Page 52 of The Alpha's Stolen Mate

Chapter Seventeen: Strategy

Summer POV

“Would you like cheese on your burger, Grayson?” Gabriel asked as he flipped a patty on the grill.

Grayson glanced up at me.

“Do I like cheese on my burger, Mom?”

“Yes, you do,” I said.

Gabriel and I shared a smirk.

A jolt of pleasure shot down my stomach, causing heat to pool below my belly button.

Get a hold of yourself, Summer.

But it was hard to focus on anything other than Gabriel. His back was to me, and he only had on black swim trunks that hung low on his hips. His defined shoulder and back muscles made me think of when I scratched my nails down his back when his finger was…

Stop!

It was the day after I told Grayson that Gabriel was his father. We were spending the day by the pool. Even though it was the start of fall, the temperature was perfect for swimming. My aunt and mom were at the hospital to give us some privacy. My mom had texted me half an hour ago that there was still no change in my father’s condition.

When the burgers were ready, I helped Gabriel put them on a plate and carried them to the long, shaded table that was already loaded with freshly cut watermelon, grilled corn on the cob, and Grayson’s favorite potato salad that I had whipped up in Gabriel’s fancy kitchen.

Automatically, I began to make a plate for Grayson, but Gabriel lightly touched my hand.

“I was hoping I could do that,” he muttered quietly. “If that’s all right.”

My heart flipped as I handed him the plate, and our hands brushed.

“Of course,” I replied and sat down, handing a package of burger buns to Gabriel.

He was patient as Grayson rattled off his specific instructions of exactly how much ketchup he wanted on his burger, how he only wanted three pickles, and none of his food should be touching under any circumstances.

“Should I, uh, cut up his burger?” Gabriel asked. “Just so there’s no chance of him choking.”

A lump developed in my throat.

Which was ridiculous. Gabriel had just asked a simple question.

Yeah, but the fact that he’s trying so hard makes me feel things that I’m not ready to fully examine.

“No, he’ll be fine,” I assured him.

The three of us began to eat. Goose under the table, was hoping to catch any fallen food. Grayson picked up his corn, his legs swinging happily under the table.

“So, what should I call you?” Grayson asked after he swallowed his first bite. “Gabriel or Dad?”

Gabriel’s fork clattered to his plate. As he looked at our son, his eyes shone with affection.

“You can call me whatever you want to call me,” he said after a moment. “Whatever you're comfortable with.”

Grayson took another bite of his corn and scrunched his nosein thought.

“I think I’ll go with Dad,” our son said casually and continued eating. “That seems like the right thing since you are my dad.”

A wide smile bloomed across Gabriel's face, and adorable wrinkles creased around his eyes, which were shining with happiness.

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