When she got back to the kitchen freshly showered and made-up, the breakfast table was empty. That was a bit disappointing - Ben and Josh had already left without saying goodbye. She sat down to make herself a pancake with butter and syrup, whistling along to the radio. Still whistling, she walked to the fridge to get some more orange juice, pouring herself a large glass. When she closed the fridge door, Josh was suddenly back in the kitchen, standing right next to her.
"Oh, hi," she said, a bit taken aback. "I thought the two of you had already left."
"We're leaving in a minute." He smiled at her. Hannah shuffled past him and sat down at the table again. She took a large swig of juice and cut off a piece of her pancake. She looked up. Josh was leaning against the kitchen counter, resting his hands on either side, staring back at her. She swallowed hard. Wasn't this silence awkward? Maybe she should make conversation.
"Do you want some?" she asked, pointing at the pancakes in front of her. "I can't finish them all by myself."
He shook his head. "No, thanks. I'm full."
Hannah put the fork in her mouth and slowly chewed a bit of pancake.
"So, what do you think?" Josh asked, a small smile dancing on his lips.
"They're tasty," she mumbled with her mouth full. She looked back at him, and then it clicked. "Did you make them?"
"Yep. I used special flour from the rez. Don't look so baffled, I have so many talents you have yet to discover." He sported a cocky grin, and Hannah blinked, literally forcing the blood away from her face. He was doing it on purpose, she could feel it.
"So it would seem." She laughed nervously. "Well, at least they taste a lot better than Ben's baking blunders."
"Hey, that sounds like a cool name for a bakery. Can't you just picture it on the store sign - 'Ben's Baking Blunders'?" He made a stately gesture.
Hannah burst out giggling, nearly choking on her pancake. Josh quickly walked over to her and carefully patted her back. "Are you okay? I'm sorry I'm so hilarious."
"You're too modest." Hannah coughed, caught her breath again and looked up at him, registering that his hand was still on her back. It made her insides turn to goo.
Right at that moment, Ben entered the kitchen. "I found the air beds," he told Josh, his gaze wandering from Josh's hand to Hannah's flustered face. Why did she feel like he'd caught her doing something naughty?