Page 75 of Crushes and Confections

“What was that for?”

“For choosing me.”

CHAPTER 24

Riley

“So it appears Operation Cupid is a complete success.” Vance said.

Both of my alphas walked on either side of me as we strolled down Main Street, enjoying the afternoon and heading to the booth they had set up for the upcoming Sweetheart Swing. Claire had a production meeting this afternoon, so Adrien and Vance declared they were taking me out for some quality time.

I appreciated the balance that they showed us, making sure to address our specific wants and needs both individually and as a whole. When they’d had the idea to turn the basement into a new nest space for Claire, it meant a lot that they had turned to me to help with a lot of the decisions. Plus, it had been really fun to tease them with images of us in the space and alluding to the potential bonds we’d have.

“C’est bon,” Adrien said, taking my hand in a surprising move. “Are you happy, mon feu?”

I loved this bolder side of Adrien. Each day he seemed to be even more expressive and unapologetic.

“Very,” I said, feeling the coolness of his ring between my fingers. “I wanted to get your thoughts on something though.”

Usually I’d tease and play about this, but I honestly wasn’t sure how they’d feel about it. I didn’t think they’d be opposed, but it was still a pretty big question.

“What’s on your mind, Ri?” Vance asked, adopting Claire’s nickname for me.

“I love that you guys are married,” I began. “Your history together and the love you share, if anything has only endeared you to me more.”

“Aren’t you forgetting the—how do you say—smokin’ hot bods and alpha deliciousness?” Adrien asked with a grin, his accent making it sound even more ridiculous.

“I could never forget that,” I said, his willingness to joke making the conversation easier. “And it’s been making me think more about our future together. I know we all talked about bonding, but I want to marry Claire.”

“I figured as much,” Vance admitted, the dimples on his face sinking. “You’ve been not so subtly staring at our rings since we put them on.”

“I know we’ll probably do a pack ceremony and everything like that,” I rushed out. “And I want us all to do that together—“

“You can have both,” Adrien said easily.

“Really?”

“Of course,” Adrien said seriously. “We’ve seen the bite she gave you already, even though she knew it wouldn’t form a true bond link, and though the scars are faint, they aren’t any less true. The two of you share so much more than that. And while you’ll both be eventually tied together when we bite those pretty little necks of yours, it’s only natural that you’d want to make her yours on every possible level.”

“And I think I speak for both of us, beta, when we say how proud of you we are for coming to us with this so openly,” Vance praised, taking my other hand and raising it for a kiss. “You’ve come a long way from your secret crush.”

I preened under their attention. They were definitely getting extra helpings of my fabulous self tonight. I could feel the pride and love in their gazes.

“I love you both too,” I said, a hint of a smirk on my lips.

“Such a mind reader,” Vance said, with a shake of his head. “But it’s true, we love you just as you are.”

“Of course you do,” I said, swinging their hands. “Now let’s go get our girl some flowers and ask her to this dance.”

The booth that they’d set up in the center of the green was framed by red and pink balloons. Vases of multicolored carnations sat along the tables with different colored cardboard squares, markers and ribbon, all precut and ready to go.

I remembered my high school doing something similar for a fundraiser. You could pay a dollar per stem and send a carnation to a classmate. Of course, all of the ones at school had been anonymous, a secret admirer sort of thing. I’d totally taken up that opportunity and bought an obscene amount for Claire, something I had confessed to her later when we were both trying to figure out who had sent us what.

That didn’t compare to the happiness I felt when she consequently admitted to having sent me some as well. I should have taken a chance then, but I was beginning to think things worked out for a reason. Now, we had another opportunity, surrounded by the two men we loved.

“Welcome, welcome,” Janet said happily. “Are we here to formally invite a certain someone to the Sweetheart Swing? I’ve got a few runners here from the high school that can have that over to her in a jiffy.”

“Yes, but we’ll be needing some others as well please,” Adrien said.

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