Ethan angled the phone again, muttering to himself. "Okay, one more—the light's hitting the cheese just right—"
"Ace."
He froze at the tone. Gabriel wasn't harsh, but firm enough to make him glance up.
Gabriel leaned forward, fork in hand, gaze steady. "Eat. The pasta's getting cold."
Ethan pouted, lowering the phone. "But—"
"No buts." Gabriel nudged the forkful toward him. "First, you eat what you cooked. No need for pictures."
Ethan hesitated, then leaned forward, lips parting as Gabriel fed him the bite.
The pasta was creamy, rich, and he couldn't help the way his eyes lit up. He chewed slowly, savoring, then grinned. "Mmm... not bad for my first try."
Gabriel smirked faintly. "Not bad at all."
Ethan's cheeks warmed. He dropped the phone aside and picked up his own fork, finally digging in. Between bites, he kept sneaking glances at Gabriel, like he couldn't believe this was real—sitting across from him, sharing a meal they'd made together.
