Page 50 of Knot That Serious

“Otherwise known as Eli,” Jack drawled.

“Just like a frat guy,” Beckett chuckled. “That’s the exact phrase he used when I asked what your usual cravings were.”

“Either decadent, complicated desserts, or the trashiest of foods you can imagine,” she said with a laugh, opening a pizza box to find it flooding with cheese and pepperoni. “Thanks for this,” she sighed happily.

Jack nudged her arm and she held a hand out for the plate he offered. She scooped two slices of pizza and a handful of fries, as well as some of the fresh tortilla chips and a little cup of nacho cheese. Then she made her way to the round table and sat in her usual spot.

“He mentioned sweets, too,” Beckett explained, brushing past her to squeeze into the kitchen. She heard the fridge open, but was too busy taking in the fresh greenery of Beckett’s scent. At least until he reached around her, his warmth suddenly at her back, and sat a can of whipped cream on the table in front of her.

Eli twisted in her chair to find Beckett waiting with a bottle of syrup and a six-pack of club soda.

“No way,” Eli gasped, and reached for the bottle of syrup. “It’s even raspberry.”

Beckett grinned and sat the bottles on the table in front of her. “I was just the errand runner. Jack told me what to get.”

“Liar!” Jack howled around a French fry, still finger-picking at the breakfast bar. “I did not tell you to buy all that,” he said, waving a pointed hand at the couch.

Only then did Eli realize there was a small collection of plastic bags printed with the logo of a popular store for heat supplies. She arched a brow at Beckett as she took a seat, refusing to show too much excitement. “Did someone get carried away?”

Beckett dipped his head, lips twitching. “Listen, my sister’s an omega, and she’s always bragging about how her alphas get her new stuff around her heat. So, I took a page from their book, that’s all.”

“You’re sucking up,” Jack teased, and Beckett elbowed him in the side.

Eli pretended not to see, and popped open the little plastic container of cheese.

But you’re not my alpha, she refrained from saying. He was basically just… helping a friend out. So why would he bring nesting supplies? It was an intimate gift, she’d thought, usually reserved for courting omegas.

But maybe… maybe friends did that, too?

“Thank you, again,” Eli said, and glanced up to meet Beckett’s gaze. He froze for a second, halfway folded into his seat before he completed the movement with a huff.

“It’s nothing.”

“It’s sweet,” she said. “I’ll open them after we eat, because no one likes stale French fries.”

He wrinkled his nose, and Eli wondered if Jack had seen. If he had, he’d probably be laid out on the floor, it was so cute.

She lifted up the limp piece of pizza, and caught the cheese on her tongue before biting down. With her head tilted, she caught Jack’s gaze, and he was sending her a look as if to say, see what I mean?

She would’ve rolled her eyes, but she was too busy humming around her bite, and lifted a hand to hide her mouth when she groaned, “I love this place so much.”

“Good,” Beckett responded, lips twitching.

Jack finally joined them at the table with his own plate.

Dinner was junky and delicious, and there was only one accident with the whipped cream, which, for Jack, was a step up.

“Told you, it was too much,” she chastised.

“It’s fine,” Jack lied as he lifted his glass to lick up the chilled side of it, catching the cascading whipped cream mountain that was sloughing off the side.

The sight made her flush, and she averted her gaze to her plate. In only seconds, though, she felt the weight of a stare heavier than her own, and glanced up to meet Beckett. He smirked, and the look they shared was equal parts exasperation and appreciation for the absolute show Jack was putting on. She arched a brow at him.

Their grins grew the longer they stared, refusing to be the first to break and look at Jack again, and eventually Jack sighed, put out by the lack of attention.

Eli laughed—she couldn’t help it—and began building her own cream soda, without the chaos of Jack’s mistakes.

Maybe it should have been awkward, but it was just easy. Beckett fit right in between Eli and Jack, making his own drink and daring Jack to dip his fries in it.

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