in small sips, trying to savor it while Dante went back to watching his dish. Eden liked how absorbed he genuinely was in his task even more than having him cook for her. He was relaxed, but focused, watching everything and putting it together in a perfect, timely, and elegant manner. He could have easily passed for a real restaurant chef anywhere.
Even the way he prepared their plates was impeccable, and Eden felt a bit sorry Loir wouldn’t even get to see this masterpiece, let alone taste it. Dante simply handed her plate to her. though, and it was clear they would eat right there in the kitchen, with Eden still sitting and Dante standing next to her, leaning against the counter.
“Buon appetito,” Eden chuckled, before taking her first bite.
It was so good, still hot and almost melting in her mouth. She had barely witnessed what had actually gone into this dish, but she just loved all of the tidbits she could taste. Next to her though, Dante was silently staring at his plate, visibly lost in his thoughts. His quietness worried Eden.
“What is it?” she asked, before taking another mouthful.
It took him a couple of seconds to get out of his head and suddenly turn to her.
“Let’s get married.”
Eden choked on her rice.
She kept coughing, trying to catch her breath and wipe the food off her bathrobe. Dante hadn’t moved at all, not even startled by her sudden spitting, just waiting for her answer.
“Wha-... What did you just say?”
“I’m serious.”
“That’s what scares me!” she exclaimed. “Why are you spouting such a thing now, out of nowhere? Marriage? Dante, what are you talking about?!”
“You don’t want to?”
“No!”
Eden had blurted that out so clearly, most would have been hurt or upset. But of course, not Dante De Luca. Instead, he didn’t seem to have even heard that and just turned to her, taking hold of her hand. Eden quickly grabbed her glass of wine with the other one.
“You’d become my wife,” he said.
“I know what a marriage is...”
“You’d get half of my assets.”
“You know I don’t care about that! …Okay, maybe for the baths and hot water, but everything else...”
“If I die, you’d get everything.”
This time, she got mad and slapped his shoulder.
