“I’m not crying.” I turned my cheeseburger in a circle over my plate. “I cried, as in a single tear came out, because I’m a woman, and sometimes women cry when we’re happy or touched because someone does something kind for them. Not to mention, I’m pregnant, and there’s a thing called pregnancy hormones that make women feel a little crazy.” At least, that was what I’d heard.
He drew his brows together and frowned. “I do kind things for you all the time. I’ve never made you cry.”
I laughed. When he grinned, I took an appreciative bite of the juicy burger, moaning at how amazing it tasted. I brought the burger to his mouth, and after taking the offered bite, he gestured for me to eat more.
The kids and our friends joined us outside, each sitting on either a chair or somewhere on the floor of our patio. Nalari stood from her spot in our yard and came to settle closer to the house. Her golden eyes fell on me.
I poked Elias’s side, never tiring over the way he jumped or yelped.
“Go get yourself a burger,” I told him.
Thankfully, Elias did as I asked and went inside to serve himself. I’d never known someone to hover as much as Elias hovered. He would be an exceptional father who could assemble burgers in record time since he was already back from the kitchen.
“What do you think of the burger?” I asked Kieren and Alastor.
“Delicious,” Alastor said between a mouthful.
“So good,”Kieren answered.
“Do we have enough so you can take a burger back for Javi?” I asked Alastor.
Elias tipped his head. “There are four left.”
“Will you take him one?” I asked, and Alastor nodded. “One for Aidas too in case he stops by.”
Because Aidas was also understandably upset with us. It made me happy to know Javier was surrounded by good friends, though.
“He shouldn’t get any if he didn’t want to come,” Jasmine said. Out of her and Juanita, she was the one who missed himthe most. While she argued against it, I saw the way him leaving hurt her.
“It’s not that he didn’t want to come,” I said. He just couldn’t be around Elias and me.
“Can we have fries next time?” Victoria asked, unknowingly changing the subject.
It did nothing to prevent the twist in my gut or throbbing in my chest.
“I’d give my left tit for some fries.” Ryenne’s eyes widened, and she covered her mouth when Kieren choked on his burger.
Alastor patted his back until Kieren gave him a thumbs-up.
“Oh, fries smothered in cheese and bacon,” I added with a groan.
“And onions.”
I scrunched up my nose. “Keep your dumb onions.”
“Cierra, do you think we could get cooking oil from the human realm to cook fries?” I asked.
Grinning, she popped up a single brow. “What do you have to barter for it?”
“What do you need?” Elias asked.
“I heard you can make long-sleeved shirts, gloves, and beanies with a fairly thin material that still keeps you warm.” She pursed her lips. “Make me one of each, and I’ll grab you a gallon of oil.”
Elias grinned. “Done.”
“I knew you were our mysterious seamstress in Colina,” Ryenne said, pointing at him. “Please tell me you also made those disfigured toys the kids were always playing with.”
“They weren’t disfigured,” Elias grumbled.
