“Made you smile, though, didn’t I?” Gabe pointed out, seemingly pleased by the fact.
“It did. Now shoo. I need to get this mac and cheese done and ready to go in the oven. And there’s like four pans.” I sighed. “Will that be enough?” Gahhh! I could just see stuff running out and everyone thinking I was a horrible host or couldn’t take care of my mate. I could, and I would prove it. I might not sprout fur, but Gabe was mine, and this was our home. I would show them I could be his alpha mate.
Gabe came around and pulled me back into his body. “Stop fretting, baby, please.”
I kept stirring my roux so the flour-and-butter mix didn’t burn again. “They already think I’m not good enough. If I serve them burned or tasteless food, it’ll just make everyone think I can’t take care of you. That you can do better.”
“I should have gutted them,” Gabe growled. I knew whothemwas. “We take care of each other, don’t we, baby? Me and you, we’re partners, right?”
I sniffed but nodded. My stubborn mate was learning and gave me new reasons to love him daily.
“And trust me, Kian, I couldn’t do better because you’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me,” Gabe whispered.
“You’re the best thing that happened to me too.” My body sagged against his.
“Baby, if that’s why we’re having this party, then we can cancel,” Gabe said.
I shook my head and straightened my spine. “No, I actually want to host everyone. Your parents had us over. Rhys too, and I want to have them here.”
“Well, as long as that’s the only reason why.” I didn’t miss the concern in my mate’s tone.
And I was going to reassure him again when Rhys called out, “Innocent eyes approaching. Cover all naughty bits.”
Gabe and I snorted as we heard footsteps approach. He didn’t move from his position behind me even while I folded cheese into my roux. And holy crap, I’d never made this much food in my life.
Still, my mac and cheese recipe had never failed me.
“I knew it. You guys can’t keep your hands off each other.” He shoved Gabe away. “Go do something. We’ve got cooking to do.”
Gabe sighed. “Baby, get him. He’s picking on me.”
I turned the heat down and turned to look at my mate and could barely keep a straight face at the pout he wore. It was adorable on such a big, muscled man.
I stood next to Rhys and bumped his hip. “Omega solidarity.”
Gabe grabbed his heart dramatically. “Oh, the betrayal. Cuts so deep.”
I rolled my eyes and shared a grin with Rhys.
“I think he’s bored,” Rhys mused.
“I agree.” I nodded.
“We should put him to work. Put all those muscles to good use,” Rhys added like Gabe wasn’t there.
“We should.” I nodded to my friend, even though I wasn’t sure what he meant. But I loved the brothers’ relationship. And sure, Rhys and I were great. But I kind of wanted a good relationship with all of them.
This was another reason why I wanted to have the party. I knew Gabe would fight for me, but I didn’t want him to have to, at least not with his family. I wanted to be good with all of them. I wanted them to feel welcome in our home like they always had when it was just Gabe.
So far none of them had said a bad word. Jon and Stefan hosted us after we’d gotten mated, and they’d seemed genuinely happy for us. All his brothers had been genuinely welcoming. I’d also spent time with Austin and Hunter. The two of them joined us for dinner quite often since they had to talk about den business with Gabe.
Then there was Graham. He’d always been very nice to me, but he was also very busy. Even Jonathan tried to get him to slow down. But today, I would be meeting Gabe’s grandparents. They’d arrived yesterday. This had to go well.
The thought of hearing them say what those people in the store had… I shooed off the thought. It wouldn’t happen because I would be above reproach.
Gabe came in with another large slow cooker. I didn’t even know they made bigger-sized versions till I came to Asheville. But Rhys was making baked beans with a family recipe, which he’d shared with me. And it was something so small, but I loved it. I knew how seriously families took stuff like that, and he gave it to me.
I was taking the mac off the stove when Gabe came back in. I must have missed him leaving the last time. “You have a slushie and popcorn machine.”
