Daddy's Best Friend

41

CHAPTER 41

SOPHIA’S POV

I woke up to the smell of bacon sizzling in the kitchen. As I padded down the stairs, the enticing aroma led me straight to Henry, who was busy at the stove.

"Morning, chef," I greeted, planting a soft kiss on his cheek.

He turned with a grin, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "Morning, sleepyhead. I hope you're hungry because I'm attempting your infamous scrambled eggs today."

I chuckled, taking a seat at the kitchen island. "Oh, this I have to see."

Henry slid a plate piled with scrambled eggs and bacon in front of me, and I raised an eyebrow. "Well, it certainly looks edible."

He laughed, taking a seat across from me. "High praise, coming from you."

We dug into our breakfast, trading jokes and playful banter. It was a routine we'd fallen into, one I cherished. Henry was not only my lover but also my best friend, and there was no one else I'd rather start the day with.

I took a bite of my eggs and pretended to contemplate the taste. "You know, Henry, these eggs are almost as good as mine."

He grinned, leaning in closer. "Almost? Wow, I must be getting better."

I nodded, finishing my bite. "But don't let it go to your head. I'm still the reigning champion of breakfast disasters."

Henry laughed, and there was a twinkle in his eye that made my heart flutter. "True, true. Your burnt toast incident will forever be legendary."

We continued to eat, sharing stories of our culinary misadventures. It was moments like these, where we could be ourselves, that made our relationship feel so special.

As we finished our meal, I couldn't help but tease him a little more. "You know, Henry, I've been thinking..."

He raised an eyebrow, a playful smirk on his lips. "Oh, have you now?"

I nodded, leaning in closer. "I believe it's time for a cooking challenge. You and me, in the kitchen, battling it out to see who's the true culinary master."

Henry pretended to ponder the idea, tapping his chin thoughtfully. "Hmm, I don't know, Sophia. Are you sure you can handle the competition?"

I gasped dramatically, clutching my chest. "Oh, you're on, mister! Just wait until you taste my world-famous microwave mac 'n' cheese."

He chuckled, leaning over to kiss me. "I can't wait to see this culinary masterpiece in action."

After breakfast, we cleaned up together, stealing kisses and making plans for our epic cooking showdown. It was moments like these that made me realize how lucky I was to have Henry in my life.

As I watched him wash the dishes, his strong arms flexing, I couldn't help but feel a rush of affection. We'd faced our fair share of challenges, but together, we were unstoppable.

As he turned off the tap and dried his hands, Henry walked over to me, his eyes soft and filled with warmth. He pulled me into his arms, and I melted against him.

"I love you, Sophia," he whispered, his lips brushing against my forehead.

I smiled up at him, feeling a surge of happiness. "I love you too, Henry."

We stood there, wrapped in each other's arms, knowing that no matter what challenges lay ahead, as long as we faced them together, we could conquer anything.

****

I hopped into Henry's car, grateful for the ride to school. The atmosphere was thick with tension, though, and I knew it was time to bring up something that had been on my mind for a while.