Page 91 of A Forgotten Mistake

Liam hesitates, looking concerned that he did something wrong. He rushes over to where I’m scraping the blackened piece into the trash. It crumbles as it falls. “Gabriel, as I run things through my mind… I am now seeing that maybe… that was not the proper interaction. But if I’m perfectly honest, it was this or threatening that if he ever does it again, I will tear his life apart to find the shittiest sliver of information about him that I can find and then making him beg you for forgiveness.”

“What’s the powder on this?” I ask as I poke the green bean that’s nearly white with something I really doubt is garlic powder.

“I… uhhh… opened some laxatives and poured the powder onto it.”

“How long was this slice of turkey on the grill?”

“Not long, but at the temperature I had it at, it took very little time to dry out and become quite crisp. Are you mad at me?” Liam is watching me closely.

“Mad?”

“Yeah.”

My lips quirk. “That was really fucking sexy,” I whisper.

His worried expression evaporates. “Was it? I can make him eat it if you want.”

My sister rushes over before I can make sure Liam’s well aware I don’t want him to dig it out of the trash and make Tom eat it, even if he deserves it. “Oh. My. God,” Layla says. “Tom’s face. That was priceless. He’s such a dick. He used to make fun of me all the time too, but not as bad as he did with Gabriel. Oh… joyous day. Liam, I like you. You definitely get a stamp of approval from me.”

“Thank you,” he says, looking quite proud.

“Come on, you three, eat,” Mom urges. She looks like she’s about to say something about the incident before simply patting Liam on the back.

“I’m just worried you put something in his drink,” I tease.

Liam hesitates, like I’ve just given him a brilliant idea. “I have more laxatives.”

I grin but give him a playful push. “No! Be good!”

“I’m trying, Gabriel. I really am!” he says as I drag him over and put a plate in his hand now that everyone else has gone through the line. His attention shifts to showing me what he made. “You have to try this… and I made this knowing you’d like it.”

By the time he’s done pointing out everything he wants me to try, my plate is overflowing. I’m not quite sure how he expects me to eat all of this, but the smile on his face is reason enough for me to try.

“Oh nooo. There aren’t enough chairs. I guess I’ll have to sit with the cats,” Liam says.

“No, I saw you didn’t have enough chairs, and I had Layla bring one,” I assure him as I wave toward the two remaining chairs.

Liam’s expression falters a bit as he realizes that his plan clearly didn’t work. But I made sure he was going to be seated between me and Matthew, making me glad I asked him and Jesse to join since Liam seems most comfortable around them.

“This is amazing,” Mom says as soon as Liam sits down.

“Best meal I’ve ever had,” Grandma agrees.

Liam nods at them, not seeming to care. His eyes are fully on me as I realize that he’s waiting formyapproval.

“Damn, Liam. No wonder Penny does anything you want when you bring her pie,” Matthew says.

“I’ll pretend to get along with you if you bring me food,” Jesse promises. “I’ll even close you in the dead person drawer like you wanted.”

“I’m listening,” Liam replies.

“Jesse, no,” I say, not sure why I have to state this. I take a bite and nod. “Oh my… it’s delicious.”

Liam’s all smiles. I mean… who gives a shit if my grandma says it’s the best meal she’s had in her eighty years of life; as long as I’m happy, that’s all that matters in his eyes. The noise of the family talking fills up the house as people chatter and eat.

“I really want you to start making my lunches,” Matthew decides.

“Matthew, I will make you nothing, seeing as you’ve added nothing to my life besides misery.”

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