Inside, most shelves were empty.
“Have you two been too busy to shop?”
Vanessa laughed.
“Ethan’s paycheck is already gone.”
She casually described her system: every time she prepared something for him, she charged a fee. Because his account was overdue, she refused to cook for him until his next payday. Eyeing the dessert, she added,
“At least he’ll have something to eat tonight.”
I shut the refrigerator carefully.
“You charge him for dinner?”
“Cooking is work. I’m not his personal chef.”
He knew his way around a kitchen himself.
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