Always

37| Taste

"Mother!" Lana shouts.

"Lana please, we were all thinking it," Sylvia spits.

"But you didn't have to say it," Lydia laughs.

My stomach's churning again and I'm starting to feel nauseous. Whether or not it's the gut feeling that shit is about to get ugly, or my body rejecting the smell of the food, I have no idea. But I can't sit here and pretend that I'm not about to throw up much longer.

"I think you three have guts coming into my house and insulting my food that you haven't even tried," my mother says calmly.

"Melanie honey listen, let's all just calm down and enjoy the food you've worked so hard to prepare hmm?" my dad suggests warily.

He's trying his best to calm her down but in reality he's probably scared shitless like the rest of us. See my dad is the alpha here, but my mom holds all the power and she rules with fear. She's the kind of mom that's cool and laid back but once you disrespect her, it's over. That woman is a ticking time bomb when she's angry and I'm afraid she's about to blow.

"But honey, I am calm." she responds with a smile.

"Lil I think you should head up to your room." I say.

"Lilith sweetie, why not listen to your sister and head upstairs?" my mom asks.

"No, I think David's right," Lydia interrupts, "Why don't we all enjoy the food set out for us? I don't see anything wrong with at least tasting it, right Allison?"

I glare at her because I can clearly see what she's trying to do. But for the sake of peace and the little sanity my mother has left I play along . "Sure why not," I smile. "Dad can you pass the mash potatoes?"

"Here you go." I take the dish from my dad and scoop myself up a small serving of creamy garlic butter mash knowing full well I'll only get in two spoons before throwing it all up. I pass it to Lilith who does the same and the dish circles all the way around the table.

After that everyone starts to fill their own plates with what they prefer from the platters at the center of the table. In the end I end up with mash potatoes, two slices of baked turkey, a few shrubs of broccoli, a bit of mac n cheese, and one stuffed mushroom. I feel like I have a lot to eat but in comparison to everyone else's my plate looks like an appetizer.

My mom, per usual, says grace before we dig in. I sit and observe everyone for a second not only because I'm nervous as shit but if anyone shows any signs of the food tasting horrible my mom's going to freak.

Everyone, including Satan herself seems to be completely engrossed in their food and I'm astonished, curious more so. I take a small reluctant bite into the mash so that I don't seem suspicious and it completely melts into my mouth. I'm absolutely baffled at the taste and the fact that I actually want more.

I hear Greyson chuckle lightly, "I'm glad you like it."

"You made this?" I question.

"Sure did."

Now it makes sense.

"Wait. Grey you're saying YOU made this mouth watering creamy goodness?" Lana practically moans.

"Yep," he says a bit irritated. "Couldnt have done it without Mel here." he smiles at my mom.

"Oh stop it," she blushes.

"How is it Aunt Syl?" Lilith asks.

Everyone stops eating and we all turn to hear her response. It can either make or break this Thanksgiving dinner and the table it's on...literally.

"I've definitely had better but it's not terrible," she deadpans.

I smile at that and take another bite of the potatoes as everyone continues eating. We all know that's the closest thing we're going to get to a compliment from Sylvia, so we take it.

"So, Greyson where'd you learn to cook like this? This is incredible." Lydia asks.

That's actually a great question, one that I should know the answer to but I don't because I've never asked. So I'm actually curious to hear the answer. For once Lydia's been useful.

Greyson

The sudden question takes me by surprise causing me to nearly choke. I forcibly swallow the collard greens and clear my throat to somehow cover up the fact that I almost died.

No one has ever really tried my cooking to ask me that question so I never thought of a lie to say at a time like this. The only people who have already knows that I was forced to learn how to cook at a young age after my mom left and my dad succumbed to drugs, well except for Allison. So I roll with the less detailed version of that for my answer.

"Uh, you guys know it's just been me and my dad for a while. So I was in the kitchen from pretty early on and it took off from there I guess."

"That's so hot." Lana says biting her lip. It's so cringey and obnoxious I could throw up right now.

"Shut up Lana," her sister exasperates.

The both of you should.

"Anyway, if you ever need a taste tester for anything at all, I'd happily volunteer." she perks up slightly displaying her cleavage with clear sexual intentions.

I glance over at Allison who seems to only be touching the mash potatoes on her plate and is looking everywhere but at me. I smirk because I know she's jealous, I could tell because she's taking deeper breaths that sound like sighs.

"No thanks," I say looking directly at Allison. "I already have someone and I love the way she tastes...test that is. The way she taste tests my cooking." I correct when I see David glaring at me in suspicion.

That got her attention.

A/N:
Next chapter coming very soon. Thank you guys for the love and support.
Mwahh💋.

Also, when's your birthday??