Page 36 of The Flavor of Us

“Way to ruin the moment,” I mumble, slapping his chest as I detangle myself from him but I’m not mad. I like Ashton’s laid back demeanor. And the fact that we already kind of know each other—as crazy as that is—makes this all better.

Chapter fifteen

TATI

Ashton’s right behind me as I enter the apartment, whistling some tune under his breath like he didn’t just kiss the life out of me ten minutes ago. He’s still hard too—an impressive package at that—and he’s made no effort to hide it or resituate himself. Lovely. Just perfect.

The smell of something mouthwateringly delicious hits me the second I step into the apartment. My stomach growls on instinct, loud enough that Ashton snorts behind me.

“Oh, they’ve beenbusy,” he murmurs.

Carleen and Ryder are in the kitchen, moving in perfect harmony. It’s the kind of dance you only see in kitchens where the chefs know each other’s rhythms, where every step and reach is precise. Carleen’s focused on a sizzling pan, her brow furrowed in concentration, while Ryder is plating something that looks like it belongs in a magazine.

Both of them glance up when we walk in.

Carleen’s brown eyes flick over me briefly before landing on my very red cheeks. Her lips twitch upward, a knowing smirk creeping onto her face. “You okay there, sunshine?” she asks, a teasing edge to her voice.

I clear my throat, ignoring the way my face feels like it’s on fire. “I’m fine but I have to get ready for work. I’ve got a shift at Euphoria tonight. Where, fun fact, Ashton used to be one of my regulars.”

Silence.

Absolutesilence.

I freeze, realizing what I just said. My eyes dart over to Ryder, who’s standing completely still, arms crossed over his broad chest, his gaze fixed squarely on Ashton. But Ryder doesn’tlooksurprised. Not even a little bit.

My mouth falls open slightly. “Wait… you knew?”

Ryder shrugs one shoulder, his lips twitching upward slightly. “We don’t police each other’s lives but every night he’d come back with that sweet melon scent lingering around him, I made sure he didn’t sleep that night or passed out from a little too much… cardio. Smelling you here, it was pretty easy to connect the dots but I wasn’t going to bring it up unless you did,little doe.”

Yep, I need the floor to open up and swallow me whole because that means Ryder and Ashton have been licking my scent off each other every time Ashton went to the club. “Fantastic. I bet you all want to show up as well, right?” I shouldn’t have asked because now they’re all looking at each other, faint smiles being shared between the three Alphas. “Fuck.”

Ashton bursts out laughing. “Tati,youasked.”

“I did but I didn’t think—”

Ashton just continues, making it worse. “Round it up. Our Beta just asked us out on a date and I’m more than excited to share tonight together on our first official trial day as a pack.”

I groan, throwing my head back dramatically before storming off to my room to get ready. I’m in trouble.

By the time I step back out into the living room, I’m in full Tati mode. My outfit is sleek, black, and accentuates every curve. My makeup is sharp, my eyeliner winged to perfection, and my earrings glint under the warm apartment light.

But it’s not the living room that catches my attention—it’s the kitchen because the smell isheavenly.

There’s a spread on the counter—crispy catfish fillets, golden and flaky, paired with creamy mashed potatoes, roasted vegetables, and some kind of sauce drizzled in perfect arcs across each plate.

Carleen catches my wide-eyed stare and smirks. “Dinner’s ready.”

I slide into one of the chairs at the counter, my stomach growling audibly. Ashton takes the seat next to me, his arm immediately draping around the back of my chair, his fingers lightly grazing my shoulder.

Carleen points a wooden spoon at Ryder. “He’s the one you can thank for the catfish.”

My gaze swings to Ryder, who looks mildly uncomfortable with the sudden attention, his gaze flicking away briefly before landing back on me. “Ryder…” I say, dragging out his name with a grin. “You spoil me already.”

Ryder huffs out a soft breath, shaking his head. “Just eat, sweetheart.”

I pick up my fork and dive in without hesitation, moaning softly as the first bite practically melts on my tongue. “Oh my goddess, I could get used to this,” I mumble around a mouthful of mashed potatoes.

Ashton chuckles beside me, his fingers still grazing my shoulder as he leans closer. “Careful, Tati. Keep moaning like that and Ryder’s gonna start blushing.”

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