Getting It Right (BOOK THREE)

Chapter 62

"Monica," Aunt Mel says from the drivers seat. Monica looks up from where Kat is showing her funny vines and meets her eye through the rear view mirror. "A friend of mine once made these things for me. She's Puerto Rican too but I don't remember what they're called. It's like a fried thing made of dough and stuffed with meat or something."

"Sounds like an empanada." Monica tells her.

"Aww listen to her cute little accent coming out." Shaun coos like she's a baby.

"Yes empanadas! Can you please make some for lunch? I've been craving them for weeks." Aunt Mel says as she turns into the drive way.

"Ooh yes Money, make us some empanadas. You haven't cooked for me in a while." Sevyn tells her.

Monica looks at her with furrowed brows, "What do I get in return?"

"My undying love and friendship?"

"I already have that." Monica giggles, "I'll make the empanadas though, but only because Aunt Mel has been so nice to us since we got here and it's out last week."

"Yes!" Corey rubs his hands together. "I haven't had empanadas in so long. With all the Spanish food that my mother cooked, that's the one thing she forgot to make."

Ty clears his throat, "Excuse me but can we talk English? What is an em-panda?"

Kat bursts out laughing, "Empanada, not em-panda." She corrects him. "It's like a fried dumpling with meat inside. Or you can switch it up and put whatever you want in it. It's really good, you're gonna like it."

After parking the car in the drive way, everyone files out and heads up the steps to the door. "Hold on," Monica announces. "I'll only cook, if I can take a shower first. Y'all don't want salt water all over your food do you?"

Everyone takes a moment to think about this before finally agreeing with her. "Fine, but leave some hot water for the rest of us." Miranda says. Monica smiles victoriously and walks into the house behind Aunt Mel, then hurries upstairs.

"Thank goodness I have my own bathroom." Aunt Mel smiles. "Could someone check to make sure we have all the stuff for empanadas? I don't want Monica to get started then realize she's missing something."

"I'll check!" Corey says and goes into the kitchen.

Before Malcolm can go upstairs, Kat taps his shoulder. "Can I talk to you about something?" She asks, then glances at Miranda. "Alone?"

"Yeah," Malcolm turns to face Miranda. "You mind if we talk in our room?"

"No, just throw down my slippers when you get up there." She tells him.

"Alright, come on Kat." Malcolm jogs up the stairs with Kat right on his heels.

Ty watches them go with a puzzled look on his face. "What do you think that's about?" He asks Shaun.

"No idea, but I'm starving."

As Shaun goes in to the kitchen in search of snacks, Ty notices Corey walk back into the living room, smiling at his phone.

"Someone sending you nudes bro?"

Corey looks at him and shakes his head, the smile still remaining on his face. "My mom just sent me a picture of Ariana. They got her the dog she wanted." He turns his phone to face Ty so he can see the picture of Ariana sitting in the grass with Pepper in her lap.

"That's cute," Ty says. "I've always wanted a dog."

"You and Malcolm forgot to feed our fish when I went to camp." Sevyn points out from where she's sitting on the couch.