There are a few blocks of different kinds in here too in another drawer marked “Dairy” but I just grab the pre-sliced stuff.
I mean, I get it, cheese is delicious…but still. Maybe he likes to make charcuterie?
That sounds fun, maybe he can teach me.
For cripe’s sake Kelly, focus.
I must have been lost in various thoughts of cheese, because I nearly jump out of my skin when Teddy’s big hand lands on my back. “Hey, Pixie, did we lose you to something horrifying growing in the back of that thing?”
I stand up, hearing a mildly affronted scoffing sound from Sam. “Yeah, I don’t think so. There was just a lot to choose from, sorry.” Teddy gives me a puzzled look but takes the packages I hand him and puts them on the counter beside the bread box.
We both look at Sam, who has pulled out a medium saucepan and a skillet and is squinting disdainfully at the side of the can of tomato soup before sighing again and popping it open to pour it into the pan. “So, what kind of grilled cheese do you two like?”
I stammer for a minute, trying to figure out if this is some sort of riddle. “Um…the kind with bread and melted cheese.”
Teddy snorts at my answer and Sam just chuckles before he tries again. “Ok, what kind of bread do you want on your sandwich?” Are there options? I never really thought about it. I mean, you go to a sub shop, and you have a choice of whole wheat, Italian, or something herby. But I never put any thought into it.
“Do you have any seedless rye?” asks Teddy while I’m still contemplating the various types of carbs that I have yet to discover.
Sam shuffles through the box, “Nope, sorry. I have seeded rye, white, wheat, sourdough, and I may have some brioche left in here, if you want me to look.” He pulls out a couple of slices and pulls the top off the butter dish to slather some on one side.
Teddy thinks for a moment. “Nah, just the sourdough for me. Thanks.” Both their heads swivel to me and I panic.
“Um, yeah, sure. Sourdough…sounds great!” I try to smile but it feels too wide for my face.
What have I gotten myself into?
Maybe I should look up what sourdough is on my phone, so I’m not surprised with whatever I get.
Did I get out the wrong cheese?
Oh no.
Sam takes out four more slices of bread and spreads butter on them too. Then he looks at the cheese slices I got out. “Hey, Teddy, can you grab out the block of cheddar, and maybe some gouda. Just whatever else you think these need?”
I did get the wrong cheese.
Yes, I know that there are different kinds of cheese…but grilled cheese was always just American slices on whatever bread was in the fridge.
Are the guys cheese snobs or am I a rube?
Crud.
I wander back over to the dining room table and pull out a chair to watch my guys make sandwiches. Sam keeps adding stuff to the soup—he has a big spice rack, but I’ve never seen Mom add anything other than just pepper and maybe a little salt after tasting it. Teddy grates a couple of different big blocks of cheese and slices thin slivers off another one before putting them all back, along with all the unused cheese slices I got out earlier. I feel kinda silly and useless right now. Maybe I should go take a shower and get cleaned up while they finish.
Before I can plan my escape, Teddy comes over and sits down across from me. It’s not a huge table, just a basic square one that has the center that pulls apart to make it bigger. We have one similar to it—but not as nice—at home, but we rarely use the fold out leaves. Sam comes over a minute later carrying a plate with a bowl of soup and a sandwich cut in half on it. It smells so good. I don’t remember grilled cheese ever smelling this good. Maybethereissomething to having fancy bread. My stomach makes a loud grumbling noise, and Teddy smiles at me, a low chuckle rumbling out of him.
Sam sets the plate down in front of me, running his hand down my back before going and getting one for Teddy. He puts it in front of him and leans in for a kiss before going back one last time for his own, and taking the chair on the side between Teddy and me. I feel something brush against my knee seconds before a cold, wet nose presses against the outside of my thigh. Looking down, I see Jake under the table, giving me puppy dog eyes. But he’s not getting my sandwich. This thing smells so good, and it’s hard for me to wait for the guys to start. No one seems to want to though, so after a few seconds of everyone looking at each other, I dive in. Holy guacamole, this is amazing. It’s all crispy and golden and the cheese is melty and tangy. I want to try it dipped in my soup, but I think that might kill me at this point.
I finish off half of it before I even realize, and then look at Sam, embarrassed by my terrible table manners. Mom would be furious, but he’s beaming at me, looking pleased with himself. He’s only taken one bite out of his sandwich, but a quick glance at Teddy shows that I’m not the only one who left my manners at the door. He's finished half his sandwich too, but completely forewent the spoon option and just picked the bowl up to drink straight from it.
I’m relieved that they aren’t having second thoughts about me because of my manners as I pick up my spoon and taste the soup. It doesn’t taste the same as I’m used to, but it’s still really good with all the spices that Sam added. If Sam cooks like this, it makes me wonder if everything I hear about alphas being no good around the house was wrong. I know Jacks does most of the cooking at Pack Asher’s house. But I was under the impression that it was unusual for alphas, and cooking was mostly an omega or beta job. Hopefully, this is a regular thing forhim because I wasn’t lying earlier when I told him I could only make sandwiches and burgers.
I hope I didn’t disappoint them with my sandwiches.
Teddy finishes his soup and uses the other half of his sandwich to mop up what’s left in the bowl, and Sam gives a small purr of satisfaction. Now that I’ve gotten past my initial shock and hunger, I slow down and enjoy the food. Sam passes Teddy half of his sandwich and goes back to the stove to bring over more soup, which Teddy slurps down quickly. His color's looking much better, but his eyelids are drooping, and he looks like he could fall asleep at the table. He shakes his head a little before getting up to go rinse his dishes and put them in the washer while Sam and I polish off our food. Teddy manages to get the cheese and bread all put away before we have a chance to help, and Sam takes my plate and bowl with him and finishes cleaning the kitchen.
Teddy leans heavily against Sam and they have a quiet exchange, but I don’t hear much of it. I don’t want to listen in, but they aren’t being secretive, just not overly loud, and my mind's all foggy now that I'm full of food. Teddy runs his hand down my hair as he passes behind me. “Gonna go get cleaned up, meet you upstairs for snuggles?” he asks before walking down the hallway to the first door on the right. Sam must have put his luggage in there earlier.
