She pulled out a pan. “If Mommy answers, tell her I love and miss her.”
“I will.” I headed off to the balcony.
“Kamal.”
I stopped and glanced over my shoulder. “Yes?”
“She’ll be okay. You’ve got to believe it.”
“I do, Jade. I do.”
The whole time, Jade whistled and chopped up vegetables. Her music and the aroma of cooking filled the air. And all I could think about was how I wished these moments weren’t temporary. There was a comfort with her, and it was more than a family friend sort of thing.
Call your mother. Take the shower. Clear your head. Don’t do anything crazy. It’s an intense time. Keep your cock in your pants and stay calm.Chapter 9
JadeQuarantine Buddies
Apparently, New Yorkers liked their meat, bread, and toilet tissue. Due to that, I would have to shift to a pescatarian diet this quarantine—basically a vegetarian diet with fish and seafood.
Tonight, I made shrimp tortillas with a nice California green salad. I smashed avocado and cut up a crispy cabbage slaw complete with a homemade creamy lime sauce—cilantro, Greek yogurt, lime, oil, and seasonings. Next, I sautéed the shrimp with spices chili powder, cumin, garlic, onions, and a little sea salt. Grabbing the corn tortillas, I stuffed them with the delicious shrimp, avocado, and slaw.
I inhaled the rich aroma. “Yes. Smells like home.”
I could feel the California sunlight warming my skin and the ocean breeze cooling it back off. When I made these at home and invited people over, most ate three or four. I made sure to make a good bit. Kamal was a big guy with an exhausting appetite. His mother always complained about it, while grinning with pride.
For now, I put on two shrimp tacos for each plate and shifted to the side. This salad boasted California’s top foods—luscious avocados, baby leafy greens, crispy almonds, and smooth goat cheese. I’d put together a fresh homemade Lemon Vinaigrette. It was super simple: olive oil, cider vinegar, lemon juice, salt, and ground mustard. Nothing too extravagant to clash with all the flavors in the meal.
“Dinner time!” I placed the greens and some tarragon in a large salad bowl, added a little of the vinaigrette, and lightly coated the leaves. “Mr. Patel?”
I transferred the greens to our individual salad plates.
That deep voice filled the air. “Mr. Patel is on his way.”
A silly grin spread across my face. I didn’t know, if he was still playfully turning on the charm or if he just couldn’t help sounding so sexy.
He’s so damn fun. I wish we were forced to stay together longer than a week.
I rolled my eyes at the thought, knowing it was crazy to think that way.
Kamal and you are not playing house. . .You both are keeping each other company while the world goes crazy.
I scattered almonds and cheese on top of the greens.
With no shirt and muscular abs on display, Kamal strolled into the living room.
I held my hands in mid-air.
His jeans hung low. He’d slicked himself up with some oil.
Well. . .I won’t tell him that he forgot his shirt.
Warmth blossomed in my chest.
I turned around to recover.
Okay. What was I doing?
“Hope you don’t mind,” Kamal said behind me. “In my condo, I usually walk around naked, so I figured no shirt, but jeans would be a fair compromise.”
A hot and very naked Kamal prowled through my mind. His cock thick, long, and hanging between his muscular thighs. I almost told him that nudity would be fine here. But I also knew I couldn’t deal with that gorgeous and off-limits body, taunting me.
I swallowed and turned back around. “That’s fine.”
“Are you sure?” He hit me with a seductive look. “Remember. I’ll do what you want, princess.”
I blushed. “It’s fine.”
“And if you want equality I’m okay with that too.”
“Equality?”
“I’m saying you also can take off your shirt.”
I giggled. “How about you grab these plates and put them on the table.”
He shifted his attention to the dishes and whistled. “Jade’s famous shrimp tacos.”
“You’ve heard of them?”
“Every time Zora returns from a Cali visit, she’s raving about your tacos.”
“Good.”
He tried to pick up one and taste it.
I hit his hand. “Would you wait?”
He pouted. “But, princess, I’m starving—”
“Take it over to the table.” I shook my head. “I’m too through with you.”
He chuckled. “I promise to be on my best behavior for the rest of the evening.”
“Did you speak to my mommy?”
He groaned. “That’s my mother.”
“Whatever.”
“Yes. I did.”
My spirits brightened. “And?”
“Instead of keeping her for the full five days, they sent her back home to quarantine there. She wasn’t having any respiratory problems and her fever went down.”
I let out the breath I didn’t know I was holding. “Thank you, Jesus.”
He came back for the small salad bowls. “And to Brahman too.”
“Yes.” I brought over the large bowl of salad just in case either of us wanted extra. “Do you still practice Hinduism like your mother?”