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“No time for sadness.” Haut dumps the bags on the counter. “The sun is setting, so guests will be here soon.”
Confused, I straighten and turn in my chair to stare at him. “Guests? Who’s coming over?”
He gives me an exasperated huff. “Who did you invite to come over and learn to cook?”
My lips part, but when the answer doesn’t magically appear, I shut my mouth and shake my head.
Haut plants his hands on the kitchen island and stares at me. “Are you serious?”
Tris rubs my shoulders again. “It’s okay. It’s been a long day.”
“It is not okay.” Haut turns away to bang around in the cabinets. “I was planning to order pizza and watch a movie on the couch tonight.”
I perk up with excitement. Pizza and a movie sound like just what I need after the magic disaster earlier. “That sounds nice.”
“I thought so, too, but now neither of us can have a relaxing evening.” He crouches in front of the island to dig through the cabinet under it. “Text Owen that we need more to-go containers.”
I frown at the firm line of Haut’s back. “Why do we need to-go containers?”
He straightens and turns toward me, annoyance in every line of his face. “Because you invited people over so that I can teach them to cook, and I’d rather not have whatever disaster they come up with spoiling in the back of our fridge!”
“Oh.” My tired mind finally catches up with what’s going on. “Zane and Drake are coming over?”
Haut throws his hands up in frustration. “Yes! Along with Barron and Jesse, which is why I’m home late. I had to stop at the grocery store to pick up ingredients and figure out a meal plan that will be easy for beginners.”
I clasp my hands in front of my face. “Wow, that’s so nice of you.”
Growling, Haut steps toward me, and I gulp, worried that I pushed him too far.
Before he can strangle me, though, a knock sounds at the door, and I jump to my feet. “I’ll get that!”
The more witnesses, the less likely Haut will be to kill me. I take the long way around the table to leave the kitchen and hurry to the front door.
Barron and Jesse stand on the porch, a bag hanging from Jesse’s arm, with Drake and Zane behind them. The two vampires look nervous, their eyes sweeping the wrap-around porch and what they can see of the house.
“Welcome.” I swing the door wider. “Please, come inside.”
Jesse ruffles my hair as he steps into the foyer. “Evening, lass.”
I swat his hand away. “You know where the kitchen is.”
Jesse rubs his stomach. “I sure do.”
Barron gives me a brief hug before his mate wraps an arm around his waist and half-carries him toward the kitchen.
Zane steps forward and holds out a bottle of wine. “Thank you for having us over. We appreciate the chance at a home-cooked meal.”
“You’ll appreciate it more when you cook it yourself,” Haut calls out. “Come on back and help prep the ingredients.”
When Drake’s wide eyes shift toward Haut’s voice, I whisper, “Don’t worry, he’s a giant, growly marshmallow.”
“You can help, too, bad puppy!” Haut yells.
Tris groans. “Please, no, I want to be able to eat dinner tonight.”
Both Zane and Drake laugh, the sound breaking the tension of being strangers in our home.
“It’s good to know we’re not the only ones who don’t know what to do with a kitchen.” Drake takes off his coat, revealing broad shoulders and the hint of tattoos peeking out from under his shirt. “Though, anything is better than the food at the mess hall back at the compound.”
