Page 52 of Chomp's Challenge

“I think so,” I mutter, suddenly nervous about everyone sampling the food I’ve cooked. Mom acted as my sous chef, while Ariel and Callie helped get everything ready since this is the first one. We’ve been busy since word spread, and the restaurant is full. There’s a lot of hungry people to feed.

“It’s going to be just fine,” Ariel says, leaning up on her tiptoes to kiss my bristly jaw. She dances away before I can claim her for a kiss, her giggles floating behind her.

My mother smiles, giving me a pat on the arm. “They’re going to love every dish.” Her confidence and calm smile ground me.

“We’re unlocking the door,” Spike says, walking into the kitchen. The first dishes are already in the chafing dishes, but both my mom and I are ready to make more if they’re eaten. I’ve cooked enough to feed an army. Or a bunch of shifters. Maybe both.

I swallow back the nerves and nod. “Let’s do this,” I whisper to my mom.

“Come on, Chomp, your mom has everything covered. I want you to sit down and eat,” Ariel says as she walks into the kitchen. She’s glowing right now, and I worry about whether or not it’s too hot in the diner, which has been slammed ever since Spike turned the sign to open and unlocked the door.

We need to check the thermostat, Gator hisses. Mate looks flushed.

If nothing else, brunch was a hit, so we’ll now open on Sundays for about four or five hours, right in the heart of the day. Folks who don’t go to church can come in early, while those who attend services with their families can come in and enjoy some well-cooked food after they leave church.

“Okay, okay,” I reply, taking off my apron and hanging it on a hook in the kitchen. After washing my hands, I follow my mate through the swinging doors and into the diner, amazed at the support from not only my brothers but also the townspeople. There are even folks from Mercy Falls, and I smile when I see Cheryl grinning at my mate.

Ariel’s therapy is going so well, and I’ve even gone to a few of her sessions when she has something she wants to share from before that she knows might upset me. Because I’m around a human, I’m able to (barely) control my gator, but it’s helped me understand some of her idiosyncrasies better, so I don’t accidentally trigger her. She’s so much more open, as if her experiences had muted who she was as a person. Regardless, I’m going to love her until the end of time.

She walks beside me, filling up a plate and occasionally adding things to mine. I smirk because as we sit down, she adds a huge bespeckled egg to the center of my overflowing plate. “What’s that?” I ask, lightly tapping it with my fork.

“Open it, Chomp,” she encourages. I’m so focused on this item that was definitely not on the menu that I don’t notice my mom or brother coming to stand near us, nor do I see my club brothers circling around me, until I hear a coo and look up.

Kodiak has his son strapped to his chest with one of those sling things. While he’s only two months old, he’s already alert, which is typical for shifters. I smirk because unless Callie has Teddy to feed him, my brother has possession of his son. Hell, he even willingly changes diapers, something I don’t particularly relish doing since a few of the ones he’s changed have been foul. Still, he’s very content with his little family, and I won’t begrudge him that because at the end of the day, that’s what all of us want.

I pick up the egg and gently crack it against the side of my plate. A small black and white picture flutters out, and I pick it up. When I see Ariel’s name at the top, I glance at her in surprise. When did she go to the doctor? And furthermore, why didn’t she say anything to me?

Look at the picture, Chomp, my gator huffs out.

I stare at the picture, confusion marring my features as I see three circles along with “A”, “B”, and “C” above them. “Ariel?”

“You’re going to be a daddy, Chomp,” she whispers, touching the picture. “We’re going to have triplets.”

Oh my God! We did it! We’re going to have hatchlings! My gator is chortling so hard, he falls down inside of me with a loud oomph. Silly bastard.

I stand and pick her up, swinging her around while yelling, “I’m going to be a dad! This is the second-best day of my life!”

She grins down at me since I have her lifted so high and asks, “What was the first best day?”

“Finding you,” I admit, sniffling.

We have a mate! We have triplets! My gator continues to bellow. This is not a drill!

A large meaty hand clamps onto my shoulder, and I turn to see Kodiak standing there with an idiotic grin on his face. “Congrats, brother. Best fucking thing in the world,” he says.

We’re soon inundated with the rest of my brothers, who are already taking bets about what we’re going to have. I honestly don’t care, as long as Ariel and the babies are healthy and safe. What I really want to do is snatch her away to our cabin so we can celebrate in private. I’m already looking forward to watching her belly swell.

We need snacks! Supplies! Baby stuff! We have to add onto our cabin! Gator hisses. Must go shopping now.

“Gator’s being a bit ridiculous,” I murmur so only she can hear me.

“He probably wants to set up the nursery already,” she replies, smiling at me. “Right, Gator?”

I love when she talks to me, my gator hums.

We love everything about Ariel. And now she’s giving us three more reasons to love her.

“Are you happy?” she asks, like it isn’t obvious.

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