Bedmates Soulmates

Austyn glared at him.

Jesse pretended not to notice.

Austyn did not say another word throughout breakfast.

Jesse slurped his coffee loudly, smacking his lips as if this was the best cup of joe he'd ever had.

He took his time with the coffee, ignoring the death stare from Austyn.

Kira was amused by their childish game.

Damian ate his noodles quietly.

After breakfast, Kira stood up and was about to start clearing away the dishes when Austyn stopped her.

'Jesse, you're on clean-up duty,' he said to the doctor slouching in the chair, rubbing one hand over his belly. "But I don

want to!' Jesse protested. 'These hands are meant to hold a scalpel, not a sponge. I've never washed a plate in my life."

He sounded proud of this particular achievement. 'In fact, I've never stepped foot in a kitchen before. How can you ask the chief physician of Stamford General to wash dishes? You do it.' 'Now that's one spoiled man-child,' Kira'thought. 'I bet he has never held a broom, either.'

She sat down.

Jesse saw that. 'Kira, back me up here. Isn't the kitchen a woman's domain? That includes doing the dishes, right?"

Kira rolled her eyes. 'Any person, man or woman, can wash the dishes if they have two hands.

She took a page from the doctor's playbook, leaned back in the chair and crossed her arms. 'I cooked; you didn't. So now it's your turn to do the dishes.'

'But Damian and Austyn didn't cook, either. Why can't they do the dishes?"

'Because they already helped. One set the table and the other brought out the dishes. You're the only one who did nothing."

Jesse stared at her, speechless.

Kira smiled at him. 'Come on. Time's a-wastin'. Chop chop!'

Jesse didn't want to move.

Kira taunted him. 'Are you scared you'll do a bad job? Scared to let others know the genius. doctor can't even handle a simple dish-washing job?" Jesse fell for it. 'Who says I can't? I'll show you!"

He stood up, pushed back his chair, rolled up his sleeves and marched into the kitchen.

Thirty seconds later, a loud crashing sound came from the kitchen.

Sibongd Mandru

Followed by another, and then another.

Kira shook her head and sighed, feeling sorry for her host.

Austyn remained silent.

Damian made a mental note to go shopping later.

There probably wouldn't be many intact dishes left after Jesse was done.