The warm scent of cinnamon and sugar filled the small, cozy kitchen as Ray moved between the counter and the oven, wearing an apron that was definitely not what you expected. The frilly edges and soft pastel color were a stark contrast to the usual jeans and band t-shirts he wore on tour.

You stood by the doorway, leaning against the frame, unable to hide the grin spreading across your face. The scene was a far cry from the rockstar persona Ray carried on stage, and it was charming in ways you couldn’t put into words.

“Stop looking at me like that,” Ray said, turning around with a wooden spoon in hand, trying to feign annoyance. His eyes twinkled with amusement despite his words. “I’m still the badass guitarist you fell for, you know.”

The apron, though, told a different story, and you couldn’t help but laugh softly as he went back to carefully placing the tray of cookies into the oven.