Page 14 of Fostering Chemistry
There were eight chairs.
Oof. That hit me in the stomach. If Sara was here, one spot would be for her. I wished so much she were here.
Aaron was oblivious to my change in mood. He handily picked up the extra chair and set it in a corner.
I trailed a finger along the tabletop. "We should clean this."
"I thought that’s what we just did.”
"No, we cleared it off. But we should clean it before we start putting food on it—especially food that smells that good."
"Ah, good idea."
He strode into the hallway, opened a small linen closet, and pulled out some cleaning cloths. “We can wet these in the bathroom, so we don’t bother Diego in the kitchen."
That was fine with me. I had to dampen my rag three times before the table seemed clean enough. Then Evan appeared with a stack of heavy ceramic plates that he handed to Aaron. A moment later, he brought a metal canister full of silverware to me.
"Thanks," I said. "I could have come and gotten it, though."
He replied, "Best not to. Diego can be a bit of a tyrant when it’s his turn to cook." Evan’s voice was friendly, but squeaky. He swore that he was eighteen, but he looked about twelve to me. He seemed like a nice guy, just very young.
As for Diego, I couldn’t quite picture him running the kitchen with an iron fist. He seemed so even-keeled—at least when he wasn’t insanely drunk at a party.
"How come you’re allowed in?" I asked, curious but not jealous.
"He said I’m his assistant tonight." He sounded proud.
Aaron laughed. "Which means you’re his flunky."
Evan grinned. "Something like that."
I smiled as he disappeared into the kitchen. He was a cheerful guy, which was more than I could say for some of my new roommates.
Aaron set out plates and I followed, placing the silverware on either side of them. Then he braved the kitchen, returning with a stack of napkins, which we set out.
"I think we’re good here," he said.
Jenna appeared, and I was glad to see that she came to these Tuesday night dinners.
"Good timing," I said as she entered.
She held up her phone, tapping the screen with a fingernail. "Evan sent a group text saying that it was ready."
"There’s a group text for all of us?"
"Yeah, I’ll add you to it."
"Thanks."
Evan came back with a handful of trivets and hot pads that he gave to me. "Can you put these on the table?"
"Sure."
Then he turned to Aaron. "You get the harder job—Diego’s orders."
Aaron grinned. “I don’t see how there could possibly be an easier one.” He winked at me as I spread the hot pads across the table. “What is it?”
"Getting Cody down here."
