Eric slept longer than anyone else. It wasn't until the following afternoon that he finally stretched lazily, got out of bed, and wandered into the kitchen, his stomach growling and urging him to find something to eat.
He assumed everyone had already finished eating and resigned himself to grabbing something instant to make do. But as soon as he stepped into the kitchen, a mouthwatering aroma hit him. Curious, he opened the microwave and discovered a steaming plate of black pepper beef, clearly freshly made.
His appetite surged. After heating it for half a minute, he plopped down on a chair in the kitchen, holding the plate in his hands as he dug in eagerly.
Six minutes later, Eric placed the empty plate in the sink with a contented sigh, patted his now-full stomach, and leaned back, th
