Page 69 of The Flavor of Us

“Tati!” I can hear the smile in her voice. “I was beginning to think you’d forgotten your own parents.”

“Never. Been busy, that’s all.” And I have been. Dating two more Alphas, picking up my old job,falling in love…

“Oh,busy, hmm? Too busy to call your mother? Let me see you.”

Before I can respond, the call switches to video, and I curse under my breath as I scramble to adjust. The screen shifts—and there she is, my mother, her hair tied up in a silk scarf, glasses perched on the bridge of her nose as she squints at me. My father’s voice mumbles something in the background but she waves him off.

But then—oh no—I feel it before I see it.

Ryder’s hand appears in the frame as he sets a mug of tea on the table beside me. And then he leans down. His massive shoulders, those tattoos barely peeking out from the edge of his shirt. My mother’s eyes gowide.

“Tati, who isthat?”

I wince. Ashton’s muffled snicker doesn’t help. “Um… well, funny story, Mom…”

“Don’tfunny storyme. Is there something you need to tell yourmother?”

I can’t stop the laugh that bubbles up. Screw it. It’s out in the open now. “Actually, yeah. There’s been a few…developments.” I tilt the camera, and there’s Ryder, sitting back in the chair, arms crossed over his chest. Ashton, meanwhile, is sprawled beside me, grinning like he’s just won the lottery. “Mom, meet Ryder and Ashton. They’re my—” I pause, realizing I don’t even have the words to describe what they are yet. “—Alphas.”

Her lips purse and I brace myself. But then her face softens, her eyes shining with something I can’t quite place. “Welcome to the family, boys.” Her voice is soft but firm.

Ashton gives a little wave. “Nice to meet you, ma’am.”

Ryder, ever the man of few words, just nods respectfully.

“And,” I continue, angling the camera toward Carleen, who’s half-hidden behind me but can’t escape now. “Mom, you know Carleen.”

Carleen straightens, smiling politely but looking like she’d rather crawl under the couch and hide forever. My mother’s smile grows wider. “You make sure they’re not strangers, hmm? I expect to see all of you at dinner sometime soon. Your father will want to interrogate them—politely, of course.”

I snort. Politely? Sure, Mom. Sure.

“We’ll come by soon, I promise,” I say, my voice cracking slightly because, damn, this feels good. She hangs up with a quick goodbye and I set my phone down on the coffee table with trembling hands. Ashton squeezes my thigh. Ryder’s watching me with those intense blue eyes, like he’s trying to memorize every little detail of me in this moment. Carleen is smiling softly, her head tilted like she’s trying to figure out how I can still be so full of energy after all of this.

I take a deep breath, exhaling slowly before flashing them all a grin. “So… when do I get more bonds?”

Ashton lets out a low, wicked laugh as he leans in close, his voice dropping low, warm breath brushing against my ear. “Be careful what you wish for, little doe. Because if I bond you, the mark’s going right on your ass. Or maybe…” He pauses, trailing a fingertip along the inside of my thigh. “…here.”

My face goes red. Carleen is muttering something under her breath, and Ryder’s smirk has turned downright predatory.

“Okay!” I squeak, throwing my hands up. “That’s enough bonding talk for now!”

I lean back into the cushions, my heart still hammering but so, so full.

This is it.

This ishome.

Even with all the chaos, intense gazes, and Ashton’s constant flirtation, this is exactly where I’ve always wanted to be.

Chapter thirty-five

TWO WEEKS LATER

TATI

The smell of garlic and tomato sauce fills the air, mixing with the faint tang of basil as warm laughter echoes from the kitchen. My parents’ house is buzzing with energy—the kind that comes with full bellies and wine glasses that have been refilled one too many times. I’m seated between Ashton and Ryder at the long wooden dining table, both of them taking up way too much space and acting like they own the place. Which, let’s be honest, they kind of do now.

Ashton’s hand is on my neck again, his thumb rubbing slow, lazy circles just below my ear—right over the bonding mark he put there last week. And it’s driving me insane. Every brush sends tingles straight down my spine and into places that are wildly inappropriate considering my father is twenty feet away.

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