I walked into the kitchen and was hit with the smell of garlic- thick, sharp, and heavy in the air. Jess was standing over the stove, stirring a pot of something red and bubbling.335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwtVDaSI3UM
“Hey,” I said, dropping my bag onto the counter. “What’s all this?”335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMfqP6swlvE
She looked over her shoulder, grinning. “Fun night. I invited a few friends over- just a small thing.”335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu0Vt9CZYH3
My shoulders tensed. “You invited people? Again?”335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU0q60Z93UF
Jess sighed, still stirring. “Yeah, I did. You need to loosen up a little. It’s just dinner.”335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡULTZn9h87S
I exhaled slowly, trying to keep my voice calm. “I told you, I don’t like having people over. I come home to relax, not to entertain strangers.”335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5YGawlyn8c
She turned off the burner and faced me, arms crossed, wooden spoon still in her hand. “They’re my friends, not strangers. You act like I’m throwing a party every night.”335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN1D9UFFCls
“It feels like it sometimes,” I muttered, glancing at the pot. The sauce looked too oily, too shiny. “And no offense, but that’s the same thing you made last week. It’s kind of… greasy.”335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMboiKhnsbS
Her eyebrows shot up. “Wow. Sorry my cooking doesn’t meet your delicate standards.”335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfXX5xtTVTD
“I didn’t mean it like that,” I said quickly, though I kind of did. “I just- never mind.”335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcYNY5IrmIX
The air between us went quiet, except for the soft bubble of the sauce. Garlic and frustration filled the room. She turned back to the stove without another word, and I stood there, pretending to check my phone, pretending I didn’t already want to disappear into my room and shut the door.
One hour later 335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy6v8H1nt22
An hour later, the apartment pulsed with noise- laughter, clinking glasses, the scrape of forks on plates. Jess’s friends had arrived, filling the small kitchen with warmth and chatter. I stayed in my room, the muffled sound of it all leaking through my door like static.335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnJDqXB81sD
The smell of her stew lingered in the air- garlic, oil, overcooked sauce- and for some reason, it made my chest ache. Not because of the food, but because she seemed so at ease out there, surrounded by people, like the world always made room for her.335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLN540ZJqoY
I sat on my bed for a while, pretending to scroll my phone, then finally stood up.335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfQUMv7wgXL
When I walked into the kitchen, they all turned to look at me. Jess was laughing mid-sentence, spoon in hand. “Oh, hey,” she said, her tone light but her eyes wary.335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpjtf1XV1Eo
“Hope you don’t mind if I cook something,” I said, opening the fridge. “Didn’t eat yet.”335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmukrzt8aOZ
She blinked. “Now? We’re kind of… eating.”335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6VZthjCsXK
“I know. I won’t bother you.”335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzQcCkL3rKH
I started working quietly- salmon, lemon, basil, a little butter- my kind of comfort food. The pan sizzled, clean and crisp, and soon the smell filled the space, washing over the heavy garlic. Her friends glanced toward me, whispering small compliments about the aroma.335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4gouSAz5BT
Jess tried to keep talking, but her voice had softened. I didn’t look at her; I just focused on the food- the rhythm of it, the care.335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfDJVZsoyFt
When it was done, I plated it carefully and sat at the counter, apart from the table.335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ59MYzPDyld
“Smells good,” one of her friends said.335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK9lM1IwI1X
I smiled faintly. “Thanks.”335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKfgOLXSW5X
Jess didn’t say anything, just kept twirling her stew, quiet now. I wanted to look at her, to bridge the small, sharp distance between us- but I stayed where I was, eating slowly, my better food.335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ0kOLrssuz
335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYL7zpd0M9n
and then Add to home screen.