Daryl huffed out a laugh. “I think that remains to be seen.”
“Well, I’ve told everyone else that this is your task set by Alpha Cornell, so there shouldn’t be any shocked gasps when you walk into the dining area.”
But there’ll probably be loads of staring.
Jason braced himself for it and steered them forwards. “Thanks, Rach,” he said as they passed, rolling his eyes when she gave their linked arms a pointed look and winked.
The conversation didn’t exactly stop when they walked in, but it noticeably quietened, with some of them obviously trying not to look their way. Jason stopped and cleared his throat. “As you were, nothing to see here.” He got a few laughs in return. Nathan and Luke were sat at the table nearest to them, both sporting big grins.
“Don’t say a word, Kohl.” Daryl smiled at him, impressively menacing.
“Wasn’t going to.”
“And let’s keep it that way.”
“It’s in everyone’s best interest that we complete this task,” Jason added. “Because otherwise we’re on permanent dinner duty, and no one wants that. Trust me.”
As Jason looked around the room at the tables already taken, he smiled to note that a couple of them were filled with a mixture of both Jenn and Rachel’s units. He wanted to point it out to Daryl but didn’t want to draw everyone else’s attention to it.
Then Daryl leant into him, his mouth pressed so close to Jason’s ear that he shivered. Couldn’t help it. “Are they mingling?” he whispered, voice barely audible to Jason let alone anyone else.
Warm breath teased his skin and Jason bit back a sigh.
“Yeah.” He pulled away quickly for his own sanity. “Food’s over to the left. D’you reckon you can walk and carry a plate?” He wanted to suck the words back in as soon as he’d said them.
“Yes, Jason, I think I can manage that.” The quirk of Daryl’s lips matched his amused tone and Jason relaxed.
Steering them over to the long tables set up with assorted meats, vegetables, and salads, Jason proceeded to awkwardly fill both their plates and guide Daryl forwards. It was effective if not especially easy. When they came to the salad selection, one of them had chicken and avocado in it.
His gaze caught on it, and for a split second, he thought about putting some on Daryl’s plate just to mess with him. No sooner had the thought popped up he dismissed it, remembering he’d be in this position tomorrow and payback would be a bitch.
“Don’t even think about it,” Daryl murmured.
“What?” Jason did his best to sound innocent.
“I felt you hesitate, and I can smell avocado. Doesn’t take a genius to work things out.”
Jason huffed as though affronted. “I was just looking at the salad selection, I wasn’t going to put any on your plate.”
“Mhmm.”
“I think we’re done anyway. Let’s find a table and I’ll get us a drink.”
Jenn and Rachel sat at a table near the back corner, and they beckoned Jason over.
Did he want an audience when he had to feed Daryl his dinner? Nope, definitely not, but to sit elsewhere would probably seem rude. And Jason wasn’t too sure that sitting alone with Daryl would be any better.
“We’re going to join Jenn and Rachel,” he said to keep Daryl informed.
They manoeuvred past the other tables, Jason keeping his eyes on Daryl and their two plates of food and not the curious stares directed their way.
“Hey,” Jenn greeted them as they sat down. She didn’t even try to hide her smile. “Wow, Alpha Cornell has an interesting idea of pack bonding.”
Daryl shrugged. “I think she knows what she’s doing.”
Looking around them at the mixed tables of ex-P pack and ex-R pack shifters eating together, Jason would have to agree with him. “Yeah. I reckon she does.”
Daryl’s smile in Jason’s direction warmed him inside and he quickly focused on something else.
