Page 15 of Fostering Chemistry
His face fell. "Crap, that is the harder job." Then he snapped to attention, giving a quick salute. "But I’m on it."
I was curious about seeing Cody again. When I’d noticed the cute guy in the back of the room in my chemistry class, I wasn’t even entirely certain it was him, at first. I’d only seen a brief glimpse of him on Saturday. He just looked like a quiet guy who kept to himself, which fit what I knew of him.
Talking to him had been a little bit like pulling teeth—but not uncomfortable. Just… surprising. Because of how reserved and closed off he was.
And because he was the most beautiful man I’d ever seen.
I didn’t even think I’d ever described a man as being beautiful, but Cody was. First were those eyes. They were the kind of light blue that seemed to look right through you. I couldn’t stop staring at them. Everything about him—his nose, his arched eyebrows, his stubbled jawline… it was like he’d been given the most pleasing proportions possible.
Trying to get him to talk hadn’t been easy, but I’d very much wanted to. I still wanted to, though I hadn’t seen him since.
It seemed like guys often fell into two categories: either they didn’t want to give you the time of day, or they paid far too much attention—and it was sometimes creepy. So far, no one in the house had fallen into either category as far as I was concerned, including Cody.
If I was honest with myself, I hadn’t stopped thinking about him since yesterday. He had the haunted look I’d seen in some foster kids in the system over the years. I didn’t know what had happened to him, but I was guessing his life hadn’t been filled with puppies, rainbows, and birthday parties.
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’tbelieve 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.”
