Page 48 of The Flavor of Us

Ryder hums in agreement, his lips twitching as he leans slightly closer to Carleen. “It’ll be good for you, Carleen. Promise.”

I bite my lip to keep from giggling at the look she shoots Ryder, like he’s personally offended her chef sensibilities. But then—then she leans into his touch, just slightly, just enough for me to notice. And my heart doesanothersomersault because it’s fucking perfect.

I grin up at Ryder, my eyes sparkling with mischief. “Don’t worry, Ryder. I’ve got her covered.”

Carleen raises a brow at me. “What do you mean by that, Tati?”

I snatch up a menu and flip it open dramatically, scanning the greasy, delicious options. “It means I’m ordering for you. Trust me, you’ll thank me later.”

Ashton presses a loud, exaggerated kiss to my cheek and I burst into giggles as Carleen rolls her eyes with a long-suffering sigh. “Why are you like this?” Carleen asks, her voice flat but her lips twitching slightly like she’s fighting a smile.

“Because youloveus,” Ashton says, grinning like he’s won the lottery.

Carleen pinches the bridge of her nose, muttering something aboutdisasters,but she doesn’t argue. The server comes by—a bored-looking teenager with a visor that looks two sizes too big—and I order with confidence. “Two double-stacked bacon cheeseburgers, chili fries, onion rings, and a strawberry milkshake for her.” I point to Carleen proudly.

The server blinks, scribbles something down, and moves on like it’s totally normal for a Beta to order for her intimidating Alpha girlfriend in front of two towering, unfairly attractive Alphas. When the server walks away, Carleen stares at me, her brows raised so high I’m genuinely worried they might get stuck like that. “A strawberry milkshake?” she asks flatly.

“Trust the process, Alpha,” I say sweetly, fluttering my lashes at her.

Ashton leans into me, his face buried against my neck as he lets out a muffled snort. Carleen narrows her eyes at us both, and Ryder—ever the composed one—just shakes his head with a soft chuckle. “You two are torturing me on purpose,” Carleen mutters.

“Oh, absolutely,” Ashton says without hesitation.

The food arrives about fifteen minutes later, and the smell alone is enough to make my mouth water. Plates are practicallypiledonto the table—burgers stacked high, fries dripping in chili and cheese, golden onion rings glistening under the fluorescent lights.

And then there’s Carleen.

She’s staring at her burger like it personally offended her. In one hand, she holds a fork. In the other, a knife.

Afork and knife.At Francine’s.

“Ashton,” I whisper, nudging him slightly.

Before either of us can intervene, Ryder swoops in like the silent menace he is. With one smooth motion, he reaches over and plucks the fork and knife straight out of Carleen’s hands, setting them carefully to the side.

“Try it the way you used to when you were a kid,” he says softly, his deep voice practically dripping with amusement.

Carleen’s mouth opens—then closes—then opens again. For a moment, she looks like she might argue, but then… she exhales sharply. Her hands move slowly as she picks up the burger, her fingers sinking slightly into the bun, sauce already threatening to drip onto her fingers. She hesitates.

“Come on, darling,” Ashton says, his voice low, coaxing. “Just one bite.”

I watch her carefully, holding my breath as she finally leans down and takes a bite.

The sauce drips onto her fingers, cheese stretches from her lips to the burger, and for a second, Carleen looks so scandalized that I can’t stop myself from giggling. But then she closes her eyes, lets out a soft hum of approval, and her shoulders drop. “This is ridiculous,” she mutters after swallowing.

I beam at her, practically glowing with pride. “But is itgoodridiculous?”

Carleen narrows her eyes at me, but there’s a smile tugging at the corner of her lips. “Yes, Tati. It’s good ridiculous.”

Ashton claps his hands once. “Mission accomplished!”

A few more bites in and Carleen issmiling.

Not her usual tight-lipped, composed, everything-is-under-control smile. No, this one is soft andreal, stretched wide across her face as she takes another messy bite of her burger. There’ssauce smeared across the corner of her mouth, and cheese is threatening to slide down her chin, but she doesn’t care.

She’s laughing softly at something Ryder said, her shoulders finally loose, her brown eyes sparkling in a way I’ve never seen before. I feel like I’m witnessing something sacred. Like I’m peeking behind the curtain and seeing the Carleen who exists when no one’s watching—the Carleen who doesn’t have to beAlphaall the time.

It’s messy. It’s chaotic.

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