I notice everything about you:

"Why are you here?"

Dario asked while adding salt to the chicken breasts. He was contemplating on whether to use black or red pepper but decided on both coz why not...spicy is delicious. Asher was taking his time to answer his question so he asked again.

"What are you doing here Ash?"

"Watching you cook?" Asher answered but it came more as a question. He was giving Dario the "can't you see" look making Dario sigh in frustration.

"You should be with her. Keep her company." Dario pointed out while dipping the chicken breast in the wheat flour then eggs before dipping it in the mixture of the bread crumbs, basil and oregano. He could have used Garlic but Laura said no garlic.

"I tried. You're a better company." Asher answered with all seriousness he could master but Dario knew better...it was just a facade.

Adding a little olive oil in the pan, he placed the breasts to fry, "Better company?" he asked with a snicker, "You know you could be helping me with the noodles right now instead of just standing there."

"You sure you want me to do that?" Ash asked, voice laced with amusement.

"No. You'll ruin everything." Dario was now putting the fried breasts with tomato sauce and parmesan cheese added to them to bake. After adjusting the temperature, he set a timer for ten minutes before moving to prepare the side dish.

"You know I've been your best friend for years yet I've never tasted your Parmesan chicken." He said feigning hurt. Dario looked at him, chuckling. His best friend was a drama a queen.

"There are so many things i haven't done with you yet you have been my best friend for years," Dario answered smirking at his best friends flushed face, "Wanna know some baby?" Asher shook his head hurriedly. What was Dario thinking flirting with him while his woman or whatever she was, was in the living room like feets away.

His grin was becoming wider and Ash was becoming more irritated, he didn't know why.

Deciding to get serious, Dario sent Asher to set the table while he finished with adding butter to the now cooked noodles. On cue, there was a ping sound, the chicken was baked. Everything had taken like 15 minutes to prepare and he was proud of himself. Yeah, he made a delicious meal in the shortest time possible.

Few minutes later, Laura was admiring the dish served before her. The chicken looked so delicious. She looked at the man who was looking at her expectantly, yearning for a five star rating. He had that look that screamed i wanna please in all ways and Laura had an urge to let him please her.

Because he was getting impatient, Laura tasted the chicken and it tasted just as delicious as it looked. The texture was just right, crispy and a little silky because of the cheese...the interior was juicy and had the sweet flavor of tomato source and it smelled great. In short the parmesan was great and it went well with the butterred noodles. She couldn't even think she could come up with something like that, sweet and spicy, just as she liked it. Dario was intense.

She looked up at him, meeting his gaze. Why was he looking at her like that...you know the 'feeding you before i feed on you' look. He had that gentle and hungry look on, that is if at all something like that existed. Only Dario could pull up that look perfectly. And why did it seem like he was waiting for something? Then Laura remembered she hadn't said anything about the food. It felt funny how the always confident man was waiting for just, "It is really good," from her.

"Really?"

"Yes."

"You are not just saying that to humor me?"

"She said it was great D, let it go." Ash chipped in, obviously enjoying this version of Dario.

"Shut up Ash." After seeing Asher gesturing that his mouth is zipped, he turned to Laura. "Wine or juice?"

"Wine is fine i guess."

"Red or white?" This time round, Asher snickered. He was getting frustrated watching at his whipped friend and the woman who seemingly didn't mind all the attention D was giving her. If that was how those in love behaved, then he didn't want to fall in love. He wanted to be the sane one.

After pouring the red wine in the glasses, Dario resumed his seat next to Laura. Asher sweared Dario was going to feed her but stopped when Laura gave him a disapproving look. And of course, the whipped guy let it go. It was clear as hell who was going to rule in that relationship and Dario was not the one.

The meal passed by quickly and after clearing the table, they went back to sitting in the living room. Dario had Laura cuddled in his arms on the sofa while Ash was busy scrolling through his phone on the opposite side.

"Today or tomorrow?"

Dario asked and she knew exactly what he meant. She had decided to ignore everything. She knew it was just delaying the inevitable, sooner or later she had to deal with the pressing matter.

"They're saying you are missing." Asher said, holding up his phone for them to see. The media was not going to let things slide, were they? Why were they so interested in her life? What was their gain from making her that uncomfortable?

Dario looked at her, concern in his eyes.

"Your phone still off?"

"You noticed?" Laura asked, slightly amused.

"I notice everything about you hazel." Laura chocked, praying that she wasn't blushing. Asher on the other side had this silly grin on his face laced with a promise; a promise to bring that up later on.

To hide how much Dario's words and endearment in front of an audience affected her, Laura decided to switch on her phone. And there they were, like almost close to fifty missed calls from Alex, Carol, Nora, Thomas and of course Liz with the highest number of calls. Something warm tugged at her heart but she pushed it away just immediately. Liz cared alot about her, she knew it...she wanted to give in to her care but she had done so much to push her away already.

After calling Nora to get the updates, she again put her phone away.

"You aren't gonna call them back?" Dario asked, just curious.

"Not now."

Laura went back for more cuddles which Dario gladly welcomed. The atmosphere had changed, it was no longer the peaceful one. It was a little tensed now that they were back to reality. Everyone in their own thoughts with Dario periodically planting kisses on her hair.

The silence didn't last long before the sound of the door bell was heard.

"Expecting someone?" Dario asked, looking at Asher who was also just as confused. They knew it wasn't Blake because he didn't knock. And if the door was locked, he had a keycard just like Dario and Asher.

"Maybe it's those wrong deliveries again." Asher said to what Dario hummed in contemplation.

"I'll get it." Asher added walking towards the door.

He opened the door, already planning to send the person away with "wrong room." but swallowed his words when he saw the person on the door.

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