290 Enjoying their time together (1/2)

Saturday

7:12 PM

”Dinner is done!” Sabrina called when she arranged the food she personally prepared in the plates.

”Coming…” Ashton's muffled sound was heard from the bedroom.

Ashton was discharged from the hospital almost two weeks ago, and his mobility returned. His neck brace is gone, and other than bandages around his chest area and cast on his left arm, he is back to how it was before the attack. Bruises, redness, and swelling disappeared completely.

However, Sabrina still wants to take care of him and to make sure he is properly rested until he recuperates fully. She cooked tonight.

”Smells great.” Ashton said when he took a seat at the table.

”Feel free to praise it if you like it… and if you don't like it, you have the right to remain silent.” Sabrina said through giggles.

Ashton looked at Sabrina with hearts in his eyes. He knows that she is not much of a cook and the fact that she is trying for the last two weeks, because of him, makes his heart expand. And it's not all bad, she is improving.

The first time she cooked, the result of her two hours in the kitchen was absolutely inedible, and both of them gagged and had to discard what she made. Compared to that, the last night's dinner was delicious. Well, it was passable (with some extra salt added).

Since the incident where Ashton was hurt, Sabrina didn't go to her studio, and she is using every moment to prove her love for him. Both of them are enjoying their time together. They are spending their days while relaxing on the terrace and watching movies and reading books, and everything they do is in the touching distance of each other… It's surreal.

So far, Mike, Jake, and Derrek visited twice and all three of them still have difficulty believing that Sabrina and Ashton are dating. For all four of them, Sabrina was an untouchable existence and they didn't dare have any lustful thoughts toward her, yet here is Ashton... living with the Goddess Anderson. They sat in the living room stiffly in silence while Sabrina served them tea, coffee, and cookies. And then she sat next to Ashton and she and Ashton held hands. All three guys remembered the unapproachable and elegant Sabrina they knew from before, and then the she-demon who was beating the soul out of Jackson and now... the welcoming housewife. Unbelievable! Ashton had to warn his buddies that if they don't snap out of it, he will not allow them to come again.

Liz and Max stop by every two-to-three days, and sometimes Mia and Hunter visit. They try not to come on the same days so that it's more eventful for Sabrina and Ashton.

Mia and Hunter talk about adventures from their visit to Mia's family. Well, it's Hunter who does most of the talking. He likes to point out how he bested Keith (aka love rival) in challenges which Keith picked himself. Sabrina and Ashton are not sure if Hunter is exaggerating or not, but they see that both Hunter and Mia are enjoying, so they didn't question him. If nothing else, it's entertaining, and Hunter and Mia always bring some food with them.

Back to the present…

Sabrina tasted the food and bobbed her head. Not bad, not bad at all. Madeline always told her that as a good wife, she needs to be able to feed her husband, and this is… edible.

Sabrina glanced at Ashton and imagined that he is her husband. That thought put a smile on her face.

”How is it?” Sabrina asked Ashton enthusiastically.

”It's the best so far.” Ashton gave her a politically correct answer. Well, he didn't lie.

The two of them shared stories from their childhood. That is one of their favorite topics during meals, it's light and cheerful. Once, Sabrina almost choked on the juice because she laughed so hard. She would usually drink wine, but because Ashton is taking medications, she is giving him company with the juice and staying away from alcohol.

Sabrina tells Ashton stories about how she grew up with Max and Hunter, and their dynamics, and Ashton would tell Sabrina about his family.

Ashton loves to listen to stories about always-brainy Max and mischievous Hunter and how Sabrina was the boss-girl as the oldest one out of the trio. And when they grew up, both Max and Hunter would protect her from suitors. Sabrina is confident that her poor dating history is because of her brothers and Ashton told her that he will take Max and Hunter out for a drink since their actions saved her for him.

Ashton's family is in Idaho, they all live on a large farm with corn and potatoes and acres of fruit trees, and they have horses and cows and chickens and many other animals as well.

Ashton is the fourth child out of six, and he has three brothers and two sisters. Sabrina pointed out how that is double than her family's situation.

Ashton is full of stories about how he and his brothers did mischiefs and their mother would scold them, while their father would defend them in the name of 'kids are having fun'.

Back to the present…

”Your whole family is there, what prompted you to come to Seattle?” Sabrina asked.