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)
Cody?
He turned when he saw me, a genuine smile lighting up his face. “Morning, beautiful. Sausage or bacon?”
All I could do was stare. And when words finally came, they weren’t about breakfast meats. ”I have so many questions,” I said, trying to pick my jaw off the floor.
Cody waited, his head cocked, and finally said, “Okay, both sausage and bacon.”
Aaron and I made our way to the table, where Diego looked as stunned as we were. While Cody was turned toward the stove, we had a silent conversation, expressing our surprise.
Then Cody brought over a platter with omelets on one side and eggs sunny-side up on the other. Diego got up to fetch plates while Aaron poured coffee. I just stood there, stunned, trying to wrap my head around this revelation.
When I sat down at the table, Cody appeared out of nowhere and pushed my chair in for me.
I smiled up at him, catching his hand and squeezing it briefly. He went back to the stove, and Aaron and Diego sat down.
Aaron whispered, “What the fuck?”
“I know, right?” Diego shook his head. “I just can’t believe it.”
And all of a sudden, I got the giggles. I put my head in my hand and started shaking with laughter.
“What?” Aaron hissed.
I couldn’t stop. Diego put his hand on my shoulder, giving me a little shake. “What, Mia?”
I finally looked at them. “So you guys were perfectly okay with group sex last night, but Cody cooking is what you can’t wrap your head around?” It was so absurd that I couldn’t stop laughing.
Aaron and Diego exchanged a look. And then they were laughing, too.
“What?” Cody said, bringing over another serving platter.
When he turned back, I caught hold of his arm, tugging gently. “This looks amazing. Please sit down and eat with us.”
He surveyed the counters and stove, and I was half worried that he might make a few dozen more courses, but then he nodded and sat down at the fourth chair.
“Wow. Bon fucking appétit,” Diego said, wonder and admiration in his voice.
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 Teague told 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 ever thought that forearms were attractive before moving in here? Probably not.