Chapter 37: Cooking Ribeye

Natasha PoV

Natasha sighed as she pet Dusk. Her face remained red.

Those two boys must've been either been exhibitionists or maybe they didn't see her as a girl.

She shook her head to get the images of the two muscular basketball players out of her head.

She ran her fingers through Dusk's soft fur, the purring kitten instantly calming her racing heart.

"Dusk," she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper. "Your dad is something else, isn't he?"

The kitten meowed in response, his tail swishing lazily. Natasha couldn't help but laugh at that. It seemed like Dusk was agreeing with her.

She continued to pet Dusk, her mind wandering back to Loxus. Despite the surprise, she had to admit it was kind of endearing how much he cared for Dusk.

Suddenly, one of the doors opened.

"Don't spook me!" she yelled, turning to see Wilt.

Wilt chuckled, running the towel through his bright red hair. "Someone sure is jumpy."

She pouted. "Wilt..."

He laughed and rolled up his shirt sleeves. "Well, time to start cooking!"

Natasha found herself smiling as he walked to the kitchen.

Wilt took out the ribeye they had bought. "Wish we had a grill."

Natasha's PoV

"I think you'll do just fine without one," she assured him, watching as he began to prep.

He gave a small nod of appreciation, laying the steak out on the cutting board. Natasha watched as he patted it dry with a paper towel, a look of concentration on his face. Once the steak was sufficiently dry, he reached for some spices.

Wilt sprinkled spices evenly across the surface of the meat. He flipped the steak to repeat the process on the other side. A small, satisfied smile tugged at the corners of his mouth.

Natasha watched from her seat, Dusk purring contentedly on her lap. The kitchen was filled with the rich aroma of spices and raw meat, and her stomach rumbled in anticipation. She watched Wilt move around the kitchen, his movements confident and sure.

Next, Wilt fetched a pan from one of the cabinets, setting it on the stove and turning on the heat. He poured a small amount of oil into the pan, waiting for it to heat up.

Once the oil was hot, Wilt carefully placed the steak in the pan. The sizzle that filled the room was music to Natasha's ears, a sign that the steak was cooking nicely.

Wilt tended to the steak with care, flipping it over after a few minutes. The steak was browning nicely, a sure sign that it was being cooked perfectly.

As Wilt continued to cook, Natasha found herself admiring his skill. She had always known him as a basketball player and a joker, but seeing him this focused on cooking was a pleasant surprise. It was nice to see this side of him.

"Just a few more minutes," Wilt announced, his gaze fixated on the steak. He flipped it over once more, checking the other side.

"Smells good," Loxus said, walking into the kitchen.

At the sound of Loxus's voice, Dusk perked up, letting out an eager meow. Natasha chuckled, gently picking up the kitten from her lap. "I think someone wants his dad," she said softly, standing up and walking over to Loxus.

Loxus looked surprised. He reached out, taking Dusk from Natasha. The kitten immediately began to purr, nuzzling into Loxus's chest. It was a sweet sight, and Natasha couldn't help but smile.

"Thanks," Loxus said, his voice softer than Natasha had ever heard it. He looked down at Dusk, a fond smile on his face. "You've been good, haven't you?"

Natasha could only nod, touched by the gentle interaction between the tough basketball player and his kitten.

"Steak is ready," Wilt announced, pulling her attention away from Loxus and Dusk.

Natasha turned to see Wilt pulling the steak off the pan, letting it rest on a cutting board. The aroma of the cooked meat was mouth-watering, and she couldn't help but feel her stomach rumble in anticipation.

"Great job, Wilt," she complimented, walking over to the counter. She watched as he sliced into the steak, revealing the perfectly cooked meat.

Wilt beamed at her, clearly proud of his handiwork. "Thanks, Nata. Hope it tastes as good as it looks."

"I'm sure it will," Natasha assured him, glancing over at Loxus. He was still occupied with Dusk, but at the mention of food, he looked up.

Loxus chuckled as he sat down by the counter. "I'll be the judge of that."

Loxus set Dusk down on the floor, the kitten immediately darting off to explore.

With a smirk, Loxus reached for the knife and fork Wilt had set out, cutting off a generous piece of the steak.

Wilt watched as he chewed, his heart pounding in anticipation. He had done his best with the steak. 

After a moment, Loxus swallowed. The raven-haired teen tilted his head. He took another bite. This time he chewed slower, as if he was analyzing the flavors. The room was silent, the tension palpable as they waited for his verdict.

Finally, Loxus put down his fork, meeting their expectant gazes with a satisfied grin. "Not bad, Wilt. Not bad at all."

"That's it?" Wilt asked.

Loxus shrugged, picking up his fork again. "What more do you want? A standing ovation?"

Wilt rolled his eyes, but there was a pleased grin on his face. "I wouldn't say no to that."

Natasha laughed, breaking the tension that had filled the room. "I think Loxus's approval is standing ovation enough."

Wilt sighed, crossing his arms. "Fine, fine."

She smiled at her own steak. Unlike Loxus, she cut hers into small pieces. A burst of flavor hit her mouth.

"Woah!"

Wilt grinned and leaned forward slightly. "Standing ovation worthy?"

"It's very good! If basketball doesn't work out, you got a future in food."

Wilt's grin widened at her compliment, his chest puffing out in pride. "Well, I do aim to impress."

Natasha chuckled, shaking her head. "You certainly managed that."

He laughed and rubbed the back of his head. "That said, I don't plan to be anything other than a basketball player. Well, not until I retire."

She smiled. Hopefully, he could keep doing what he loved for many years to come.