I blink at her in confusion.
“For you,” she says, nodding at it.
Riley has frozen with a loaded cracker halfway to his mouth, and I shift uncomfortably under their combined gazes.
“Oh, um. Thank you,” I say.
Brooks clears his throat and Riley startles, then shoves the entire cracker in his mouth with an awkward grin. I set the plate in my lap, sure that Riley is going about eating it wrong, and wait to see what the alphas do.
They eat the same way as Riley, though. Cheese and meat on a cracker. Cheese and nuts on an apple slice. A grape on a piece of cheese.
I guess this is how you eat at picnics.
I tentatively take a slice of apple and pair it with the cheese Brooks put on his.
“Oh,” I say, surprised. “That’s good.”
Riley grins and shoves another cracker with what I’m pretty sure is one of everything on it into his mouth.
I choose a new combination to try, taking small bites while trying to ignore the fact that they’re all very obviouslynotwatching me eat. I don’t know if it’s because I eat weird or something, but I appreciate their attention not being on me all the same. I hope the combinations I’m choosing for my crackers and fruit are acceptable. It all tastes delicious, and I think I have a new favorite food: whatever this platter is.
Vee pours water into glasses and passes them around while Riley and Brooks chat about their work days.
“I brought cards to play,” Riley says as everyone slows down on their eating. “What does everyone know?”
They all look at me for some reason, and I shrug as my faceheats.
“I don’t really know any games, but you all can play. I’m happy to watch.”
Brooks’ arms twitch toward me and he frowns, but Riley is already waving their hand and talking again.
“Nah, we’ll do an easy one. How about Go, Fish?”
Vee nods in approval, a small smile on her lips as she gazes at Riley. My heart skips a beat at the stark affection she shows for them. They explain the rules, and to my surprise I pick it up in no time.
Next thing I know, I’m smiling.
I think I’m having fun. I think this might be my new best day ever.
As we play another round, Brooks introduces a new rule. “How about in the spirit of getting to know each other, we have to share a random fact about ourselves each time we get a match.”
“Oooooh, yes!” Riley says. “Love that rule, alpha daddy.”
Brooks startles, doing a double take at the nickname, and I snort a laugh. Horrified, I cover my mouth and nose with one hand, sure they’re going to scold me for how awful that noise was.
But to my consternation, Vee lets out a husky chuckle in response. Brooks’ face turns from a confused mix of concerned intrigue into soft amusement, and Riley starts laughing outright. A big, rolling laughter that has them falling onto their back and kicking their feet in the air.
This only serves to rile Brooks up more, as he looks between me and Riley and rolls his eyes, a deep chuckle coming from his chest. Vee gazes at Riley fondly, who is still cackling with tears starting to form in their eyes, then back to me.
“That was the cutest laugh-snort I’ve ever heard,” she says.
Wait. What?
“Your… Face!” Riley gasps through their laughter, one hand pointing at Brooks. “Oh my god. I can’t—” he starts and stops, giggles interrupting his words. “I think… you liked it… and then when she laughed…”
Riley manages to pull themself together enough to sit up and wipe the tears from their eyes, looking between the three of us.
“Phew. Wow. That’s going down in the memory banks as a top five fav moment. For sure.”
