Roland nodded, then gave him a weak smile. “Thanks for not letting me spiral.”
“Thanksforspiraling,” Levi said dryly. “Means I get to be the steady one and demand some payback later.”
That earned a genuine laugh, and Roland leaned in to press a slow, grateful kiss to Levi’s mouth. It was soft and sweet, but full of promise, the kind that reminded Levi why they’d lasted so long. Why this thing with Sydney might actually work, despite the chaos.
“I’m still nervous,” Roland admitted as they pulled apart.
“I know,” Levi said. “Me too.”
They stood in silence for a beat, then Levi clapped his hands once. “Alright. Let’s get the garlic bread in and try not to panic.”
“I forgot the bread!” Roland said, his voice rising. “What if she hates garlic?” he added, suddenly horrified.
“She’s South African, not a vampire. Besides, we can do without bread,” Levi said, exasperated. “Breathe.”
Roland laughed again, this time less anxiously.
Dinner would be what it would be. And Sydney, sweet, funny, mysterious Sydney, was walking straight into their home tonight.
Levi didn’t know what kind of Little she was yet. Didn’t know if she’d ever really be theirs. But for tonight, they’d open their home to her and see how things went.
They set the table together, still shoulder to shoulder but no longer bickering. Roland lit a candle he found in the back of a drawer. A vanilla-scented and slightly crooked candle in its glass jar. He gave Levi a look that dared him to mock it. Levi just raised an eyebrow and bumped his shoulder affectionately. Fuck knows where the candle even came from. Neither he nor Roland were scented candle type of people.
By the time the knock came, the kitchen was warm, with the smell of garlic and creamy pasta wafting through the air, and Roland’s hands were flour-dusted from fussing with a last-minute batch of biscuits he swore weren’t meant to impress anyone.
Levi answered the door.
Sydney stood on the porch in jeans and a soft sweater under a thick winter coat that had definitely seen better days. Her arms were folded tight across her chest like she wasn’t sure what to do with herself, and Levi ached to pull her into his arms and soothe her with a kiss or a cuddle. Her hair was loose and slightly damp, and she looked smaller somehow, like she wasn’t sure of herself.
“Evening, little miss,” Levi said gently, stepping aside. “Come on in.”
She smiled, tentative but real, and stepped past him into the warm light of their home. Roland appeared in the kitchen doorway with a dish towel over his shoulder and nervous energy vibrating off of him.
“Hi, Sydney,” he said with a wave. “You look great. We’re really glad you’re here.”
“Thanks,” she said, and her accent curled around the word like a ribbon. “It smells… amazing.”
“That would be Levi’s doing,” Roland said, grinning at Levi. “I only panic-baked.”
“You baked?” she asked, surprised.
Roland flushed. “Nothing fancy. Just some biscuits. I’m not even sure if they’re edible.”
“More than edible,” Levi said, brushing his fingers along the small of Roland’s back as he passed him. “Let’s eat before everything gets cold.”
They gathered around the small table, the candle flickering between them. The plates and glasses might have been mismatched, but the warmth was real. Levi watched Sydney relax bit by bit, like a slow tide coming in.
He waited until they were halfway through their meal before easing into the harder topics.
“We wanted tonight to be casual,” Levi said, setting down his fork. “No pressure. We just want to get to know you better, and we figured you might want the same.”
Sydney nodded slowly. “I do. I’ve been feeling a bit… adrift. So this means a lot. Thank you for inviting me.”
Roland reached over and gave her hand a light squeeze. “We’re really happy you’re here.”
Levi didn’t miss the way her shoulders lifted and dropped at that. She hadn’t heard that enough, he thought. She didn’t believe it yet. But maybe if they did it often enough she would start to.
“Now,” he said, his voice still calm but firm, “there’s something we need to talk about. It’s not urgent, but it’s important.”
