Henry looked over his shoulder and grinned. "Thought I'd surprise you guys with breakfast. Hope you're hungry."
"Starving." I rubbed my hands together in anticipation. "You know how cranky I get when I don't eat."
Daniel chuckled, wrapping an arm around my waist, and pulling me close. "Oh, I'm already well aware, love."
"Good thing you've been warned." Henry shot Daniel a conspiratorial wink. "Please, have a seat. Breakfast is served."
We eagerly sat down at the table, our chairs scraping against the wooden floor. The sizzle of bacon in the pan was music to my ears as I took in the spread before me, fluffy pancakes, scrambled eggs, and crispy bacon. My mouth watered as I reached for the maple syrup, its sweet aroma wafting through the air.
As we ate, the conversation turned toward the wolf pack and Daniel's involvement with them. He mentioned how he'd been trying to help Nathan, the young alpha, with some issues within the pack. Nathan had always been a leader who let the pack run wild, so now teaching the pack to obey rules and be useful members of the pack was a struggle. At every turn, at least one of them was getting into trouble, so Nathan was having to learn the skills to handle these situations, and Daniel was helping to teach him. Daniel seemed genuinely concerned about their well-being, and it warmed my heart to see him so invested in helping others.
I took a bite of pancake, the taste of buttery sweetness mingling with the saltiness of the bacon in my mouth and nodded in agreement as Daniel spoke passionately about the importance of guiding the younger members of the pack. The heat from the coffee mug warmed my hands as I listened, my thoughts drifting to Deva and her curse.
A lull in the conversation settled over us, the only sounds being the clink of silverware on plates and the occasional sip of coffee. It was during this quiet moment that Henry cleared his throat and looked at us hesitantly.
"Um, so I've been thinking," he said. "What would you guys think about me proposing to Alice?"
My heart leaped, but I tried to keep my excitement in check. Beside me, Daniel raised an eyebrow, biting back a grin. He also knew an overreaction wouldn't go over with Henry, but two proposals? I was on cloud nine!
"Really?" I tried to sound casual, but I couldn't help the smile that spread across my face. "That's a big step."
"Yeah, I know." He rubbed the back of his neck. "We've been dating for several years now, and I can't imagine my life without her."
I exchanged a glance with Daniel, who grinned and gave me a subtle nod. He supported the idea as well.
"I think it's a wonderful idea," I said sincerely, reaching across the table to squeeze Henry's hand. "Alice is amazing, and she makes you so happy. I'm sure she'll be thrilled."
"Thanks," Henry said, his eyes shining as he withdrew his hand very slowly from mine. Touch wasn’t his favorite thing, but he could handle it in small doses. "And you too, Daniel."
"Of course, man," Daniel said, clapping Henry on the back gently. "We're here for you, no matter what."
As we chatted about Henry's big decision, nervous energy radiated off him. He fiddled with his fork, glancing between Daniel and me. I got the sinking sensation there was more.
"Hey, I have another question," Henry said hesitantly, drawing my attention away from the last piece of crispy bacon on my plate. "Would it be okay if Alice moved in? Like, could we turn the spare room across from mine into her room?"
I blinked in surprise for a moment before answering. I'd assumed the proposal came along with Alice moving in, but I forgot that relationships were another thing Henry did in his own way. "Of course! That would be great. But, you know, married people usually sleep in the same room." It had to be said, just in case.
A flush spread across my brother's cheeks, and he laughed. "Of course. I know that. But Alice and I both have these massive gaming systems, and she has all her hobbies too. I just want her to have space for everything she loves."
"Ah, I see." I nodded. This made perfect sense. My brother and his soon-to-be fiancée were both incredibly passionate about their interests, and it was sweet that he wanted to create a home where they could both indulge in them. What was more, Alice was also a witch with empathic abilities. She might really enjoy a space to herself to just be alone sometimes. "In that case, of course, you can turn the spare room into Alice's room.”
"Thanks. Other than that," Henry said, looking sure of himself, "we're planning on having a small wedding, so it's not like there will be any fuss."
"Small?" I asked, raising an eyebrow. "Define 'small.'"
"Like, just family and a few close friends," he said, his enthusiasm infectious. "We don't want anything big or fancy, just a simple celebration with the people who matter most to us."
"Sounds perfect." It was so lovely to see my brother so obviously smitten and excited about his future with Alice. I grabbed a slice of toast and smeared it with butter. "What about Mom's ring? The one Dad gave her when they got engaged?"
Henry paused, his fork halfway to his mouth. "I appreciate the thought, but that's your ring. I figured Daniel will likely use it when he proposes to you since Rick thought it wasn't good enough." He smiled gently and resumed eating.
I blinked in surprise, my heart skipping a beat at the mention of Daniel proposing. Sure, we had talked about our future, but hearing my brother bring it up so casually made it more real somehow. I glanced over at Daniel, who was busy trying to cut a piece of toast that didn't need to be cut, a task he was taking very seriously. I stifled a giggle and focused on my own meal.
"Okay then." I nodded, a warm glow spreading through me at the thought of wearing my mother's ring someday. "If that's what you want."
"It is." He swallowed the last bite of his breakfast. "I'm going to head upstairs and get started on some work. You two enjoy your day."
Henry pushed back his chair and left the room, leaving Daniel and me alone in the kitchen. My cheeks grew hot as I fiddled with my napkin, suddenly very aware of the man sitting across from me.
