FINDING ELENA
, he said, looking at Ruby, who in turn looked at Elena, who smiled and gestured with a thumb up.
Ary took a step forward and picked up the next piece.
Citrus burst across his tongue - bright, sharp, laced with herbs.
“Lime and cilantro,” he said, looking at Elena this time.
“That's correct,” she said, her smile widening.
She dropped the plate on the table and stepped away, soon returning with a glass filled with water, which she placed next to the tray by Ary's side.
The next piece was smoky, warm, and lingering, a complexity that didn’t reveal itself all at once. He let it sit longer than necessary, studying her as though she were part of the recipe.