Page 30 of Fostering Chemistry
As my nerves finally settled, I tried a scoopful and found that I liked the shepherd’s pie. I’d have to thank Hailey and give a thumbs up on the shirtless chef’s videos.
I actually relaxed enough to help myself to a second serving. There was less meat in this one—until I realized it was just one of the bowls of mashed potatoes.
Jenna, sitting across from me, looked like she was biting back a smile. "Lots and lots of potatoes."
"And no gravy," Raymond grumbled.
Evan elbowed him. "I think everything’s great."
I smiled at him. Being done with my turn felt pretty damn great, too.
When only a bowl and a half of mashed potatoes remained, Diego set his napkin on the table. "That was excellent, Mia. Thank you.”
Similar praise echoed around me. Cody was quiet, but he gave me a small smile.
"I hope you like it, because that’s all I know how to make,” I said, rushing my words a bit nervously. “So we’ll probably be having it once every six weeks."
"Works for me," Aaron said. "You did well."
"And next week, it’s Cody’s turn," Diego said.
"No." Cody said flatly.
"We’ve talked about this," Diego began.
"Yes, we have." Cody’s voice was firm, though with that faint tone that I couldn’t quite identify. "And that’s my answer."
Raymond spoke up next. "It’s simple. If you eat, you cook.”
"Then I won’t eat." Cody pushed his chair back and stood up.
Aaron reached out and grasped his forearm. "Please stay."
For a moment, it looked like Cody was going to pull free, but he just stood there. Then he sat down and looked Diego in the eye. “I’m not going to cook, so stop asking.”
“It doesn’t have to be fancy,” Jenna began, but he turned his glare on her.
“Stop. Asking.”
There was anger there—but also something more. It was hard to tell though. He was so guarded.
But despite the anger, he looked miserable. Suddenly, I was irritated with Diego for putting him on the spot.
"We don’t all have to take a turn," I told Diego.
It was Aaron who answered.
"It’s only fair. We all live here,” Aaron said.
"But why is that the rule? What if, say, someone—not me, say Jenna—loved cooking, and I didn’t mind doing dishes? Whycouldn’t she cook and I do dishes? Why would we have to switch off?”
Warming to the theme, I continued on before anyone could interrupt. "At one home I was at, we had a chore chart, too. But we didn’t all have to do every single task. Some people never dusted, but they did other things. Just like I never mowed the lawn. I didn’t know how, but I didn’t mind vacuuming."
"That’s an idea," Aaron said thoughtfully. "We don’t have anyone scheduled for yard work, and I haven’t seen anyone volunteering to rake up those leaves.”
He looked directly at his friend. "Would you do something like that?"
Cody was still glaring at Diego, but then he finally nodded to Aaron.
