He stood under the nearly scalding water, letting the warmth permeate his being. As he got out, he wrapped a towel around his waist walked to the mirror, staring at the tired eyes looking back at him. He peeled his gaze away and walked to his bedroom, pulling a pair of sleep pants on before sitting on the edge of his bed. Head in hands, he let his eyes close as he let the faces of those he lost flash through his mind. He learned their names, so he could pay them homage. Someone needed to remember them. He grabbed his notepad from his side table and scribbled the names down. He couldn’t forget; or else they might be forgotten forever.
He slid the notepad back into the drawer and rejoined Jo in the kitchen, his nose leading the way. “Mmm, smells delicious,” Tom practically sang as his stomach growled loudly, his feet bouncing him with each step.
“Oh, perfect ti-” Jo trailed off as she turned to look at Tom, her eyes landing on the shirtless man. She licked her lips, eyes flicking over his abs and chest before she finally brought her attention back up to his face. “Uh. Yeah. I mean. Food’s ready,” she stammered, cheeks pink as she tore her eyes away from the man and back to the food she was cooking.
Why did he have to be shirtless? And so hot? That was entirely unfair and if he didn’t put proper clothes on she was going to have a really hard time focusing on the food she’d made.
“It’s, um. It’s maple-bourbon stuffed french toast. With bacon. Bacon is always good,” she told him, moving to pull the bacon out of the oven, trying to keep herself occupied and looking anywhere except the man’s toned chest.
Tom was practically oblivious to Jo’s staring as he re-entered the kitchen. “Sounds amazing, you’ve only talked up this famous french toast of yours for months now,” he grinned, grabbing plates and utensils before setting the table for the two.
He bounced back over to the counter, jumping up to sit on the counter, his feet dangling as he leaned back and propped his body on his arms. “Mmm. Bacon,” Tom sat up and leaned closer as she pulled the pan of sizzling meat from the oven, his mouth watering.
Cisco backup 