9. Mia
MIA
"I like this place," Tori said, looking around the café.
I agreed. Unlike my workplace, this place had windows, more than one barista, and actual customers.
"I’m expecting a delivery, so I had to stick close to home,” Hailey said. I’d never seen her place, but I knew her condo was just down the street.
“What’s the delivery?” Tori asked.
“A new washer and dryer. Oh, and a fridge, too.” She grinned. “My guys went a bit overboard.”
“Nice,” I said. “I think we’ll probably notice a truck large enough to transport them.”
“Not to mention men large enough to lift them,” Tori said with a little laugh.
“You two are obsessed with sex.” I shook my head but couldn’t help smiling.
“You would be too if you lived with a bunch of hot men,” Tori said pointedly. “Oh wait, you do.”
“It’s not like that,” I protested.
Hailey laughed. “It wasn’t for us, either, and look where we ended up.”
“With brand new appliances.” Tori was in good spirits today. I wondered how many of her guys had shared her bed with her last night.
And tried not to be jealous. Then again, I didn’t need a whole herd of good men. One would definitely be enough, and between homework, my job, and classes, I wasn’t even sure I could handle one.
“Anyway, it’s nice to get out of the basement,” I said, switching topics. “Out of my workplace, I should say.” I didn’t want them to think that they made me sleep in the basement of Baylor House.
"Is your new boss still giving you trouble?" Tori asked.
"It’s her favorite hobby." I sighed and took a sip of the excellent chai tea latte they served here.
Zoe was a student, just like me, only a few years older.
But unlike me, she was studying the hospitality industry.
"She spent half an hour yesterday lecturing me on how to treat customers.
" The small amount of power she wielded had quickly gone to her head.
"What customers?” Hailey asked.
“Exactly.” But I didn’t want to think about Zoe right now and soon nudged the conversation back toward them.
We talked a bit about Hailey’s life and the fantastically handsome men she lived with.
I’d only seen pictures, but wow. Tori’s guys I knew —especially Jayden, who was my friend.
It was far more fun to think of such sexy men than a boss with a stick up her ass.
But, speaking of sexy men, I was supposed to cook for some soon. Along with the unsexy ones. Oh, and Jenna.
"All right, let’s get down to business," Hailey said.
She was the one who knew how to cook, so Tori had called her in when I explained that it would be my turn to make Tuesday night dinner sooner than I thought.
Hailey cocked her head at me. "What can you make?"
"Toast. Scrambled eggs. Cereal. I’m really good at cereal."
"Can you brown meat?"
"With a marker?"
Tori put her hand on my arm. "Come on, we’re trying to help. Be serious."
All right, she had a point. But the thought of cooking for the household made me anxious. "Okay, yes, I’ve browned meat before."
“Perfect.” Hailey beamed. "You can make shepherd’s pie."
I stared at Hailey. "Never heard of it."
"It’s easy. You can double the recipe, and it’ll feed your whole crew. Plus, there are instructions online."
"There are instructions for everything online, but I usually find them hard to follow."
"You won’t find this guy hard to follow."
Hailey exchanged a glance with Tori, and they both smirked
"What, does he use small words and break it down for complete beginners?"
"It doesn’t sound like you’re a complete beginner," Tori said. "And when you see him, you’re not going to be focused on his words."
"What do you mean?"
Hailey slid her phone over, and there was a very attractive man in a white chef’s hat and white apron—and that appeared to be all he was wearing.
"Um, what’s this?"
"The shirtless chef. You’re going to love him. He really does explain things well—if you can stop yourself from drooling over him."
Tori tilted the phone in her direction and gave a sigh.
Then it was my turn to get another look. He had dark hair and eyes, and a face that was both charming and mischievous. "Okay, he is handsome, but between the two of you, you have a football team’s worth of men. Do you really need an online guy to swoon over, too?"
"But look at that hair," Hailey said.
"And the chest," Tori added.
"And those eyes.” Hailey’s voice was almost a moan.
"And that chest,” Tori said.
"You said that one already."
“Wait until he takes off the apron—then you’ll see why it bears repeating.”
I studied the picture again. Surely, he was wearing something under that white apron? Because otherwise, I didn’t see how any woman would have the willpower to actually follow the recipe.
So I was in, as long as he actually knew how to cook. Even better if he knew how to teach other people how to cook.
"I’ll send you the exact links you need,” Hailey said. “He’s got a video on how to season the meat and cook it to the perfect temperature. And then, basically, you just have to add green beans, mashed potatoes, and cheese."
To my surprise, that didn’t sound all that difficult. “I guess I can do that. After all, green beans come out of a can. Cheese comes pre-shredded, and I’ve made instant mashed potatoes before."
Hailey exchanged a glance with Tori.
"I was thinking maybe you could make real potatoes. Mash them yourself."
"Do I have to?" Yes, I sounded like a whiny little kid.
"No, but don’t you want to make a nice meal for your roommates?" Tori asked.
I thought it over. "Some of them," I said at last. "Does this guy have a video on making mashed potatoes too?"
"Yes. He does have a bunch that are fine dining, but he’s got those two that you need. That’s why I chose the shepherd’s pie. Brown the meat, make the mashed potatoes, and as you said, just pop open a couple cans of green beans."
I sighed. "You’re not going to make me go out and pick them myself?"
Hailey laughed. "I think it’s the wrong time of year."
I got an early start on Tuesday afternoon, but it took far longer than I thought to chop up the potatoes.
I listened to music as I sliced, and it took so long some of the songs were starting to repeat.
Fortunately, the hot-as-hell chef with abs for days had recommended a type of potato that didn’t need to be peeled first. That saved time.
It took three large pots to fit them all in, and it took a really long time for the water to boil even though I added a little salt to each pot.
Now I was working on the meat and seasoning it before I turned on the heat to cook it. So far, things seemed to be going like the hot shirtless guy said it would, but I didn’t quite trust that everything was going to work out right in the end.
Aaron and Evan had offered to help, but I was too self-conscious. Either this meal was going to be a success because of me, or a failure because of me—and if it was the latter, I didn’t want them involved in it.
Not that I thought everyone was going to judge me, but Tori had been right. I did want to make a good meal for my new roommates.
But nearly an hour later, I was near tears and ready to give up and order a bunch of pizzas. That’s when I called for reinforcements.
Aaron appeared so fast it was like he was beamed in.
“What can I do?”
I gave him a smile. "Ever mash potatoes?"
"A time or two."
Why the hell hadn’t I called him in before? "The ones in this pot seem ready. I’ve got this serving bowl, but I think we’re going to need more than one."
"Wow. That’s a lot of potatoes."
He rolled up his sleeves, washed his hands, and got to work wielding the potato masher. For a moment, I was mesmerized, watching the muscles in his forearms move.
But I was supposed to be working, too. Somehow, I managed to keep both pans of ground beef from burning and even managed to ask Aaron a question.
"You said Cody lived here last year, right?"
"Yes."
"Did he cook then?"
"No. Not once."
"Does he just not know how?"
Aaron paused, the metal potato masher buried under fluffy white starch.
"It’s hard to say with Cody. He’s my friend, but I can’t claim to really understand him well.
Diego made it clear that this year he has to, so it’ll be his turn next week.
I’m sure he’s grateful that you gave him a week’s reprieve. ”
My mind was still on Cody. “If he doesn’t cook, what does he eat?” On other days of the week, the rest of us made our own food.
“I think he eats on campus a lot. And when he’s here, he mostly grabs fruit or chips or a PBJ. Diego always makes sure to have ready-made food on the grocery list. Not just for Cody. A lot of us don‘t have much time for meal prep, so that’s why we enjoy Tuesday night dinners.”
As I added more seasoning to the ground beef, I sent up a little prayer to the universe that Aaron still felt that way after tonight’s meal.
After the meat was done, I divided it into two huge glass baking dishes, according to the shirtless chef’s instructions. I kept the sound off and read the captions so that Aaron didn’t notice me ogling the good-looking guy.
The drained green beans went in next along with some corn and peas. Then it was time for the mashed potatoes.
"Can I take these, and you work on the next pot?" I asked.
"Sure." He flexed his arms as if they were sore. "It seems like you have more than you need."
"Well, it’s the top layer—except for the sprinkled cheese—and I think it’s supposed to be thick."
He started on the second batch of potatoes while I scooped the first into the casserole dishes. It filled one and part of the second. When he finished the second batch, I covered the rest and started sprinkling shredded cheddar over it.
"Why are there so many potatoes left over?" he asked as he put the heavy glass dishes into the oven I held open.
"I don’t know. The recipe called for two pounds, and I doubled that since there are seven of us."
"So four pounds of potatoes?"
"Yes."
He glanced at the counter. "So why are there two bags there?"