Skylar looked at him, taken aback by his blunt question. Her hand paused mid-air as she was about to place the spoon in one of the bowls. She gave him a wry smile and shook her head.
“No, I didn’t overcook anything,” she replied calmly, her voice smooth but tinged with amusement. “It’s just the way the soup turned out. I decided to make tomato soup with croutons, not noodles. It’s a bit different than what you might expect.”
Joe blinked, slightly embarrassed for having assumed, but quickly regained his composure. He didn’t want to admit that he had been caught off guard by her cooking style.
“Right… I see,” he muttered, a small crease forming between his brows. Despite himself, he couldn’t help but notice how comfortable she seemed in the kitchen—confident, sure of her skills, as if cooking was second nature to her.
Skylar handed him a bowl, her expression casual. “It’s simple but filling. I hope you like it.”
Joe accepted the bowl from her, still a bit distracted by the turn of events. He had expected her to make something elaborate or fancier, but this was a more humble dish, something that felt… homey. He lifted the spoon and tasted the soup, his eyes narrowing for a second as the flavors hit his palate.
“Not bad,” he said, the praise genuine despite his usual reserved nature. He raised an eyebrow, surprised at how comforting the dish was. “It’s actually pretty good. You didn’t mention you could cook this well.”
Skylar smiled, leaning against the counter as she watched him. “I’ve picked up a thing or two from Janine over the years. Cooking’s a skill that’s come in handy, especially when I’ve had to take care of myself.”
Joe nodded thoughtfully, taking another spoonful. Despite the awkwardness in their earlier conversation, something about the quiet, simple moment felt different now—almost as if the tension was lifting little by little. He glanced up at Skylar, his expression more relaxed.
“Thanks for making dinner,” he said again, his voice a bit softer this time. “It’s… a nice change from the usual.”
Skylar shrugged, her smile not quite reaching her eyes. “I’ll take that as a compliment. It’s not much, but I figured we both needed something warm after the day.”
The two of them sat in silence for a while, each lost in their own thoughts, the sound of spoons clinking softly against ceramic the only noise in the room. The atmosphere was oddly comfortable, given the circumstances, and for once, Skylar didn’t mind the quiet.
As the evening wore on, Skylar couldn’t help but wonder if the dynamics between her and Joe were subtly shifting—whether it was the sincerity in his apology or the unexpected moments of connection like this one. It was too early to tell, but she couldn’t ignore the faint feeling that things were beginning to change, even if only slightly.
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