Total pages in book: 118
Estimated words: 112892 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 564(@200wpm)___ 452(@250wpm)___ 376(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 112892 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 564(@200wpm)___ 452(@250wpm)___ 376(@300wpm)
When he finally arrived, trailing after Aaron, I gave him a friendly smile, but he didn’t look at me. Or any of us, as far as I could tell. But, as I took my seat, I was distracted by the amazing feast that Diego and Evan had brought out.
Practically every inch of the table was filled with food that was colorful, vibrant, and smelled just incredible. I still couldn’t believe a student just a couple of years older than me had made this.
“Wow.” That was all I said. Diego heard me as he emerged from the kitchen and smiled. “Anyone want a beer?”
Several voices said yes, and he clarified: “Anyone over twenty-one want a beer?”
Only Aaron said yes. Then he turned to me, an eyebrow raised.
“I’m twenty,” I said. Plus, after the hangover I’d had after that Halloween party, I didn’t expect to touch alcohol again until I was thirty.
Diego brought in two brown bottles, one for him and one for Diego.
“I had beer all the time at home,” Raymond grumbled.
“You can have a beer in two years,” Diego said. “But you don’t need one to make a toast.” He turned his warm smile on me. “I’d like to officially welcome Mia, the newest resident of Baylor House.”
“To Mia,” everyone echoed.
“We’re glad you’re here,” Aaron said. Several other voices overlapped at once, and even Raymond said something friendly.
“Thank you. I’m very happy to be here.” It was true. Even though I wished with all my heart that Sara was, too.
As if by some unspoken signal, everyone dove in. Aaron handed me each bowl or platter before taking some for himself and then continuing the food counterclockwise. Soon my plate was piled as high as the serving platters.
For a while, the only sounds were people eating and enjoying the meal. There were chicken thighs with some kind of citrus-garlic flavor to them, striped with dark grill marks. I’d seen a grill on the back porch and wondered if Diego had fired that up.
There was also a cast-iron skillet sizzling with fajita vegetables, like onions, zucchini, and brightly colored peppers. The rice was flavored with cilantro and lime, and the beans with bacon pieces in them. Finally, I took a warm tortilla and started filling it.
The first bite was amazing. So was the second.
Like my foster parents’ favorite Mexican restaurant back home. Even better, actually.
“This is incredible,” I said.
“You’ve said that twice already.” Jenna sounded amused.
“Because it’s still true.”
“It’s even more amazing when you actually eat it,” Aaron pointed out. He was already a third of the way through his meal, even though his plate was piled high. Mine was nearly untouched.
“I just can’t decide where to start. I want to try everything.”
Diego set down his beer. “That’s what every cook likes to hear. It’s definitely better than that ‘cilantro tastes like soap’ stuff.” He gave a mock stern look to Raymond, who had also given his opinion on the food more than once.
The chicken was my favorite. After I’d eaten one thigh, I took another, tore some pieces off, and put them in a tortilla. Maybe that wasn’t what you were supposed to do with it, but it tasted so damn good.
Aaron had seconds, and when he was finally winding down, he asked me what I was doing after dinner.
“Homework, I guess.”
“American Adventures is on tonight. Do you watch it?”
“I love that show!” American Adventure consisted of teams racing from one coast of the United States to the other, with all kinds of crazy tasks and detours along the way.
“Want to watch it together?”
“Of course. Who’s your favorite to win?”
“Blue. Yours?”
“Yellow.” I grinned, feeling more relaxed than I had at any other point in the meal. “They’ll wipe the floor with the blue team.”
“Guess we’ll find out,” Aaron said, somewhat smugly.
When I couldn’t eat another bite, I studied my fellow roommates while trying not to be too obvious about it. Cody was seated between Evan and Jenna but didn’t seem to be talking to either of them. I kept thinking about our encounter after class yesterday.
He just seemed kind of sad, and that made me want to make him smile. Sara used to say I had a soft heart—always sitting by the kid at lunch who was eating by themselves. Because I knew what that was like.
Evan, at least, tried a couple of times to engage Cody in conversation, but it didn’t work.
Soon, everyone was completely full, and Diego chose that moment to tap on his glass.
"A couple of announcements before we disband until next week."
Aaron and a few others groaned.
Diego held up his hands defensively. "Hey, don’t blame me. I get paid to talk to you all about this crap."
"Can we pay you not to talk to us about this crap?" Aaron asked.
I laughed.
"Just a few things, I promise," Diego said. "First off, if you use the last of something—dish soap, laundry detergent, anything—put it on the grocery list. And don’t forget with the cans and bottles—"