Page 25 of Knot for Me
I snort. “Trust me, you won’t be able to make it.”
“Try me.”
Squaring my shoulders, I tip my head to the side. “Grandma May’s lasagna.”
“I can make lasagna,” Cory says with a scoff.
“Sure, but can you make it the right way?” Grandma didn’t do it completely traditional, but I honestly enjoyed her lasagna more than the classic style one.
He narrows his eyes. “You doubt me?”
I shrug. “Sort of. Most people miss the most important parts. You can’t just slap things together and call it lasagna. Lasagna making is an art. Lasagna is—”
“Say lasagna one more time,” Marco cuts in. “Here.”
I grab the meat he gives me and chew it, lifting an eyebrow at Cory in challenge.
“Would you like me to list out the steps?” he asks. “Then maybe you can tell me if you approve? I’d hate to disappoint you,” he says dryly.
“Go for it,” I say, grabbing the first cracker Marco sets on the plate. He smirks and lays out more for us to munch on.
“All right.” Cory blows out a hard breath. “First, we’ll start with the herbs. Fresh herbs only. Green onions, of course.”
“Any other kind is sacrilege,” I say with a nod.
“Basil, oregano. Olive oil for the pan. I don’t like to use celery and carrots…” I give him a thumbs up. Grandma always skipped those too. “For the meat, I use pork and ground beef.”
“You’re doing good so far,” I admit. I build a little cracker sandwich for Marco then make one for myself.
“If you’re okay with some spice, I like the spicy Italian sausage.”
“Perfect,” I say around a mouthful, covering my mouth so he can’t see how disgusting I am.
“Then I make the sauce homemade. Tomato sauce, paste, a little red wine, parmesan, salt and pepper.” He pauses, furrowing his brow.
This is the most important part, honestly. I have hope for him though. I wait patiently.
“Oh, duh. And ricotta cheese.”
“So long as you don’t forget the garlic, that sounds pretty tasty.” I’m sure the lasagna will taste different, but it’ll be close enough with what he’s listed out.
“Oh yeah. Garlic is a staple in this house. You’re good with spice and extra seasoning?”
“Yup. Load that baby up.”
He smiles. “Yes, ma’am.”
“Do you want help?” Marco asks Cory.
“You can go find the red wine once you’re done with your snack.”
“Perfect, I’ll take Reagan to the cellar.”
“Is that where you hide the bodies?” I whisper the question.
“Only a few. The others are buried out in the fields.”
I laugh, enjoying the moment. This is the most relaxed I’ve felt while I’ve been here. There’s a voice in the back of my mind telling me I shouldn’t be hanging out with them, but I ignore that voice. I’m not going to hide in my room, and if we can establish the boundaries of our friendship early on, it’ll be better for everyone in the long run.
