Tostones
2 green plantains
6 cups cold water
4 tbsp Adobo seasoning
Salt to taste
Oil for frying
Peel and cut green plantains into 1-inch chunks and place in cold water with Adobo seasoning. Soak for an hour. Heat oil in a Dutch oven on medium-high and fry plantains 3-4 minutes. Remove plantains from oil and flatten each piece with a heavy skillet (or mallet). Dip each piece in water/Adobo mixture, and fry again 1-2 minutes per side. Drain and salt.
Yield: 4 servings
CHAPTER EIGHT
When I win…
Mike makes his flight this time, but we exchange phone numbers before he heads out. He’s perfectly fine I suppose, but I’m not sure there’s a spark there. I don’t mind exploring it a bit more to find out. Especially since Knox invades my thoughts at every turn. Even though I’ve tried, I can’t get our near-kiss out of my head. The look he gave me was tender and, in that moment, all our past transgressions melted away. I find myself daydreaming about what it would be like to be with Knox, to be a couple, and not fight all the time. Then I shake myself because there’s no Rowan and Knox without competition and bickering.
Since there’s no Mike-buffer the second day, Knox and I sit alone at different tables and do our best to ignore each other completely. Of course, that means alternating between stolen glances and harsh stares.
During the break for lunch, we go our separate ways, and I hit another spot I used to frequent, one serving sourdough bread and chowder. You can’t go to San Francisco without trying it at least once while you’re there. It’s cool out and I don’t have to go far from the studio.
At the end of the day, the Ortiz and Warren families move forward. Both will be worthy opponents, and the second round will not be as easy for us as the first one no matter which competitor we get.
When I make it to the airport, I’m grateful I didn’t have to talk to Knox all day. Maybe I’ve spoken to him for the last time ever. I snort, garnering a look from the woman sitting across from me at the gate. I dig in my backpack and pull out my earbuds and turn on my music so I can try to relax.
Knox is standing beside me in an elevator, the same one as in the hotel, and is holding my hand. I look down at our joined hands then up to his clean-shaven face. He’s beaming. Then his smile turns smoldering, his eyes alight with need.
When the elevator doors open, I yank him out, racing to my room close down the hall.
He follows readily and we fall through the door, hands and clothes and kisses. I pull him into the bathroom and run water for the Jacuzzi tub. We remove our remaining clothes while the tub fills, and I take a moment to marvel at his beautiful body. Hard chest, toned legs, and abs for days.
“Are you on this flight?”
I start awake. Wow, how long have I been out? I hope I didn’t talk in my sleep, or worse, moan. This is not the first dream I’ve had of Knox so I’m not even phased. I just didn’t realize I was so tired. I look up as I take my earbuds out. It’s the same woman from before.
“I hope you were waiting for this flight. If not, I’m sorry I woke you. I just didn’t want you to miss it.”
I gather my backpack and carry-on case, looking around, wiping drool from my chin. They’ve just called the last group. “I am on this flight. I can’t believe I fell asleep. Thank you so much.” That would have been a hot mess. Missing my flight sitting right at the damn gate, sex-dreaming about Knox.
I follow her through the entrance to our airplane after I scan the boarding pass on my phone, and wait in the jet bridge as the people in front of us board the plane, checking my seat assignment one more time. A window seat, which I guess is fine. I prefer the aisle, but there wasn’t one open when I booked. I suppose it’s better than a middle.
People are mostly settled with a last few raising bags into the overhead. I continue down the aisle, not really seeing the people seated as I pass. When I get to my row, there’s already someone seated in the aisle seat with an Astros snapback on, bent over note cards on their tray table. “Excuse me, I’m by the window.”
When Knox looks up, I swear there’s not even a hint of shock on his face as I’m sure there is on mine. He is absolutely unshakable, and that makes me hate him even more. “Sure, Amber.”
My lips tighten to the point of cracking, and I practically bite a hole into the inside of my cheek.
He stands in the aisle to let me pass and fucking winks at me.
Back to his usual self, I see.
Before I sit down, I make a big show of putting my luggage in the overhead and getting my backpack into the row, taking my sweater off. I want him to wait, just because, but I mostly want to get my shaking under control before I sit and it becomes noticeable. I just had a dream about getting naked with Knox, and now here he is, waiting to discover my dirty little secret.
When there’s nothing else I can find to do to stall, I lumber into my seat and pull out my earbuds.
Knox sits and puts his tray table up. The index cards mysteriously gone. He leans over the middle seat. “Hopefully nobody sits between us. Don’t you hate that?”
I wish I could say I played along with him, not showing how much this situation is unsettling me, but I’m not even close to being able to pull that shit off. “Do you have
