Page 96 of Relief Pitcher

I huffed and sat next to Coop on the couch. He squeezed my thigh as he held back his laughter. “Wemadethem. If we’d bought them, don’t you think they’d look more uniform?” I’d struggled to get the hang of sealing the edges. Each one had…character.

“What is wrong with you guys? They’re empanadas. Of course they’re going to be delicious.” Caleb grabbed two.

“Thank you, Caleb. At least one of you isn’t a hater. If the rest of you don’t stop staring at them like they’re filled with arsenic, you won’t get the strawberry and rhubarb ones for dessert.”

“It’s not our fault you’ve trained us to be skeptical,” Ethan said before grabbing a couple and sharing a plate with Parker.

“That’s fair,” I conceded.

“Where’d you learn how to cook them?” Dom asked before cutting his open. Steam poured out. I hoped that meant they were warm in the middle.

“Coop’s been teaching me some stuff.” I waggled my eyebrows at my boyfriend.

“Gross.” Seth made a sour face.

“Does that mean no more toddler food contributions to Sunday dinners?” Austin asked hopefully.

“I wouldn’t go that far. Tradition is tradition.” I cut off the end and blew on it until it was cool enough to eat. I knew the filling was good because I’d kept eating it while making them, and Coop had to slap my hand away. But I’d worried it might dry out in the dough pouch while cooking in the oven. Thank god they were still decent. I finally understood the satisfied feeling he got from feeding us each week.

They complimented the food in tones ranging from surprised to begrudging as we sat around. They also swapped “horror stories” about various foods I’d brought to team dinners. Assholes.

“I think that’s enough of the embarrassing me in front of Coop portion of the evening. Movie time!” Despite the burn in my cheeks, it was awesome to have everyone together. Our little foursome had doubled. Watching our family grow gave me the warm and fuzzies.

“Are you seriously making us watch a Hallmark movie? I can’t believe you like this shit.” Dom shook his head and took another empanada.

“I’m so sorry that I’m trying to share my life with my best friends.” I dramatically pretended like I was on the verge of crying.

Ethan, always the peacemaker, stepped in. “When did you start watching them?”

“Last year, when there was nothing else on, I landed on the Hallmark Channel.” I felt Coop’s stare.

“Liar.”

I turned to him and gasped. “Are you seriously calling me a liar? Your adoring boyfriend? The nerve of you.”

Coop booped my nose. “You have a tell.”

The guys erupted in a chorus of “told yous!”

“Traitor,” I hissed as I pinched his side. “Boyfriend rules dictate you have to tell me what it is.”

“No way. You won’t use that information for good.”

I stole the rest of his empanada and took a bite to hide my smile as the guys cheered Coop on.

While I navigated to our DVR, I remembered something I’d forgotten to ask Dom earlier.

“Oh, Dom, I’ve been meaning to talk to you. Mind if Gavin crashes with us for a bit? He needs to vacate his place in Seattle.”

“Of course. He’s welcome anytime, as long as he cleans up after himself.”

“Awesome. Thanks, man. I’ll let him know.”

Seth excused himself to get another drink.

I started the movie that was set in a harbor town. I figured it was a good gateway Hallmark movie for the guys. I felt silly sharing it with them, but Coop and I’d had a conversation about it last week, and I’d realized there was no reason to hide it.

The guys cracked good-natured jokes throughout the movie, but they also seemed into it. About three-quarters of the way through, the main characters were out on a boat when the weather turned. The woman fell overboard, and the hero jumped in to rescue her.

---