Everything was coming together, which was why she had gotten up early Sunday morning. To make up for all the guys’ hard work, she had started to make some waffles. Seeing as the club loved it when she cooked, she had three waffle irons to speed the process along. She put the oven on low, dolloped out the mixture using a measured cup, and closed each of the lids.
Two trays of waffles were already in the oven to keep warm. Once all the waffles were made and she had enough, she’d move on to the syrup and sauces.
The kids always picked chocolate sauce, which she liked to make rather than buy. Then everyone loved warm maple syrup drizzled on top. It was one of her favorite ways to eat it.
She loved cooking for everyone.
“I should have known you were in the kitchen,” Adam said, coming in to sit down. “The clubhouse always smells welcoming when you’re around.”
Angel smiled. “Good morning.”
“Is it a good morning?” Adam said. “It’s covered in snow. It’s a cold and frosty morning, like my life.”
Lash had warned her that Adam had been in a depressed mood. “I made coffee.”
“Ah, the hot substance that will awaken my mind and remind me how lonely I am.”
She’d poured him a large cup and stepped toward him, but now she hesitated. The last thing she wanted to do was to make him feel lonely.
This was hard. What did she do?
“Enjoy the coffee, Adam. You like it.”
“I prefer tea. I might as well drink it weak.”
She tutted and moved away to open up the waffle irons. “You’re wallowing.”
“The last time Michael was here, he told me I should consider a will. You know, someone who I can leave all of my money and personal belongings to, and you know what I decided?”
Angel turned toward him after easing the waffles onto the baking tray. “What did you decide?”
“I have no one to give my belongings to. I should get a cat or dog, but then they’d probably just leave me.”
She put the baking tray in the oven and then dolloped out more of the mix. “Adam, you have got to stop,” Angel said.
“It is easy for you to say. Look at you. You are loved, adored by the hundreds. People would miss you.”
“And you will be missed at this club, but you can’t just give up. So the mechanic thing didn’t work out. That doesn’t mean there aren’t other women out there. Women who adore you and all of your quirks.”
“I don’t have any quirks. I’m a fossil.”
She sighed. After opening the oven, she grabbed one of the waffles and used some kitchen tongs to pull it out as it was being kept warmed and she didn’t want to burn herself. After easing it onto a plate, she moved toward Adam and placed it in front of him.
“Eat.”
“There’s no warm syrup,” he said.
She rolled her eyes. “You are getting one waffle before everyone else in order to cheer you up. Do not make me take it away from you.” She went to reach for the plate, but he took it back.
Angel nodded at him, moved back to the counter, and checked on the other waffles. She had a little time left. Taking a seat opposite him, she put her hands flat on the table. “Now, tell me what is going on,” she said.
Adam took a bite of the waffle.
“I can’t help you unless you start talking.”
“I should go back to the Nomads.”
She held her hand up. “No!”