Page 72 of Savage Ends

“Yeah, I have been since I was a kid.”She leaned back and rested her head on her hand.“Is that going to be a problem?Is that a deal-breaker?”

“No, not even close.”

“What would be a deal-breaker?”she asked.

Pat chuckled.“If you snored.”

She gasped.“That is so rude.”She loved to hear his chuckle, though.

“What do you have to do today?”he asked.

“Not much, to be honest.I’ve got to take Bernice out, make us some breakfast, and then I usually go to the shop, help Mom and Violet.You know, the usual.I don’t have to do it.”

“Until I say otherwise, I’d like you to be around people,” Pat said.

“Okay.”

“Okay, you’re not going to argue with me?”he asked.

“Why would I do that?To be honest, I don’t like being alone.It’s why I have the two jobs, although my first one is mainly volunteering, and I get to hang out with my mom and sister.The second, well, that just entertains me and tires me out.Also, Lauren really does have a hard time keeping staff.”She shrugged.“I’m her longest employee.”

“I bet she appreciates that.”

“Yeah, I know she does.She is always so shy.”Ava sighed.

Pat reached out and gripped the back of her neck, pulling her in close and kissing her.

“Morning breath!”Ava said, pulling away but not truly fighting to get away.

He laughed.“I don’t give a shit.”And he kissed her again.“How about I take Bernice out, you get started on breakfast?”

“You are on,” she said.

They climbed out of bed, and Ava went to the bathroom.Pat joined her, splashing some water onto his face.She finished using the toilet, flushing, washing her hands, and he went.It felt so domesticated.Ava loved it.

After washing her hands, she brushed her teeth and then got into brushing her hair.Back in the bedroom, she was quickly getting dressed, and Pat kissed her on his way out the door.

Bernice followed behind him, and Ava got changed into a pair of jeans, a loose top, and carried a sweater out to the main part of her apartment.She went to the kitchen, filled the kettle with water, and placed it on the stove.

She checked the fridge, finding some bacon and eggs, along with some milk.Closing the door, she checked her small cupboard, which she considered a tiny pantry, complete with flour and sugar.Pancakes, bacon, and eggs.She perused her fridge and shelves to see if she had any maple syrup, which she didn’t.She had normal syrup, and that would have to do.

Measuring the ingredients she knew by heart from her mother’s recipe for pancakes, she made them first.Once that was done, she allowed them to sit and rest while she got onto cooking the next ingredients.The bacon was on and slowly rendering.She loved her bacon crispy, and the only way to do that was to cook it slowly to render out the fat.Yum.The eggs were going in the poacher.

With everything ready, she had just finished as Pat returned.

In between the pancakes, bacon, and eggs, she had gotten Bernice’s food ready, and she placed it on the floor for her dog to come and eat.

Pat came in, and then he kissed her.

“I’ll be right back,” he said.

This felt so good.She wondered if he felt it too, and realized quickly she had to get her feelings under wraps.

With the pancakes done, she quickly poured the syrup into a saucepan and placed it on high heat to get it nice and warm.The bacon was done, as were the eggs.

She served them both a good-sized breakfast.She poured the syrup into a jug and carried it to the table as Pat came out.He was dressed in his jeans, shirt, and he held his leather cut, which he placed over one of the chairs.

“Breakfast is served,” Ava said.