Page 54 of Jesse
A long table was set up near the kitchen pass, already half-filled with platters of brisket, baked beans, cornbread, and peach cobbler.
“Look who finally decided to show,” Remy called as we stepped inside. His arms were crossed, but the smirk tugging at his lips was all affection.
Colton leaned against the counter, beer in hand. “Finally,” he said, nodding at Beck with a grin.
“Told you he would come,” Ethan chimed in from behind Colton.
Beck flushed, stammering out a hello. I chuckled and steered him toward the table.
“Remy and Colton, this is Beck. Beck, meet my favorite and sometimes least favorite people in the world,” I said.
They exchanged greetings, and I could tell Beck was trying hard not to shrink under the weight of attention. Remy pulled him into a hug anyway.
“You got good taste, Jesse,” Remy whispered loud enough for me to hear.
Colton clapped Beck on the back. “So, you’re the one Jesse’s been talking about non-stop these days.”
“Has he?” Beck said, shooting me a surprised glance.
I shrugged, grinning. “Maybe.”
I didn’t miss Ethan rolling his eyes at me. We all settled around the table.
Plates filled quickly, laughter flowed easier with food and beer. Beck slowly relaxed, answering questions about the food truck, his pack, and how he liked Pecan Pines so far.
He was a little shy, but honest, and every time he laughed at one of Ethan’s bad jokes or asked Remy about his dessert recipes, I felt something warm bloom in my chest.
This was what it should feel like. Bringing someone you cared about to your family. Watching them belong.
“It took us a few tries to find our rhythm,” I said when Colton asked how the truck was doing. “But now? We’re doing good. Real good. People like what we’re serving.”
“Not surprised,” Colton said, nodding approvingly. “You’ve always had a good palate, even when you were sneaking bites out of the smoker at ten years old.”
As laughter circled the table, I felt a tug at my sleeve. Colton jerked his head, motioning me to follow him toward the back.
I gave Beck a quick smile. He was laughing at something Ethan had said, and followed Colton into the small back office.
“How’s the investigation?” Colton asked without preamble, his tone shifting to something more serious.
I exhaled slowly. “Stalled. We’ve got nothing solid. And now Beck thinks he’s being followed. Could be nothing, but I don’t believe in coincidences.”
Colton’s jaw tensed, and he looked past me, thoughtful.
“You’ve got people who care, Jesse. Pack and blood. You don’t have to shoulder this alone,” Colton said.
“I know,” I admitted, the weight in my chest easing just a little. “It’s just…he’s important to me. More than I expected.”
He clapped my shoulder, firm. “Then we’ll keep him safe. All of us.”
We returned to the table, and the rest of the dinner passed easily. Dessert came out. Remy’s famous cobbler, and Beck seemed to win Remy’s approval when he asked for seconds.
He even offered to help clean up, and I could see Remy softening toward him more and more with each passing minute.
By the time we slid back into the truck, the night had fully fallen, cool and quiet around us. I reached for Beck’s hand, lacing our fingers together.
“That wasn’t so bad, was it?” I asked him.
“I actually had fun,” Beck admitted, grinning over at me. “I was worried they’d think I was... I don’t know.”
