Page 138 of Fostering Chemistry
We all dove in.
There literally came a point, much later on, when I couldn’t eat another bite. I’d heard people say that before, but this was the first time it felt a hundred percent true for me. Cody’s food was utterly amazing.
I would never admit it, but maybe better than Diego’s. Of course, dinner and breakfast were two different things. I’d never been a fan of big breakfasts, but I was now. I couldn’t stop gushing praise to Cody, who looked a little embarrassed. He refilled everyone’s coffee when we were done eating, and for a while, we were all too full to talk.
Then, finally, I turned to him. “I’m sorry, but I just have to ask…”
Cody held up his hand. Everyone watched him carefully, waiting.
“I had to cook dinner for my foster family every single night. Every fucking night, from age 13 to 15. After that, I vowed never to cook for anyone again.” He looked around the kitchen, as if just noticing all the work he’d done. “Until today.”
I didn’t know what to say.
Diego asked, “What changed when you were fifteen?”
“I ran away.”
Aaron raked a hand through his hair. “I wish I’d known,” he began. “The three of us—we’ve lived together for a long time, but I’ve sure learned more about you both this week than in the entire last year.”
“Me too,” said Diego.
I laughed softly again. “As soon as we took a break from our classes, that’s when the real education began.”
“Basically, yeah.” Diego turned to Cody. “I’m sorry I tried so hard to get you to cook. Why didn’t you tell me?”
Cody shook his head slightly. “I couldn’t then.”
I caught his eye. “But you could now, right?”
“Yep.” He stood up, carrying two empty plates over to the sink. “I just did.”
39
MIA
“And then Professor Teaguetold the whole class how well I’d done with assembling a team and managing them. That was the point of the assignment, not just the resulting video. But she told me after class that she really liked the video, too.” I was gushing, but I couldn’t help it.
I sat on the sofa in the living room at the Baylor House, one knee pulled up on the couch as I listened. “No, they didn’t think I was bossy. Or, well, maybe they did, but that was my job. To be the manager of my minions.”
I smiled at the gentle teasing. “All right, maybe I do like being bossy.” I could admit that, but it didn’t diminish my excitement. “I bet I get an A on it, and that’ll mean getting an A in the class.”
Nodding rapidly, I wrapped up the call. “Okay, you too. Take care and see you soon.”
Tossing my phone on the cushion next to me, I looked up to see Diego leaning against the doorframe to the dining room, watching me. He had a black button-down shirt that was rolled up at the sleeves to reveal his tan, muscular forearms. Had I everthought that forearms were attractive before moving in here? Probably not.
“How’s Tori doing?” He said it lightly, but I knew he was still embarrassed that Tori and Jayden knew about what had happened at that Halloween party.
“Fine as far as I know, but that was Sara.”
“Really?” His smile brightened the room as he strode toward me. “That’s wonderful. I’m so glad that you can talk to her like that now.”
He reached me and held out his hand. I took it, getting to my feet. “Where are we going?”
He spun me around and pressed me against the back of an armchair. “Nowhere, I just wanted to kiss you, and I don’t trust myself with you on a sofa.”
And kiss me he did. He caged my body with his, trapping me between his hot, hard muscles and the back of the chair. The moment his lips met mine, it felt so damn good. Each of them kissed a little differently, but I thoroughly enjoyed—and was gaining much practice—with each style.
I melted under Diego’s touch and scraped my fingers along his back. As he ravished my mouth, I brought one leg up, wrapping it around him and grinding my hips against his.
