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“Hey, Parker says that about me all the time.”
“You deserve it.” Because he did. He was a spoiled brat, and he knew it.
“That’s how you know it’s real.” Cat smiled, and in that moment I didn’t want to focus on the fact that this wasn’t real. That I didn’t love Elliott and he didn’t love me. I just wanted to enjoy this, wanted to play this game because we were already involved, so why shouldn’t we enjoy it? Why shouldn’t we let go and make the best of this time before we walked away? I didn’t want to be miserable until Elliott and I separated. I wanted them to feel like their son made a good choice, that he was loved, and when it ended, that it was just one of those things that didn’t work out.
“Eh, he’s all right,” I said because I knew they would appreciate the joke. The three of them laughed, and I could see why Elliott hadn’t wanted to let them down, why he hadn’t wanted them to know he’d drunkenly married someone he didn’t love, because I’d only known them less than an hour and I didn’t want to let them down either.
“Come on, gorgeous. I’ll teach you how to make them,” Elliott said, and I went easily. We all washed our hands, then began pulling food out of the fridge.
The plantains were ripe. They could be cooked either way, but Elliott said ripe were his favorite. We sliced them up while his mom and dad were busy with the main dish.
“We’re having arroz con pollo. How spicy can you handle your food, Parker?” Cat asked.
“Um…probably not as spicy as you.” I laughed.
“I can work with that. We’ll make it mild today. Eventually, we’ll work you up a little more.”
“Deal.”
Elliott and I made the fried plantains together, which according to him, he’d seasoned to perfection. Just like his mom said, he began to pick at them as soon as they were done.
“Have you ever tried it?” Elliott asked after chewing his piece. I shook my head, then frowned when he picked one up and held it out for me to bite from his fingers. When I didn’t move right away, he shook his head with a teasing smile. After a glance toward his parents, who had their backs to us, he whispered, “Be a good boy and eat it.”
Damned if my stupid, annoying mouth didn’t open up and do what he said. I mean, I’d just decided to enjoy this and have fun, right? Who didn’t want to eat out of a sexy man’s hand?
Flavors burst on my tongue as soon as I bit into the banana-like fruit. I moaned. “Oh my God.”
“Good, right?” Elliott grabbed another, and I let him feed me again.
“I think I’m in love.” I meant with the food, but then freaked out slightly because I was supposed to be very much in love with the man standing in front of me, who had a horrid ring on his finger that matched mine.
When Cat began speaking in Spanish, I worried I’d done something wrong, but then she said, “Sorry. They both speak Spanish, so I forget.”
“She just said we’re cute together.” Elliott winked. “And she’s right. Mama, did I tell you how much I had to woo him? I tried for months to get him to date me.”
“Elliott!” My cheeks flamed.
“That’s because you’re like your mama, and when you want something, you fight for it. I had to do the same thing with your father. He wanted to focus on school and his career, not a relationship, but there was no reason he couldn’t do both.”
“And she was right. I thank God every day.” Malcolm kissed her cheek.
God. They were great.
As we cooked, they talked about their relationship and how they’d started dating. We had the fried plantains, along with the arroz con pollo, which was marinated chicken with yellow rice and vegetables, as well as a side of black beans and avocado salad. They laughed and talked together in this way I was in awe of. It reminded me of how I was with my Beach Bums. I didn’t have this with family, not after my mom passed away, and it was amazing to see.
Sometimes I would lose myself in watching them, but Cat or Malcolm always tried to engage with me, and while we ate, I would feel Elliott’s hand on my thigh or arm in support. I didn’t get how he was able to read me so well. It was disconcerting.
“I’m stuffed. That was so good.” I leaned back in the chair with a hand on my stomach.
“That’s the way we like it around here,” Malcolm replied.
We all cleaned the kitchen together before heading into the living room, where the conversation continued.
“Do your parents live locally?” Cat asked.
