chpt. 18

"Dinner's ready!" I hear Ben yell from downstairs. I put the book I'm reading down—something to do with science I found in the bookshelf in my room to keep me busy— and head down the stairs.

I see Ben putting a pot on a round table, along with plates, and utensils. I giggle as I see Herbert in an apron. He tilts his head at me as I pass him.

"Can I help?" I ask Ben politely.

"Uh, yeah, can you get that big spoon on the counter there, please, Y/n?" I head to the massive kitchen counter, picking up a large serving spoon.

Johnny comes down the stairs, and winks at me. I smile shyly at him. Ben is busy setting the table, and Johnny crouches low, almost crawling to another pot still on the stove.

He quickly dips his fingers in the pot, licking his fingers. And rolls his eyes, punching the air as he looks at me. I chuckle, "What'ya laughing at?" Ben asks me.

I clear my throat, "Nothing. Herbie just looks very good in his apron." I say and Herbet makes a cute "Wee-wee?" sound.

"Yeah, I agree man." Johnny pets Herbie on the head.

"Hey, hey, help me set the table, would'ya?" Ben scolds Johnny.

Susan and Reed approach us in their own conversation, "Yeah, I've tested him! There's nothing like what he was talked about—"

"I know, I know. But no talking about that now—"

Ben, Johnny and I sit down, Johnny next to me. I don't miss his knee pressing against mine.

Reed and Susan sit down and an awkward silence fills the air first. Ben looks at me, mentioning to the food on the table—bologna pasta, "Guests serve first." He smiles at me.

"Oh, I uh..." I stutter, plating my food. "Thank you, this looks delicious." I say, waiting for all of them to finish plating their food.

"Weeh wooh wab."

"Did you make this, Herbie?" I question with a fake gasp.

"Wo weeb, wob!" He tilts his head.

"Hey, hey! I added salt!" Ben argues.

"And I tasted." Johnny whispers, winking, his knee pressing harder into mine. I can't help but think that sentence had a double meaning.

"Whee!" Herbie snaps his fingers playfully, before zooming off.

I see Susan look at us with a sly smirk as we start to eat. I blush. This is so awkward, knowing she knows...I keep my eyes on my food.

"This is really good." I say, and Ben smiles, "Thanks Herbie!" I yell into the home.

"Whob, whob!" I hear and everyone chuckles.

"So Y/n, before, uh..." Reed starts. I think I know what he wants to ask.

"My ex-husband?" I ask.

He seems physically relieved, "Yes. What did you do for work?"

"I worked at a bookshop." I answer.

"Has that always been a passion?" Susan asks.

"Oh, yes! I've always loved books and reading. My mother would always have to get me out of a bookstore as a child." I joke.

"What type of books do you read?" Ben asks.

I take a sip of my drink, debating my answer. If I say romance, I won't hear the end of it from Johnny. "Fiction, make-believe." I answer. That, too.

"Well, I would've said you can borrow some of my books, but I highly doubt they'll interest you." Reid jokes.

I then hear Johnny and Ben making snore sounds next to me, before fist-bumping each other.

Susan rolls her eyes, "Do you see what I have to live with every day?" She shakes her head.

I laugh, "I feel very sorry for you. Especially sharing a gene pool with this one." I jab an elbow into Johnny's ribs.

Susan laughs, "You understand me."

I nod, "Do you have any siblings, Y/n?" Ben asks.

"Uh, no, just me." I smile.

"Doesn't it ever get lonely?" Johnny asks, mouth full of pasta.

"Don't talk with food in your mouth." Reed scolds.

Johnny rolls his eyes, chewing with his mouth closed. I snort, "Uh, no. It does not. I like my own company."

Susan points to me, "See Johnny? You can learn from her!"

He throws his hands up, "What's that supposed to mean?"

"It means not bothering me when you're bored!" She exclaims.

"Also me. I don't need you breathing in my neck. Y/n, I'm grateful you're here, and like my wife said, you can teach Johnny a thing or two." Reed says with a grin.

I laugh at the conversation unfolding in front of me.

+

After dinner, I helped pack things away and wash dishes, too. It was fun, actually fun. Seeing the banter between Ben and Johnny. Johnny and Susan having an amazing sibling dynamic. Reed and Susan being your typical husband and wife.

Their relationship with one another is... like a family. Now I can see why they refer to one another as such I interviews. They truly are a family. Even Herbert, is part of the family.

A pang goes through me as I make my way up the stairs. I've never had that. My mother was an alcoholic, who was abused by my father. Just like I was with my ex-husband.

Seeing the four of them interact like this makes me... sad and jealous. Sad because I've never had that and probably never will, and jealous because they do it so effortlessly, even with a stranger, where I was in an abusive relationship for years and still feel like a total stranger among people.

I sigh, heading to my room. I see Ginger rolled into a ball on my bed, before I see my bathroom light on. I frown. I know I switched it off before I left my room.

I then hear water running and whistling. I frown, slowly making my way to the bathroom, peeking in. What I see shocks me.

Johnny is bent over the bathtub, running his hands through the bubbly water—the whole bathroom smells like flowers and soap—and whistling to himself.

My heart swells as I look at him. He looks so human right now. Not the superhero, Human Torch you see on TV saving the lives of people daily. His hair is slightly messy, adding to the human-ness of it all, as well as the quiet whistling. It's so unreal and amazing to look at.

He sees me staring and grins slyly at me, "Evening." He dries his hand by setting it aflame. He then shakes his hand, blowing at his fingertips as his hand extinguises. All the while maintaining eye contact.

I swallow. Why does he have do things that are so... hot? There's no other word to describe it.

"Hi." I whisper. "What are you doing?" I question.

"Drawing you a bath." He answers like it's the most normal and natural thing in the world to do.

I nod, "Ah. Why?" I question.

He shrugs, shoving his hands deep into his pants pockets, "Because I wanted to." I'm taken aback, just like when he said it last time.

Because he wanted to. Wow.

I smile shyly, "Okay. Thank you. It looks amazing." I compliment.

He wriggles his brows then, "I can't join you, can I, cupcake?" Cupcake? Really?

I sigh, "No. I'll have Herbie stand guard by the door." I warn.

"Oh, really?" He questions, wriggling his fingers at me.

"What are you doing?" I ask. No. He won't.

He then grabs me around the waist, throwing me over his shoulder before throwing both of us on the bed and starting to tickle me relentlessly.

I choke on my own laughter as he tickles me over and over chanting, "Aha! Think next time before you ask for Herbie's help!"

Ginger meows at him, jumping from the bed.

"Johnny! Stop!" He eventually grabs my wrists and I laugh more, knowing I can't stop him now.

I see him looking at me, with an expression I can't place, panting from tickling me, his hair messy. We stare at each other and the tension starts to grow, and grow, his eyes raking over my face, my arms. I flush, my cheeks heating up to my neck, my body. All hot—

"Oh, haha! Haha!" It's Ben. He's holding his stomach as he laughs by the bedroom door. I see Johnny close his eyes shaking his head.

"I'll never live this down..." He murmurs, smiling shyly at me.

"Yo! Susan! Reed!—"

Johnny's eyes widen in absolute horror, "Uh, be right back." He mumbles, gently climbing off me and storming out of the room.

I slowly sit up, "Jonathan!—"

"Sue, Sue, listen—"

"Haha, kidding!"

"Ben—"

I don't hear everything, but laugh either way. Johnny comes back a while later, his hair even more disheveled. He's rubbing his ear.

"Ow." He whines as he looks at me, "I'll never hear the end of that..." He murmurs to himself.

"You okay?" I ask.

"My ego, scarred for life. Emotionally, also, uh, no." He answers.

I giggle as his watch starts beeping and flashing with colour, "Johnny!"

"Emergency." He says.

I nod as he makes his way to me, placing a blazing kiss to my cheek, heading to the door.

"Wait, Johnny—"

"Yeah?" He swirls.

"Thanks for the bath." I smile shyly.

He winks, "You better enjoy it since I can't join you." He teases.

I blush, "I will. Be safe."

"I will. See you later, okay?" He smirks.

"Johnny!" It's Reed.

He groans, "Comin', I'm comin'." He murmurs, throwing me one last wink before he leaves me.

I sigh, listening to the silence as I head to the bathroom.