Page 48 of Five to Love Him
The one examining the mattress had spotted Bruno and now picked him up.
I rushed into the room to grab the teddy bear from the hive’s hands. “This isn’t what you think. I mean, it probably is but, like, he’s fluffy.” I looked at Bruno. “He used to be fluffy when I first got him. I don’t need a teddy bear to fall asleep though.”
They didn’t look at me like I was out of my mind, which would have been appropriate, no. I felt arms come around me, and when I turned, I found that there were two behind me, one having snuck up here from the kitchen.
“Does he have a name?”
I considered lying, but they looked at me with curiosity and nothing else. “Bruno. His name’s Bruno.”
“Can we make Bruno comfortable? Would you be okay with us moving the mattress to the floor and trying?” the one in front of me asked.
What was I going to say? They were my mate after all, and they were making dinner for us. I nodded, and as I did, I heard the faint sound of footsteps on the stairs as well as the rustling of fabric. I was pretty sure that one of them had already grabbed a few floor pillows. My hive didn’t like wasting any time.
***
Dinner was both lively and quiet. The hive had indeed managed to fit six chairs and six place settings around the table. They’d found the pale pink plates and the pretty glasses Gran had only ever used for special occasions.
In a wooden bowl, they’d made a side salad out of bell peppers and cucumbers and some herbs from the garden. The noodles they had dumped in the biggest pan where they had prepared the sauce that now coated everything and filled the warm room with a delicious smell.
“This looks good,” I told them. They were sitting down and holding a chair for me.
“It’s really just something simple because it’s late. We are looking forward to cooking for you again. We saw you have an air fryer.”
“That was Gran’s, but yeah. Knock yourself out.”
I’d barely sat down when my plate was filled, one hiveling holding it while the other spooned on the noodles and veggies. I watched them as they did that but also poured water from a pitcher I hadn’t used in a long time, their movements coordinated while they sat close to each other and didn’t mind. Neither did I, a hiveling on either side of me, their fingers brushing me every now and then. I was reminded of how they’d been holding hands back at the Moonlight Diner.
“I’ll get used to this, and then I’ll not be able to function by myself ever again.”
Their eyes turned to me. “Why would you want to function by yourself? We’re going to be here for you.”
I blushed. We’re going to be here for you. It wasn’t an expression of love, but it was what I had wanted, what I had missed. I knew the feeling of being alone, especially after Gran’s death, but also before when I couldn’t explain how getting saved from drowning by someone unseen had made me feel, apart and out of touch.
My throat tightened, but I kept my face straight, my voice steady. “You might have to travel for work. Or maybe you’ll have things to do elsewhere. People don’t always get to have dinner together just because they’re mated.”
The two on either side of me leaned close. “But that’s the thing about being a hive’s gleaming one, Leo. We’ll make sure to be with you, if only with one, always.” Some of them frowned. “Unless you need ‘alone time.’ You have to tell us. Communication.”
“Communication,” I agreed and looked around the table. So many faces, but whenever one looked at me, it was the same eyes, the same mind. This was a dinner with many, but it was really just the two of us. “I think for now, I’m fine like this.” I pointed. “Although we can totally move the table to the other room, I’m telling you.”
“No,” all of them said.
I had a feeling that meant it was final.
twenty-two
Leo grew more comfortable around us with each moment, each minute that passed. Perhaps we imagined this, but he was at ease during dinner, the conversation flowing easily even though we forgot to speak with one only.
He was too tired for much more after, the rings under his eyes speaking volumes, and he said he was going to bed even before we could suggest it. He’d not seen the nest we’d built in his room. That it wasn’t the largest upstairs put us at ease, and with the colors, blue and gold which had perhaps been his favorite childhood colors, it made us feel especially close to our gleaming one.
We straightened the kitchen while leading him up the stairs, the mood changing slightly.
“We’re both going to be sleeping on the floor, are we?”
“Only if that’s okay with you.” “We promise we don’t snore, and our feet are warm.”
He huffed. “Good to know.”
We’d left the small desk lamp on in his room, and his jaw dropped when he saw what we had done.
