What Ingredients Go Into Fish Curry?
There are a variety of ingredients that go into making Fish Curry. Here is a look at some of the more common ingredients used in Thai, Goan, Kerala, and Coconut Fish Curry. Once you've figured out which ingredients you want to use, you can start preparing the dish. Just be sure to keep a few things in mind!
Thai Fish Curry
Thai Fish Curry is a delicious and quick meal that is full of flavor and is very easy to make. All you need to do is simmer the fish in a rich Thai curry sauce. You can serve it with rice or vegetables. It also makes a great leftover meal or hot lunch. In addition, Thai Fish Curry is a great way to use up leftover fish.
Depending on the flavor you are looking for, you can try adding curry paste to the dish. You can find red, green, or yellow curry paste. You can use either one to add to your dish or use it to season your rice. It is usually served with jasmine rice. Once cooked, remove the lemongrass and lime leaves and serve.
Depending on the fish you're using, you can add a variety of different spices. You can also use whole fillets of trout, mussels, or hake. To make your curry more flavorful, add some fish sauce, lime juice, or garlic chili paste. You can adjust the amount of salt and spices as needed to give the dish the right taste. When serving Thai Fish Curry, make sure you serve it with rice.
Thai Fish Curry is a delicious dish that is easy to make and keeps in the fridge for two to three days. Just remember to keep leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge. You can also freeze leftover Thai Fish Curry. Just make sure to reheat it gently over a medium heat instead of reheating it in the microwave.
Goan Fish Curry
This simple curry is an excellent choice for seafood lovers. It is light, yet filling, and a perfect complement to basmati rice. Alternatively, you can serve it with flatbreads. You can also try making it with Mexican flour tortillas, if you are short on time.
Goan Fish Curry uses fish, coconuts, and coconut vinegar to add tangy flavor. The fish and coconut are cooked in the curry for about 20 minutes. You can also use prawns, golden anchovies, or smelt. These use less of the hot spices.
This traditional Goan recipe is easy to prepare and has a mouthwatering aroma. The recipe requires little preparation time, but is packed with authentic flavors. You can serve this dish at a kitty party, potluck, or buffet. Simply follow the ingredients in the following recipe to make a delicious dish.
The first step in making a fish curry is to marinate the fish. Salt and turmeric powder should be applied to the fish pieces. Next, prepare the masala. Mix all the ingredients into a blender or food processor. You should also add grated coconut and chopped onions. After a few minutes, you can add the fish to the curry. You can adjust the spices to taste. Serve the curry with steamed rice for a delicious meal!
To prepare Goan Fish Curry, you must begin by soaking the tamarind in water. When the tamarind reaches the desired consistency, add it to the pot and stir. Wait about a minute for the water to evaporate. Next, add the fish and cook for another five minutes.
Kerala Fish Curry
Kerala Fish Curry, also known as Nadan Meen Curry, is a delicious dish that uses coconut oil, coconut milk, and fresh fish. It's easy to make and tastes great with rice. You can find most of the ingredients in your pantry. Read on to find out more about the ingredients used in this recipe.
Coconut cream is an optional ingredient, but can give the curry a rich, creamy flavor. You can also use a thin coconut milk extract instead. Add grated fresh ginger to the curry. Depending on your preference, you can also use water to loosen the curry or prevent it from becoming too thick. To start, heat up some coconut oil in a small pan. Sauté shallots in it until golden brown. Next, add fenugreek seeds to the pan.
Once the fish is cooked, add the curry paste. You can either buy curry paste or make your own by using tamarind paste and water. You can also use freshly squeezed lime juice. Once the fish is cooked through, serve it over rice or mashed tapioca. Alternatively, you can prepare it the night before and eat it the next day.
If you want to make Kerala Fish Curry ahead of time, make the curry sauce the day before. It keeps well in the fridge for up to 3 days, if it's covered and stored in the fridge. Reheat leftovers in the fridge, but only within 2 hours after cooking, or they'll break up into smaller flakes.
Coconut Fish Curry
Coconut Fish Curry is an easy and delicious curry that combines curry paste with fish, steamed vegetables and fish. Coconut milk, fish sauce and brown sugar are added to the curry and simmered until the sauce thickens. The fish and vegetables should be cooked through and the curry should be well-seasoned. Serve with rice or couscous.
The recipe calls for white fish, but any kind of fish will work. Add a few fresh herbs (mint, basil and coriander), and sliced chillies. You can use bird's eye chillies or Fresno chillies. Once the fish is fully cooked, remove it from the pan and serve.
You can also use other white fish, such as Tilapia or Halibut. Just make sure to use white flesh fish, which will remain flaky and tender. For the best results, cook the fish under low pressure. Thicker fish can be cooked in just 3 minutes under low pressure. If you'd like to reduce the fat content of the curry, use low-fat coconut milk. You can also omit the curry leaves and substitute them with lime zest and Thai basil.
To make coconut fish curry, start by slicing the fish without the bones. Add the spices and coconut milk. Stir to combine the ingredients. When the fish is almost done cooking, add the coconut milk and garnish with fresh herbs.
Thai Fish Curry with Coconut Milk
Thai Fish Curry with Coconut Milk is a delicious dish that combines the rich flavors of red curry paste with the creaminess of coconut milk. The recipe also includes chopped vegetables and fresh fish. It only takes about 40 minutes to prepare and makes about four servings. It is very easy to prepare and the flavors will develop as it simmers.
This curry is bursting with seasonal vegetables and aromatics. It's a simple, delicious dinner that's perfect for any special occasion. The coconut-based Coconut Curry Sauce, lemongrass, and kaffir lime leaves add a hint of Thai flavor. It pairs well with boiled jasmine rice.
Coconuts are useful in so many ways, and their milk has many health benefits. Although many people thought coconuts had bad fat, new research is proving that coconut milk is a healthy, high-quality source of fat. If you can, use fresh coconut milk rather than canned. It also tastes better.
Thai Fish Curry with Coconut Milk is easy to make and can be stored in the refrigerator for up to two days. It can also be frozen and reheated if necessary. You can reheat the curry in the microwave or on the stove if desired. This dish is vegan and gluten-free.
To make Thai Fish Curry with Coconut Milk, you need to make the curry paste first. Start by mixing the red curry paste with the vegetables and cooking them for about 30 seconds. After five minutes, you can add the coconut milk. Stir the mixture until the coconut milk is thick and has reduced slightly. Once the coconut milk is thick, add the fish. Depending on your taste, you may also want to add mint leaves and cilantro.
Simple fish curry recipe
If you are looking for a simple fish curry recipe that is healthy and nutritious, try this recipe. This recipe is a simple preparation of fish cooked in coconut milk and spices. The coconut milk will help give the fish a delicious curry flavor. Add the coconut milk and mix it well. Cook the fish in the coconut milk for five to six minutes. Once the fish is cooked through, serve it over rice.
You can use fresh or frozen fish fillets in this curry. It is best to use fresh ingredients, since dried ingredients will alter the taste and texture of the dish. You can also use chicken or vegetables instead of fish, if you wish. If you have frozen fish, thaw it overnight in the refrigerator.
If you don't have fresh fish, use frozen fish or prawns. Cod loin fish filets work best in a fish curry. These fillets have a slightly sweet flavor that blends well with the curry. Alternatively, you can use any firm white fish. Just remember to cook it slowly and stir occasionally to prevent overcooking.
Next, prepare the vegetables. Start by removing the stems from the green and red peppers. Next, chop them coarsely. Put them into a large saute pan and cook until they are translucent. Next, add the yellow curry paste and cook for one or two minutes. Once the vegetables are done, add the coconut milk and chopped fish. Cover the pan and simmer for about ten to twelve minutes. Serve hot or cold, go to website.
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❝baby, i'm the sweetest.❞
read the rest of the series before this chapter or you’re getting spoilers.
A/N: i just got through midterms so sorry this chapter took so long. enjoy this chapter of interactions between the delicious trio. this also isn't edited so ignore any mistakes. enjoy ★ ˙ᵕ˙ liv
Chapter Summary: ellie gets into a fight at school and calls the sweetest baker for help.
Chapter Warnings: fighting, bruising, language, alcohol, slight age gap (F!MC and Joel are 6 years apart), threatening (brief), arguing (brief), symptoms of anxiety and depression.
Key Tags: chef! Joel, single! father Joel, no outbreak! Joel Miller, slow burn, dual-pov, fluff, flirting, friendship, eventually established relationship, eventual smut, original character, black!fem!MC, no y/n.
⋆ word count: 4.7k ⋆
.𖥔 ݁ ˖ series masterlist, joel masterlist ⋆ spotify playlist ˖ ݁ 𖥔.
For the next three weeks, I had fallen into a routine of seeing Joel every day at 10 p.m. when he’d come over to cook dinner and pick Ellie up from my house. Although I love baking, I detest cooking. Maybe it’s my sweet tooth, but I’m grateful that Joel has taken over that role in my life. If it weren’t for him I’d be eating takeout every day.
I’d lay awake every night and think about the details of his face. His salt and pepper facial hair, his rough hands, the burns on his forearms. My thoughts swirled with Joel as I tossed and turned in bed. I’d repeat the same words to myself over and over again until my face turned blue.
We’re just friends, Ginny. He doesn’t want you that way.
As the owner, I rarely take days off work from Daylight. But, on days like today, my body informs me that I’ve reached the end of my rope. Burnout.
The rain falls softly outside against the window and I moan at the feeling of the cool glass on my temple. My eyes dart down to the bustling city, hoping to have my mind on anything but this recipe for a while.
Suddenly my phone starts ringing, sending me jolting upright. My hands feel in the blankets for the slender device. Once I find it, I don’t check the caller ID before picking it up.
“Hello?” I say into the receiver.
I hear a voice on the other side clear their throat. “Hi, is this Ginny?” I hear a fake sweet voice come through the speaker.
My face screws when I try to pin the voice down to a person. “Ellie?” I question the other person on the line.
I hear a loud sigh, simulating the wind blowing in my ear. “Yeah. Thank fuck you answered,” she counts her blessings.
Taking the phone away from my screen, I look at the random numbers I’m familiar with. “Why are you calling me from the Principal’s office?” I ask her.
Ellie shuffles and I hear the office chair beneath her squeak. “About that…” she starts.
Pinching the bridge of my nose, I close my eyes. “Cut to the chase,” I rush her so I can get back to my day of relaxing.
I hear Ellie inhale a sharp draw of breath. “Joel is super busy because he has a fucking tasting event going on right now. This is gonna sound crazy so first you have to say no and then you have to say yes,” she rambles quickly.
My eyes roll as I stand from the comfort of my window seat. “Land the fucking plane, El,” I goan.
There’s a momentary pause where I think I’m going to reach through the phone and strangle Joel’s crotch child if she delays any longer. “I got in a fight and I need you to pretend to be my mom or something so you can pick me up from school,” she explains.
My jaw drops as soon as I register the words. “You what? Argh, Ellie,” I complain. I love the kid but I have boundaries, and this is not how I wanted to spend my day off.
“Please, Ginny? Please? Please? Please?” she begs and I shake my head.
My feet shuffle up the steps to my bedroom so I can change into more acceptable clothing. “Fine, but only because I don’t want to think about apple pie for a little while,” I conceded, trying to figure out how long it would take me to get to Jackson High.
My hands push on the bar into the office. Crinkling my nose at the LED lights above me, I walk up to the person at the desk. “Hi. I’m Imogen Miller. I’m here to pick up my daughter, Ellie Williams,” I introduce myself, lying a bit. I can’t fight the feeling that Joel’s last name sounds good with my first.
The woman in front of me raises an eyebrow at me. “Oh,” she says almost in disgust, looking me up and down. Fucking cunt. “Let me go get her from in-school suspension,” she grumbles, taking her leave.
Fuck you you fucking bitch. “Yeah, you do that,” I snip lowly at her.
I pace around the room, anxiously waiting to see the brunette girl walk through the door. Fuck, I will burn down this whole school if she has so much as a cut on her lip. “So you’re Ellie’s mom,” I hear a curious voice come from behind me.
When I turn around, an older lady is standing with her daughter. The kid can’t be much older than Ellie and she’s covered in stitches. “And you are?” I ask with attitude. After being in this school for 10 minutes I don’t want to interact with another person for the rest of the weekend.
She crosses her arms and purses her lips at me. “The mom of the girl your daughter attacked,” she accuses Ellie.
My first ball so tightly, I think I might draw blood. You can’t fight a mom in a school, Imogen. You’re an adult. “My daughter wouldn’t attack anyone,” I defend Ellie, though I know nothing about the fight.
I will always defend the ones I love in public, then scold them later about the situation. And that’s exactly how I plan to handle this situation.
“Are you kidding me? Look at her face?” The blonde woman hisses.
My eyes roam up and down her daughter’s body. The kid is as tall as me and Ellie only comes up to my chest. “I’m more so looking at her stature. You let a little girl do all that?” I taunt gesturing towards her face.
The blonde rolls her eyes. “It’s obvious we’re not going to get anywhere. Your kid is just as crazy as you,” she scoffs.
My blood boils and I can feel the steam coming from my ears. “Again, my kid. Who I will choose how to discipline. Now you have a nice day,” I finish her.
She sticks her nose up as high in the air as it’ll go, turning around.
Shaking my head, I decide it’s probably best to find a water fountain as soon as possible so I can cool down. Just as I come up for air from the short fountain, another person approaches me. “Hi, are you Ellie’s mom?” the tall black man asks.
I shift putting one hand on my hip. “Yes. What is it now?” I dig at him.
The man’s cheeks fill with a soft plum color. “Nothing, Mrs. Miller. I’m Mr. Henry, the freshman art teacher,” he introduces himself with a hand extended. “Nice to meet you,” he
My eyes widen and my skin boils with embarrassment. “Oh, I’m sorry. I met a rude parent. She still has my head frazzled. It’s nice to meet you too,” I politely shake his hand.
He pivots to stand next to me as I start walking down the hall. “Your daughter is quite the artist,” he compliments Ellie.
A smile covers my face thinking about how others see the brilliant girl. “Thank you,” I murmur.
“Must run in the family. What do you do?” He asks.
“Oh, I– Ellie’s not,” I babble, pausing to clear my throat. Get it together and play your role, Imogen. “I’m a baker,” I answer confidently.
Mr. Henry nods, pausing by the door of the office. “Wow. A baker for a mom and a chef for a dad. She must have the best school lunches,” he ponders.
I shrug, reaching for the door handle. “Something like that. Although Joel has a bias against too many sweet treats,” I joke, stepping into the office.
Mr. Henry smiles, holding the door open for me. “I could see that,” he murmurs.
Across the room, the opposite set of double doors open. Ellie strolls in behind the office assistant. “Here she is. You can go ahead and sign her out for me,” the assistant instructs me.
“It was nice meeting you,” Mr. Henry offers a smile before turning towards Joel’s daughter. “Try to stay out of trouble, Ellie,” he advises.
Ellie’s hand goes up and she gives a small wave. “Bye, Mr. Henry. See you Monday,” she bids him a goodbye.
Once my signature is on the paper, I don’t bother waiting for the ink to dry. I’m nearly ready to drag Ellie out of here. “Done. Let’s go, El,” I announce, slamming the pen down on the desk.
Ellie looks up at me, practically bouncing with excitement when I wrap my fingers around her arm, pulling her out of the office. As soon as we make it outside, I bring us to a screeching halt. “The fuck happened to your eye? Was it that cunt’s daughter? I will fuck both of them up, Ellie. I swear to god,” I rant, patting her body for any more signs of damage.
Ellie grabs my wrists to stop me. “Dude, calm down. I handled it. She had to get 15 stitches,” Ellie boasts proudly.
Instead of checking for bruises, my hands smooth out her school uniform. “That’s fuckin right. I ain't raise no bitch,” I grumble.
Ellie sighs while I fix her sweater. “Um, Ginny. You didn’t raise me at all,” she points out with a raised eyebrow.
A flush creeps onto my face as I realize my mistake. Ellie’s not my kid. “You’re right. Don’t tell Joel I said that,” I beg her to cut me some slack.
After all, it’s the least she can do for me. I did pick her up from school. “Actually, don’t tell Joel about any of this shit,” I clarify with fear that Joel will be angry with Ellie.
We begin to walk towards my tiny Volkswagen Bug. Ellie throws her head back in frustration. “Ugh, what am I gonna do? He’s going to notice my eye,” she groans.
I click the unlock button on the key. “What happened?” I ask.
Ellie’s head turns back towards the school. “That cunt, Bethany, wouldn’t leave me alone,” she says as though she’s waiting on Bethany to come after her.
I put my hand on the top of her head, turning her head back towards me. “And what did she say?” I ask.
Ellie shrugs and she stops to kick some dirt on the path. “I don’t know,” she lies, head hanging low.
Once we reach the car, I move my hands to her shoulders. “El, you do know,” I reiterate so she knows I’m serious.
Ellie nods, and her eyes dart towards the ground. “I know…. She wouldn’t stop telling me I was a pussy and I couldn't handle shit myself. I told her I didn't want to fight but she shoved me,” she explains.
My hand yanks on the handle of the passenger side. “That’s good enough for me. You were defending yourself from a bully. I’m sure your dad will see it the same way,” I say to Ellie as she slides into the seat.
Once we’re both in the car, I pull up the McDonalds app on my phone. “Now, it’s free fries Friday. Shall we?” I ask, starting the ignition.
I hear Ellie click her seatbelt before shifting towards me. “We shall,” she responds with a slight small.
I shift the gear into drive. “That’s fucking right. I knew you were my kid,” I cheer, pulling off onto the main road.
Ellie lays in my bed, cuddled up with a Grogu stuffie around 10 pm that night. The light from the TV in my room fills the room and the noise of medical machines beeping layers perfectly with Ellie’s snores. We haven’t left the bed since we got back from Jackson High. As soon as we got back, we immediately turned on Grey’s Anatomy and gorged on snacks.
Now hours later, my phone buzzes repeatedly and my head snaps over, hoping it won’t wake the traumatized child up. I quickly crawl to the end of the bed, swiping my phone up from the ground before lowering my feet to the floor. I quickly scurry across the room to my on-suite bathroom, sliding the door closed.
A picture of me and Joel on Halloween covers the screen and I smile a bit. He’s just here to pick up his daughter, Imogen. Not to see you.
My finger presses the green button, and I bring the phone up to my head. “Hey,” I say lowly.
“Sugar, I’m outside your back door,” Joel's husky voice dances on my ear drums.
My feet tip-toe across the tile to the window that faces the back. Pulling the curtain to the side, I look down at where Joel is standing with a wine bottle in his hand. He’s patiently waiting for me or Ellie to open the door. “Spare key is under the mat,” I direct him.
He shifts a bit and tucks the bottle under his arm. “You’re jokin',” he sighs.
My head shakes and then I realize, he can’t see me. “No. I don’t feel like coming down 3 flights of steps so, let yourself in,” I tell him.
He groans, before reaching down to lift the mat. He picks up the pink sparkly key, holding it in the air before shaking his head. “That’s not what I meant but I’ll be up in a second,” he grumbles, sticking the key into the door.
“Sounds good, we’re in my room,” I inform him before clicking the red button on the screen.
A minute or two passes and I turn to my side, checking to make sure Ellie’s still asleep. Her brows furrow in her sleep and I gnaw on my lip watching her struggle, even in her dreams.
Joel’s footsteps slowly make their way closer to my room and I see his shadowy figure slowly push the door open. He pokes his head in, surveying the room when his eyes land on mine. “Hi,” he greets me with a small smile.
Dear god, he’s going to give me a heart attack. He’s so fucking cute and I find myself lighting up when I see him. A smile creeps onto my face when Joel steps into the room. “Hi,” I whisper before looking back down at Ellie.
“How long's she been out?” I hear Joel ask.
“Only 30 minutes,” I huff out.
My eyes find Joel’s again as he sets the bottle of wine down on my mantel. “Damn it. She’s gonna be mad when I wake her,” he foretells.
My eyes roam up and down his body, savoring how good he looks in the moonlight. His hair has grown a bit longer since Halloween, curling up slightly at the ends. “Maybe she should stay tonight,” I suggest.
Joel shrugs his jacket off, hanging it on a wall hook. “Why?” he asks.
“Come. Sit,” I demand, patting the empty spot at the end of the bed.
Joel kicks his shoes off by his jacket before sauntering over. He lowers his body awkwardly onto the edge of the bed with clasped hands. My hand reaches out towards him and he takes it, allowing me to pull him closer to me.
The warmth of his hands has me reluctant to let go. “Don’t freak out,” I preface once he’s close enough.
His eyes observe my face, and I assume he’s looking for any sign of emotion. “Darlin’, whenever you start a sentence like that I lose my shit,”
“Well, don't,” I command him before my hands slowly move to Ellie’s hoodie. She’s lying on her side with her back facing the both of us, so Joel can’t see her bruised face. I grab the edge of the fabric, pulling it back just enough to reveal the purple circle on her face.
Joel sucks air in through his teeth and his upper body tenses. He leans over a bit more to get a better look at the black eye, dramatically dipping the bed. Ellie seemingly senses this and her body shifts to face us.
Neither I nor Joel take a breath, waiting to see if Ellie’s going to wake up. She lets out a small grunt and her eyes flutter open. “Joel?” she whispers, squinting up at him.
Joel pulls the blanket up, tucking her in. “It’s okay, baby girl. You can go back to sleep,” he reassures her.
“Mmmm okay,” Ellie sighs, snuggling into the pink silk.
I slide towards the end of the mattress, grab Joel's wrist, and pull him into the ensuite bathroom. As soon as the door is closed, I turn around to face him.
The first thing I notice is the prominent scowl on his face and his tense shoulders. “The hell happened to her face?” he grits.
My nose scrunches with disdain. “Don’t fucking snap at me, Joel,” I whisper yell at him.
He crosses the room, trapping me in between the counter and his body with nowhere to move. There’s nowhere for me to move and even if I wanted to, I’m frozen in place. “Fuck. I’m sorry, sugar,” he apologizes, putting his hands on my hips.
His fingers slightly slide under my shirt and I shiver before he lays his full palms on my waist. His eyes flutter closed and he leans closer to me, resting his forehead on mine.
He hums and I know this is just platonic. He doesn’t want you Imogen, he’s just trying to ground himself. “She called me to pick her up around 11. Said the girl was an antagonistic bully. She shoved Ellie and called her a pussy,” I ramble while Joel’s thumbs trace a comforting pattern onto my skin.
He sighs and his eyes stay closed. “Ginny,” he says lowly.
“and Ellie rightfully beat her ass. I’m just saying to go easy on her for the next few days. Bitches are mean and I would’ve fought at 14 too if that cunt stepped to me like that. Did you teach her how to fight? Because she wiped the floor with that girl,” I continue, getting irritated about the situation all over again.
Joel opens his eyes, leaning back a bit. “Ginny,” he repeats.
“Oh, the school probably called you already. If they say I cussed out a parent, they’re fucking liars,” my nostrils flare, but Joel’s no fool. He probably already knows the truth.
My eyes search Joel’s face for any type of reaction before I continue. His face is entirely blank, confusing me more. “Gin—“
“What Joel?” I annoyingly cut him off.
He clears his throat, tucking a stray curl behind my ear. “Thank you,” he says calmly.
I chuckle, shaking my head. “You don’t have to thank me,” I tell him, looking away.
Dejavu clouds my brain when Joel bends his knees, forcing me to look at him. “I do. Ellie’s not your responsibility and she shouldn’t have called you. She should’ve called me,” he reiterates and I try not to get lost in his chocolate irises.
My head nods and I lick my lips, still salty with chip remnants. “Yes but Joel, I would much rather her call me than not say anything at all. What if she got arrested or worse? At least she’s safe. A win is a fucking win,” I argue.
He nods, scratching his eyebrow. “She talk to you after?” he asks.
“Mmhm,” I answer.
“How was she?” he follows up.
I shift to lean on my other leg. “Quiet. Usually, the first thing she does when she sees me is regurgitate one of your dad jokes, but she’s barely said a word since we got back,” I note.
“Damn it,” Joel swears, pacing around the large bathroom. “Damn it,” he grits a little louder.
He runs his hands through his hair, slightly tugging at the roots. “What should I do?” he asks, voice laced with concern.
I gnaw on my lip faced once again with the fear of telling Joel how to parent. He stops pacing, waiting for me to answer. “Joel, I don’t know,” I sigh, quite frankly stressed the fuck out.
He shakes his head and lets out a client grunt. “You do. You’re just bitin' your tongue because you don’t want to step on my toes,” he speaks with his hands.
I step forward, grabbing his hands to try and soothe him. His calloused palms feel rough against my smooth moisturized ones. “Just be there for her and love her. Just keep loving her Joel,” I advise.
He adjusts our palms so his hands are on the outside. “Okay. Thank you, again,” he grunts.
The silence between us is comfortable, but Joel’s blinking is slow. “You look tired. Go lay down next to Ellie while I make my bed in the spare room,” I instruct him, pulling him towards the door.
His feet drag on the tile beneath us. “I can help you,” he offers.
I release one of his hands, sliding the door open. “You can help me by making me breakfast in the morning. I’m sleepy too,” I bargain, hoping he’ll make some bacon.
“Okay,” Joel whispers as we leave the bathroom. I part ways with him, heading down the hall to make up the extra bed for him. It only takes a few minutes and when I get back to my room, I catch a glimpse of Joel lying horizontally over my footboard.
As I come closer, I see both he and Ellie are asleep. He’s on top of the covers, having shed his jeans, holding Ellie’s feet through the duvet.
I shake my head, too tired to bother waking him. He grumbles as I slide into the warmth of the bed and I roll my eyes. I didn’t expect to share my bed with one human tonight, let alone two.
I pull the covers up, careful not to kick Joel in the face as I situate myself. Like magic, my eyes close and I’m asleep within minutes.
As soon as I can form a thought, I feel a chill hit my feet. I instantly swipe them around the sheets, searching for my electric blanket. My legs intertwine a warm item and I attempt to hide my face behind Ellie’s body.
A few moments pass and I hear snickers in the room. “Go back to sleep, sugar,” I hear the man’s voice say and I try my best to ignore it.
I groan, melting further into the warm body next to me. It’s far too early to be thinking about anything but more sleep. “Shut up, then,” I mumble.
This time the laugh is loud and deep, and it comes from underneath me. The realization that I’m curled into Joel right now sends panic up my ass.
My eyes open wide and I shoot up into a sitting position, scrambling back away from Joel. Joel reaches out to grab me but I underestimate how big my bed is when I’m suddenly tumbling backwards on the floor.
My body connects with the ground with a loud thud. “Oooo,” I hear Ellie groan.
Joel peers over the edge of the mattress. “You alright?” he checks, voice laced with concern.
My hand pushes his out of the way. “I’m fine. Just got spooked. Not used to people being here is all,” I partially lie.
The problem isn’t with them staying here, it’s my feelings for Joel. “Sorry we scared you darlin’,” Joel apologizes.
Rubbing the sleep out of my eyes, I stand from the floor. “It’s okay. Shit. What time is it?” I ask the two sitting on top of my bed.
Ellie shovels another forkful of pancakes into her mouth. “11:30,” she mumbles through chewing.
My eyes go wide and I feel an oncoming spiral approaching. My chest gets tight as the panic sets in. “Fuck, fuck, fuck,” I swear, looking for my phone under the 5 layers of blankets. “The bakery opened 3 hours ago,” I tell them, patting the top of the covers to find my phone.
Joel grabs my wrist, ceasing any movement I’m making. “Relax. I checked with Grace. They’re doin' fine,” he reports with a small smile.
The gaze lingers between us for a moment too long causing a sizzling feeling to linger in the air. Joel looks down at where we connect, quickly pulling his hand back. “Ginny, come on. Joel made breakfast,” Ellie beams before popping a crispy slice of bacon in her mouth.
I rub my eyes, trying to get out any crust that might be in them. “You did?” I ask.
Joel nods and I admire his bedhead. “Least I could do, sugar,” he says nonchalantly.
Ellie stands from the bed, holding her empty plate in her hands. I follow after her, excited to soothe my rumbling stomach.
Once we’re in the kitchen, I’m hit with the realization that I hate cooking. There hasn’t been food in my house since last Thanksgiving. “Where did you get the bacon?” I ask Joel over my shoulder.
“Stopped by my place earlier,” Joel discloses.
My heart warms and a smile so big covers my face it hurts. “Joel, that’s so nice,” I remark.
Ellie darts past us, putting her dishes in the dishwasher. “I have to keep working on the wall. Thanks for breakfast, Joel,” she bids us goodbye, rushing across the room.
Joel hands me a plate and I accept it, loading it up with some fresh fruit first. “You’re welcome, kiddo,” Joel replies.
“See you in a bit, El,” I call to her.
“Look, I have to go. My brother Tommy is comin' round and he doesn't come round often,” Joel says, awkwardly tapping the counter with his pointer finger.
My jaw drops and I peer up at him with regret. “Oh fuck, Joel. You should’ve woke me up,” I whine.
Joel slowly shakes his head. “Mmm, didn’t want to. You look cute when you sleep,” he compliments.
My eyes widen and I look down at my plate, praying I don’t drop it. Joel fucking Miller just called me cute. “I’m sorry,” I apologize.
“Don’t apologize. I made the decision,” Joel’s morning voice sounds like a melody to my ears.
I nod, unsure of what to say. I pick up a piece of bacon, moaning at the perfect crispiness of the meat. “Well, enjoy breakfast. Thanks again for Ellie,” Joel pipes up.
“Of course. Bye, Joel,” I wave at him as he follows his daughter.
“Bye,” Joel calls over his shoulder with a smile.
My head throws back with a groan as I shuffle towards my couch. A faint knocking sound rasps on the wooden door and I pause my movements. I wait for another knock and when I don’t hear anything, I dust it out of my mind. I sit on the couch before I hear a knock again, this time louder. My feet carry me down the stairs to my back door and when I turn the corner, I see Joel’s side profile.
He looks stressed so I quickly yank the door open. “Did you forget your knife again?” I ask.
He shakes his head. “No, sweetheart. I’m sorry for botherin’ you,” he apologizes, putting one hand on the door frame.
He leans onto the side of the bakery and the wood groans beneath him. “What’s wrong?” I ask.
He clears his throat, seemingly uncomfortable. “Are you free tomorrow?” he asks.
My brows furrow and I pull my cardigan closed over my inevitably hard nipples. “Uh, I can be. Why?” I sputter.
He closes his eyes for a moment, inhaling a harsh breath. “Maybe I’m readin’ this wrong,” he sighs.
“Reading what wrong?” I ask.
Joel removes his hand from the wall, straightening his back. “Nevermind. I’ll see you later,” he mumbles.
My eyes dart left and right. Am I in the fucking twilight zone right now? “Umm okay,” I utter.
“Bye, sugar,” he says before taking a step back, putting what feels like a mile in between us.
Somehow, I feel a pang of disappointment in my stomach that I’ve missed something. “Bye,” I say to him, stepping back and shutting the door.
Ginny without a kiss - 2, Ginny with a kiss - 0
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