Nothing But Perfect pancakes

Kayla stood at the kitchen counter, finishing the last preparations for breakfast, swaying her hips to the rhythm of her soulful humming, wearing a borrowed red silk robe. Despite the enthusiasm and glee, it was also a hard day for her. After breakfast with her lover, they would be going back to their homes after a lovely vacation. She poured the perfect amount of pancake mixture into the pan. She paused for a moment, hearing his footsteps as he made his way toward the kitchen. The room was filled with the smell of bacon, caffeine, and her special pancakes.

“Good morning, baby. You are up extra early. I missed you in bed.”

“Yes, well, I woke up full of energy, plus someone had to make food... we need to replace all those calories after such a busy night.” She winked at him and got back to the final part of the job, frying the pancakes and waiting for the kettle to heat up for the coffee.

“Hahaha... It was very busy indeed; a lot of heaving and hip work leaves you hungry for more.” Max gave a sly smile. He noticed the fluffy pancakes right in front of him, and he could not resist the melting butter and the dripping syrup. Kayla expertly flipped more pancakes out of the pan and placed them on a plate beside the stove. The moment she heard the kettle slowly die down, she made her way over to finish the coffee and brought it over to Max. The scent alone did the trick. He took a big sip of the seething hot liquid.

“Did you add hazelnut?”

“Why, yes, I did!” Kayla leaned in and gave Max a big kiss that would make the steam from the coffee jealous. As she pulled back to get her own coffee, Max folded one of the pancakes and devoured it.

“Wow... hungry boy.” She bit her lip as she watched him eat with both cheeks full. It was not sexy, but it was sort of cute.

Max’s phone rang. They both looked down and stared at the screen. It was Rebecca, Max’s wife. Kayla’s pink lips twisted. Max signalled for her to say nothing. She rolled her eyes and turned to the counter as he answered his wife.

“Hi, honey! How are you doing?... I am good, thanks. How are the boys?”

Kayla switched on her own phone and found 37 missed calls. She had not answered her own husband at all during their busy ‘business’ week together. However, Max would answer every time his wife called. No matter where he was or what he was doing, he answered immediately. She made her way back to the stove and poured more of the thick mixture into the pan. She ignored Max as he lied to his wife once again about what he was doing or where he was. She stood in front of the pan, gripping the spatula tight and violently attempting to flip the pancake over, with partial success.

“Yes, baby, I will be home soon. No, Rebecca, I swear I am alone. It is a business retreat for God’s sake, please relax... We will talk when I am home, I promise. Yes, honey, of course, I love you!”

Kayla turned to face Max. He paused for a second, staring back at Kayla. He attempted a feeble smile to lighten the mood.

“Baby... Rebecca, honey... I must go... Yes, yes, I know, I won’t forget... Bye, baby, I love you!” He slowly placed the phone onto the counter.

“You done talking to that slut?!”

“HEY! You don’t talk about her that way. She is my wife; I don’t go around calling your husband names now, do I?”

“You can call that useless cuck whatever you want! Now, I am here, I don’t answer his calls, and you choose to disrespect me consistently with her fucking presence, Max!” Her face became as red as her silk robe. Her eyes began to grow puffy from all that was happening.

“You don’t answer James? At all? He is going to suspect something is wrong, Kayla. What the fuck!”

“Fuck James! I hate him, he is nothing to me. Not since...” She caught herself; Max was standing with his hands on his forehead.

“Since what, Kayla? Since we started fucking? I thought we agreed this was just a fling.”

“Just a fling? Just a fucking fling? You told me last night that you loved me!” She jabbed her chest with her long fingernails. She moved closer. “What was the point of this fucking trip then? I love you too! This is what you’re going to do to me?” She made her way almost to his face.

“I do love YOU! There, I said it. I was tired of us having to sneak around, worried all the time if someone walked in. I rented this place for us. I spent the day getting you nice things, BUT! I still have a fucking wife and kids. I can’t just throw them away like garbage. I get that you hate your fucking life, Kayla, I fucking do.”

“You say you fucking love me and still talk to that bitch! I won’t go back to James; I hate everything about him. I hate when he touches me. I cannot stand him. I don’t know how you stand her either; she constantly stands in our way. What do you see in someone who does nothing, who is nothing? Now you want to run back to her. Then you leave me alone and decide to come back when you just want to empty your balls.”

The smell of burning filled the air around them. Max noticed the smoke rising from the pan and roughly moved Kayla aside and ran to it before it caught fire. Kayla realised it, too, and stood frozen for a moment, looking around for anything that could help. Max rushed the pan to the basin and poured water on it. Kayla’s hands covered her face, attempting to hide her tears and muffle her sobs. Although it was futile, it all came out.

Max made his way over to Kayla, who was now wiping the warm tears from her face. He wrapped his arms around her and fully embraced her. He held her tighter as her body pulsed with every exhale. They stood there for a minute.

“Listen. Of course I love you! I am just confused and trying to figure all this out. I still love Rebecca, and I especially love my boys. I just need time to figure this all out, the best way possible.”

“I can’t afford to go back, Max; I hate that man. You know how he is, you know how he gets. I also don’t want you to leave me alone either. I love every moment with you. Are you happy? I mean, are you happy with starting all this with me?” Max lifted her head and gave her a strong kiss. He pulled her in and held her tight.

“Yes, I love spending as much time with you as possible. Please, don’t worry, it will be alright. I hate leaving you too, I wish this was an easy decision.” Max squeezed harder as tears began to form in his own eyes.

He noticed crimson red on her shoulder. Max pulled back and placed his hand on his nose. The blood flowed faster. He began to tilt, sway, and spin in multiple directions. His skin went pale, and he fell over. His muscles stiffened.

“Don’t worry. Baby, I know it is scary but relax. It will be quick.” She knelt and cradled his head in her arms. Max looked up at her, his confused, dazed eyes staring back at her.

“This was the only way I knew we could stay together. We did not have to leave each other at all; I figured out a way, baby. It is much better and easier. You don’t have to leave me. Nobody can tear us apart. Not James, not Rebecca, and not the boys.”

His phone began to ring again. Kayla looked in its direction. A tear bore its way down her cheek. She looked back down at Max; his lifeless and stiffened body lay heavy on her.

Her nose began to bleed, too. They would not be torn apart anymore.