Chapter Forty-Eight #3
The server set an enormous plate of ribs in front of me, along with beans and creamed corn. Grace had a plate of meat chunks, mashed potatoes and gravy, and corn on the cob.
Grace took a bite of one of the meat chunks. “Ooh, yes.”
Reaching for the squeezy tubes of sauce in the basket on the table, she tried the different sauces on her meat chunks. Her expressions as she thoughtfully tasted them were much more interesting than my own ribs.
“Do we have a winner?” I finally asked.
“We do. Try?” She stabbed a sauced-up meat chunk with her fork and offered it to me.
Leaning forward, I let her feed me. Smokey meat with a savory sweet sauce melted in my mouth. That was good.
“What am I eating?” I asked her, as I took a bite of my own ribs, which were absolutely delicious.
“Burnt ends. Beef. I’ve never mastered burnt ends. I’m pretty good at ribs though.” She took a bite of potatoes. “Okay, these potatoes are not quite as good as the ones Spencer gets me from that fancy restaurant, but they’re still pretty good.”
“These ribs are incredible. Here.” Cutting one off, I gave her one. “Spencer’s ribs are delicious, but these are different.”
“These are smoked, not grilled.” She took a bite of corn.
I tried some sauces. “When you use the smoker, can you show me how to use it? Also, are you going to make a sauce with the peach bourbon?”
“Of course.” She smiled, a little sauce on her nose.
I reached over and wiped it off, then tasted it. “Very good.”
Grace laughed and made inroads into her food.
“Is everything going okay?” I finally asked, something tugging at me.
Her sigh said everything. “I mean, it’s nothing compared to what you’re going through.”
“It’s not a competition. Talk to me?” I ate another delicious rib.
“The lawyer that the pack lawyer found to help handle the whole thing with Adriana called me today.” Grace poked at her mashed potatoes with her fork.
We’d wanted a lawyer who could practice in both states, fortunately, our pack lawyer was able to find someone who could handle both cases against Adriana.
“It’s going to trial. There’s a date and everything. But what I don’t understand is that when I give a testimony, it’ll be done in a lawyer's office, not on the stand. I’m confused.” She nibbled on her corn.
“Some trials are like that, depending on the crime. It’s to protect the victim from having to face the person who harmed them and having to recount everything with them there, unless they want to, of course.
I’m guessing since you were a child when it happened, that’s why they’re offering you that.
Do you want to testify in court? You can,” I offered.
“Fuck no.” Anxiety wafted off her. “In the trial for the Authority, it was awful as the defense picked me apart, belittled me, and tried to make me out as an unstable mastermind.”
Oh. I hadn’t known that.
“Come here.” I held out my arms.
Grace slipped out of her chair and onto my lap.
I held her tight. “You don’t have to face Adriana. You probably don’t have to even attend the trial, just your lawyer."
“People don’t have the right to face their accuser here?” She frowned.
“Alphas who commit certain crimes don’t get that right unless you grant it to them. They just get your lawyer.” I planted a kiss on the top of her head.
Grace thought for a moment. “Oh, I could see how that could be a great thing sometimes.”
“Yeah, it is. Spencer will probably testify, but the stabbing case is separate," I told her. “They’ll probably want witness testimonies, but yours can be filmed ahead of time.”
She nodded slowly. “Good to know.”
I looked at my phone. “My sister’s wrath is wrathing today.”
“We should send her a cake or whatever treat she’s craving.” Grace reached for her phone and texted someone, probably Rami.
I finished eating, holding Grace, who seemed mostly done.
A uniformed police officer walked in.
“Whoops, we’ve been caught,” Grace giggled.
Jett came over to our table. My husband smirked at me holding her.
“I got a call about a possible kidnapping?” Jett looked us over.
A few people looked at us.
“Yes. I kidnapped this alpha and am making him hold me, eat barbecue, and go buy chickens,” she told Jett solemnly.
“I see. And what’s your ransom?” Jett asked her.
She shook her head. “No ransom. I’ll give him back by dinner.”
People chuckled as they realized what was going on.
“Did you really ride in the sidecar?” Jett laughed.
“Yeah. She asked.” I held her tight. I wanted to make her happy. It had been hard at first to realize that it wasn’t material items that delighted her, but things such as me sitting in the fucking sidecar and letting her take me some place.
My major fight against her was that she had to want something from us, such as money or expensive gifts. Like Caroline had.
Okay, Grace liked presents, but it was so different from my ex who demanded trendy handbags and expensive jewelry. When Spencer got her expensive shit, it was because either he wanted to give it to her, or she liked it and had no idea what it actually was.
Like that fucking doll he got her. She just wanted a doll to play tea party with at that tiny table she bought and didn’t know that she fell in love with a collectible.
Mostly, Grace just craved love and acceptance.
I made the signal that meant I’m fine while shooting reassurance through the bond.
“Okay, I’m going to go to the bathroom. Then we can get some chickens.” Standing, she gave Jett a kiss on the cheek and left.
“Are you okay, Dear?” Jett wrapped his arms around me.
“Today fucking sucked. But Grace is trying her best to make me feel better, and I… I…” I looked up at him.
“I was going to go home and work out and play the piano and be grouchy, then she came. Instead of telling her no, I just did it, because making her happy was more important than sulking. Also, she said I didn’t have to talk, and we didn’t until I initiated it. I…”
“I know.” Jett leaned in and kissed me. “You’re hers. That alpha in you knows it, and has since I don’t know, maybe the doll with the piano? Or perhaps earlier? I’m not sure.”
Oh. Wait. What?
No. He wasn’t wrong at all.
“I want her.” All of her. I wanted more random adventures, concerts, and motorcycle rides. I wanted to fuck her. I wanted to love her every second of every day and need her like I needed oxygen.
Yes, I absolutely wanted to be Grace’s mate, too.
“You have her.” Jett held me tight. “It’s been fucking adorable watching you court her without you realizing it.”
“I have not…” Oh. “I guess I have.”
Jett gave me another kiss. “You’ve already told her you love her. Go for it.”
“I did?” Oh shit. I mean, despite telling myself that I’d never love her, I’d fallen for her, hard. I’d admitted it to Jett, but I hadn’t realized that I’d told her.
“The night you brought the tiny ball of anxiety to bed. She proclaimed that we were now part of her husband collection.” Jett smirked.
Yeah, I had no recollection of that. But I’d been exhausted. “She… she loves me back, right?”
What if she didn't?
“She does,” he reassured. “She told you so.”
“Oh, good.” I hugged him tighter. “This isn’t causing any trouble for you at work, is it? The ambulance driver coming forward?”
“No. Like half the station helped me plan that and most of them still work there. It’s fine.” He hugged me tightly.
“Do you want to get chickens with us, Jett? I don’t want you to feel excluded.” Grace returned and put an arm around both of us.
“I have to get back to work. But I’ll see you both tonight.” He kissed her, then me.
My heart caught in my throat as I faced her. I wanted to be with her. Not eventually. Now.
“Thank you.” I kissed her long and deeply.
“For what? I just didn’t want to eat alone.” She gave me one of her cute little looks.
“Well, this was a lovely diversion. Are you done?” I asked.
“I am, shall we pay the bill and go get chickens?”
“Sounds good to me.” Especially because I was so curious what getting chickens was code for.