Gifted Connections 3

s a great idea,” I told Drake excitedly. “Imagine having edible food again!”

Drake smiled at me before squeezing my hand. “I’ll have a discussion with Paul when we get back.”

Chapter 5

I absolutely, positively abhorred putting things away. Shopping was so much easier. We also underestimated the space we had in our apartment. We would have to stuff our new purchases in every nook and cranny we could find, even running across the hall to store some stuff in Will’s apartment.

Drake’s reaction to our new kitchen stuff was priceless. I loved seeing how ecstatic he was with my purchases. He immediately started pulling items out for our late dinner. We had already texted Will, Gavin, Sierra, and Beth to let them know we were having dinner in the apartment and to be there by seven o’clock.

Remy had volunteered to go find Paul, so we can give him an example of Drake’s culinary skills. Drake was going to pitch the idea to him over dinner. It didn’t hurt to try to get Paul to allow Drake into the kitchen. If he said no, then so be it.

We decided to make a mushroom and cheese ravioli with a rosemary butter sauce, garlic toast and a side salad. I started to make the salad while Drake began to make the filling for the ravioli he was making. He planned to make the pasta homemade, like he often did.

While we started dinner, Jace and Jaxson decided to install our television on the wall. We had picked up installation kits and floating shelves for the Blu-ray players. Will had already told us to install the game system in his room. The children were across the hall with Micah and Patrick, patiently waiting for Jace and Jaxson to install the television and game system.

Noah and Troy ran down to the laundry to wash all our sheets before we put them on our beds. I couldn’t wait to slip into them tonight, and I think I already knew whose sheets I was sharing.

After making the salad, I went into Noah and Jaxson’s room first and put away all their clothing. Then I went over to Remy and Jace’s room to hang up and put their clothing away. The last room I hit up was Troy and Drake’s. My stuff was put into the closet located in the living room. Two Rubbermaid containers with drawers held all my clothing that couldn’t be hung up. I was glad all our stuff fit nicely.

Next, I ran down to the supply closet where extra folding tables and chairs were located. We had already gotten permission to use them whenever we wanted to if we signed them out. Dawn, Jemmy, and Rachel came by just in time to help me carry the table and chairs to the room.

“Hey Blake,” I heard a voice call behind me. “Do you need a hand with anything?”

I turned to see Ford jogging towards me. I immediately noticed how different he looked in his civilian clothing. He was a good looking mixed Asian guy. If I had to guess he was probably in his mid-twenties with chestnut brown hair and almond shaped brown eyes. Of all the looks I would think he would have, I never expected the preppy boy look. He had on a pair of grey slacks, a red, grey and white flannel under a hunter green V-neck sweater. His sleeves were pushed up, and I could see some expensive name brand watch on his wrist.

“From you,” Dawn said saucily from the closet. “Always.”

He gave her a crooked smile. “Oh yeah,” he gave a slow perusal of her knock out body in her new outfit. “Where are you guys heading?”

“To Blake’s apartment,” Jemmy volunteered. “Not out with the guys tonight?”

He shook his head. “Nah, don’t want to feel like crap come Monday morning. I heard we’re going on a hunt.”

I snorted with a giggle. “Is that what you’re calling it a hunt? Good luck with that.”

He chuckled good naturedly. “No worries. It won’t be a long one,” he gave me a wink.

I rolled my eyes. “Try not to underestimate us. Like your friend Adams did.”

Ford looked down at his feet and rubbed the back of his neck. “That’s what I was hoping to talk to you about. I in no way condone her behavior from yesterday, and I told Henderson about her little stunt she and Hopkins tried to pull. We don’t all resent you guys being here.”

I saw the sincerity in his eyes and nodded. “It’s all good. I have thick skin. I can handle her and all her friends. Since I can take my kid gloves off now, I’m not taking it lying down anymore.”

His eyes widened, and he nodded. “Those forms she was doing, was you?”

I giggled as I headed towards our apartment, letting him trail me with some chairs. “It may or may not have been. I really can’t tell you all my secrets, can I? After all the hunters normally have an upper hand if they know the patterns of their prey.”

“You forget we are going to be on the other team too,” Dawn said to me with a wicked smile. “Come to my room later Ford, and I may spill her secrets.”

I barked out a laugh. “Are you kidding me?!”

She was blatantly flirting, and Ford seemed to be receptive to it. “It’s like that is it?”

“Maybe,” she looked him up and down. In her heels, she was slightly taller than him. Without them I would say they were eye level. “Blake, is Ford invited to dinner?”

I smirked at her. “You want me to help you get the enemy into bed with you?”

Dawn didn’t even have the audacity to blush. “What can I say? I’m single and ready to mingle.”