After the kitchen disaster, Jace decided to take matters into his own hands.
"Sit," he said, pointing to a stool at the kitchen island. "I'll make dinner."
Cora raised an eyebrow. "You cook?"
"I can manage," Jace said, already pulling ingredients from the fridge. "It's not like I have a choice. If I let you near the stove again, we might burn the building down."
Cora grinned and hopped onto the stool. "Fair point. But just so you know, I'm a very harsh food critic."
"Noted," Jace said, his tone dry.
As Jace chopped vegetables with the precision of a surgeon, Cora watched him with a mix of amusement and curiosity. It was strange to see someone so… put-together in the kitchen. Most of the guys she knew couldn't even boil water without setting off the smoke alarm.
"Where'd you learn to cook?" Cora asked, swinging her legs under the stool.
"My mom," Jace said, not looking up from the cutting board. "She insisted I learn how to take care of myself. Said it was a life skill."
"Smart woman," Cora said, nodding. "My brothers can't even make toast without calling for help."
Jace chuckled. "Sounds about right."
There was a comfortable silence as Jace worked, the rhythmic sound of the knife against the cutting board filling the room. Cora found herself relaxing for the first time all day.
By the time Jace finished cooking, the kitchen smelled amazing. He set a plate of pasta in front of Cora, garnished with fresh herbs and a sprinkle of parmesan.
"Wow," Cora said, her eyes widening. "This looks… actually edible."
Jace raised an eyebrow. "High praise."
Cora grinned and took a bite. Her eyes lit up. "Okay, this is amazing. Like, restaurant-level amazing."
Jace smiled, clearly pleased with her reaction. "Glad you approve."
As they ate, the conversation flowed surprisingly easily. Cora told Jace about her latest art project, a series of abstract paintings inspired by her trip to Vegas.
"They're all about taking risks," Cora said, gesturing with her fork. "You know, stepping out of your comfort zone and embracing the chaos."
"Sounds… intense," Jace said, though his tone was more curious than judgmental.
"It is," Cora said, her eyes sparkling. "But that's what makes it fun. Art should be unpredictable. It should make you feel something."
Jace nodded, though he looked a little overwhelmed by her enthusiasm. "And your family? What do they think about your art?"
Cora's smile faded. "They don't get it. To them, art is just a hobby. Something to do in my spare time. They don't understand that it's my passion."
Jace studied her for a moment, his expression thoughtful. "What would they say if you told them you wanted to open your own gallery?"
Cora laughed, though there was no humor in it. "They'd probably laugh in my face. Or worse, try to talk me out of it."
"Why?" Jace asked, genuinely curious.
"Because it's not 'practical,'" Cora said, making air quotes. "According to them, I should be focusing on the family business. You know, something 'respectable.'"
Jace frowned. "That's not fair."
"Tell me about it," Cora said, stabbing a piece of pasta with her fork. "But that's how it's always been. They don't see me as my own person. Just… the baby of the family. The one who needs to be protected."
There was a long silence as Jace processed her words. Then, to Cora's surprise, he reached across the table and placed a hand over hers.
"For what it's worth," he said, his voice soft, "I think you're incredibly talented. And if opening a gallery is what you want, you should go for it."
Cora blinked, caught off guard by the sincerity in his voice. "You really mean that?"
"I do," Jace said, his gaze steady. "You're one of the most passionate people I've ever met. And if anyone can make it work, it's you."
Cora felt a warmth spread through her chest, and for the first time in a long time, she felt… seen.
After dinner, they moved to the living room, where Cora insisted on putting on a rom-com.
"You're really going to make me watch this?" Jace asked, raising an eyebrow as the opening credits rolled.
"Yes," Cora said, plopping down on the couch next to him. "It's a classic. And besides, you need to loosen up."
Jace sighed but didn't argue. As the movie played, Cora found herself leaning closer to him, her head resting on his shoulder.
"Comfortable?" Jace asked, his tone dry.
"Very," Cora said, grinning.
There was a long silence, and then Jace surprised her by wrapping an arm around her shoulders. Cora felt a jolt of electricity at the contact, but she didn't pull away.
By the time the movie ended, they were both relaxed and comfortable, the tension from earlier completely gone.
As they cleaned up the living room, Cora found herself opening up even more.
"You know," she said, stacking the empty popcorn bowls, "I've never really talked about my art with anyone before. Not like this."
"Why not?" Jace asked, his tone curious.
"I don't know," Cora said, shrugging. "I guess I just didn't think anyone would understand."
"Well, I'm glad you told me," Jace said, his voice soft.
Cora smiled, feeling a warmth spread through her chest. "Me too."