So, instead of cooking, Joe lounged back on the couch, one arm propping his head up, and the other stretching across the back in a loose embrace of his husband. It gave him a pretty good view of everyone who had come to celebrate. Well, everyone but the chefs. He shifted a little in his seat to lean forward, hoping to get just a glimpse, and—
And instead he coughed when he took an elbow to the gut. He whipped back around to see his husband looking rather unimpressed.
“They’re doing fine in there. You’re out here for a reason.”
Joe rolled his eyes. “I just wanted to make sure Langa isn’t digging around too much. I don’t want him finding his thing.”
“No,” Kaoru retorted quietly, his voice somehow both smug and disappointed, settling back into the couch and his husband’s embrace, “you were trying to make sure they weren’t fucking up your lovely kitchen. We both know he’s not the type to poke around where he’s not supposed to, and you’re itching to kick them out. I know you. But you are not going to cook a meal for seven people on your birthday. You are going to relax, even if I have to kill you to make you do it.”
“Seems counterproductive if you ask me,” said Joe, his voice dry. “But I’d hate for you to get a murder charge, so.”
For once, Kaoru was dressed extremely casually. Joe had insisted on his birthday being comfortable, just a time for everyone to hang out, and his husband had dressed accordingly. He had left his traditional-wear in the closet, and instead wore a pair of black short shorts—Kojiro’s favorite part of summer, if he was being honest—and Joe’s black and white striped shirt hanging open over a black tank top. He’d even shaved his gorgeous legs. His hair had been pulled up into a loose bun, pinned in place by the kanzashi Joe had given him for his birthday. He was stunning.
Miya shook his head. “Do mine next!”
Joe glanced at Kaoru to see if he wanted to fight for it, and grabbed the bag when he turned down the chance. He pulled the paper free to reveal a bundle of clothing at the bottom. He shook it out to unfold it and almost couldn’t contain the complete guffaw that tried to burst its way out of his chest.
It was a t-shirt, one that would almost certainly be snug on him, in a soft grey cotton. In that way, it was nothing special. But the thing that had him biting back giggles was the bright green ‘DILF’ sprawled across the chest. When he took too long to explain just what was so funny about his gift, he turned it around to show the rest of the table, sending them into a fit of laughter, launching him into another round himself.
When he finally caught his breath again, he nudged Kaoru with his elbow. “You know, Reki may have named you the cool dad, but Miya just named me the hot one.” Kaoru rolled his eyes, but before he could retort, Joe turned back to Miya. “This is amazing.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY KOJIRO NANJO!! For your big day, I gift you a family dinner where you can enjoy (be tortured by) someone else cooking, your husband dressing hot just for you, and Miya giving you…that!
(Excerpts from ch 16 of To Build a Chef in my Sunflower series!)
#sk8 #sk8theinfinity #kojironanjo