“Awesome. Seth will too. But second, I’m still unconvinced that there needs to be so many of us when a lot of this is just waiting for the meat to cook. Do we really need to be here for seven hours?”
Alka sighs. “If you need to sneak off for a fuck, we’ll cover you.”
“Are you looking for the same?” Declan asks, looking between Alka and Roux. “Losing one person for a quickie is different than losing two.”
Roux flushes and bows his head, trying to contain his smile.
“I’m going to stop you from answering and say we’re not doing that. I’m just pointing out that seven hours for one meal is a ridiculous amount of time when you eat for maybe fifteen minutes, and then it’ll be another hour to clean up and get this stuff packed away.”
“It’s a competition, dude,” Alka says. “Time constraint is part of the challenge.”
Obviously, I’m unconvinced, but I don’t argue again as the speaker hums to life. We listen to the introduction of the judges—local restaurant owners and our very own Provost, Kendrick Keller. Denis further acknowledges and thanks every single vendor who participated or donated in some way today. He says a little more that makes me feel a little sappy about how the sports department has come together this year as a family. I know I’m not the only one feeling that way as I look at Lemon across the aisle and meet my players’ gazes next to us, and then Alka’s and Declan’s.
Before this man can manage to bring a whole boatload of jocks to tears, he begins the timer and everyone is moving far quicker than I think the time really warrants. Declan keeps us on task according to Daddy Quin’s instructions.
My attention is drawn to Lemon a lot, though this taskmaster keeps us busy, so I don’t get to admire him. At three hours in, I’mwondering why I’m freaking stressed when we have four hours left, but it feels like we have two minutes.
This reminds me of my college days when my list of subjects and assignments to tackle was always long and it just kept getting longer. I’d finish one and two more would tack themselves onto the bottom.
The competition is much the same. Quin, Zarek, and the rest of their household stop by to chat and watch us. I’m momentarily distracted when I meet Damon because I swear, for just a second, Declan somehow hopped the table and landed in front of it without his apron. It’s almost eerie how identical they are. Especially when they share twin smirks as I look between the two of them.
I meet an enormous pink Viking in a pretty skirt who I’m equally impressed by when he stops to shyly say hello to Declan with a group of four men and three kids. Declan sneaks them all tastes before rushing them off.
“The big, sweet guy is Vulcan. He’s the blacksmith instructor and Quin’s best friend,” Declan tells me.
“I’m sure I’ve never seen him around,” I note, watching him go. “Nor did I realize there’s a forge on campus.”
“His forge is on his property. He has students there. Quin says the liability for a forge on campus is astronomical, so for now, they’re not trying to change it. But they were at the festival.”
“That’s pretty badass,” I say.
Declan nods. “You’re getting sloppy, Bardot. Pay attention.”
I sigh as I return my focus to mixing something. I’m not even sure what I’m working on at this point.
Alka and Roux’s man stops by to say hi too. He has two guys with him who I’m told are also porn stars. I definitely watch them for a few minutes out of curiosity. The fact they look like regular guys and not thirst traps online is kind of a trip. Reallysays a lot about online sex culture that you expect them to always be out in skimpy underwear and fluffed, as they walk around doing normal, everyday things, as they are in their videos.
By the time the buzzer sounds, I’m fucking exhausted. Fuck, I need to sit for a minute. Seven hours on my feet is not for me. I’m not a young man anymore.
A few minutes later, Seth stops at the side of our table and offers us a plate. Honestly, I’ve forgotten all about it, but Roux has it under control as he exchanges. Lemon crosses the aisle with his and I sneak a kiss before he nearly runs back. That makes me grin.
Alka returns from dropping off our entries with the judges, and we pick at the plates while we wait for everyone else’s to be evaluated. I’m not sure if I’m fucking starving right now or this is really damn good, but I amsoimpressed. I’m not even sure which I like best, though I’m going to tell Lemon it's his. Hell, it might be his.
We only get a bit of a break because as soon as it’s called that the last entry has been submitted, the booths are now open to those who want to purchase samples while the judges do their thing.
I’m seriously going to wish I had a hot tub when I get home.
CHAPTER 33
LEMON
For the first twenty minutes or so of setting up, I stand back to watch my kids do all the things. When Hansley told me he was going to be on a team with Alka, Declan, and Roux, I decided I also needed to be at the event. Not because I was jealous or anything. It’s a long ass event. Which means a long day where I’d not otherwise get to see him.
However, my cooking skills are limited on the stove at best, and I’ve never touched a grill. When I told Peyton this, he just shrugged and said there was a lot of chopping to do.
Once the announcements are over and the timer begins, he sets me up with a whole heap of shit that needs to be cut up. No other instructions.
“Potatoes first, Coach,” Eli says.
