When he was done, he slid the tray of tofu plates into the fridge, then checked on everything else.
They’d baked the chocolate cake the day before, then brushed it with cherry syrup and iced it yesterday. It sat in one of the drive-in’s fridges now, three tiers of Black Forest cake, its surfaces dusted with chocolate shavings, gleaming cherries perched on freshly-whipped cream.
Beneath the tray of tofu sat neat dishes of salmon sashimi, perfect rectangles of orange-pink meat striped with white. The broth was simmering in a pot, and the noodles sat in a covered tray, ready to be boiled.
The project wouldn’t be complete until they’d served the last dish, and that wouldn’t happen until they’d done the ceremony. Which would be in two hours’ time.
Harris rolled his shoulders to ease the tension there. “Getting late. Gotta get moving soon.”
“I know,” Valen said. “Come over here and help.”
Valen was nervous, too, beads of sweat dotting his forehead. Sam had gone to join him, his expression calm, his deft fingers working handmade dumpling sheets into neat folds.
“We have time,” Sam said, glancing between them both. “Looks like everything’s going perfectly.”
Wyatt had sampled their food before this, and his daughter had grinned at the Black Forest cake. They probably wouldn’t screw up, but there was always that 0.01%. As usual. Harris would probably never forget that.
He breathed a sigh when Sam turned off all the burners in the kitchen and locked up. They got into Valen’s truck, headed home to change and shower. Then, they drove to a quiet gazebo on the other side of town.
It really was a small wedding—an older minister, Wyatt and Raph, and their son and daughter. Then there was Wyatt’s sister, Penny, and a handful of people Harris didn’t recognize. Probably the staff from the drive-in.
The guests were mingling when they parked and strode up. Harris fell into step with Sam, slipping his hand down to the small of his back. There, he found Valen’s hand; Valen linked their fingers together and smiled.
This was the first time they’d made an appearance together in public, two alphas and an omega. Harris wasn’t sure what he thought of it.
As they crossed the gazebo, Wyatt waddled over, his belly swollen. He was a slight man, blond with delicate features. He looked small next to his alpha, Raph, who was broad-shouldered, his gaze wary but kind.
Wyatt had the sort of strength in his eyes that Sam had—and maybe it was no wonder that they were best friends. Looking at Sam, Harris was glad he had this omega in his life, that Sam had allowed Harris and Valen to be his alphas.
“Thanks so much for joining us,” Wyatt said, his eyes bright. “And for helping with all the reception prep. It’s been a lot of work for you guys.”
“No worries,” Harris said. “We had fun.”
“I learned a lot.” Valen grinned. “Gotta thank Sam for that.”
Sam smiled modestly. “Couldn’t have done it without these two.”
Before this, when they’d been practicing in the drive-in’s kitchen, Wyatt had checked in on Harris and Valen. They’d exchanged small talk, but not much else.
In the shade of the gazebo, Wyatt’s gaze lingered on Harris and Valen, then Sam. “You’ve been doing okay?” Wyatt asked gently, taking Sam’s hand.
Sam’s cheeks darkened. “I have.”
Wyatt smiled down at Sam’s belly. “Have you named it?”
Sam shook his head. “How is James doing?”
Wyatt touched his own belly. “He’s doing great!”
Beneath Wyatt’s lace-and-cotton shirt, his belly was round, just as big as Nicholas’ had been. Harris swallowed. Hoped Wyatt’s labor would go fine. It probably would, with the two kids he already had.
He wasn’t sure how Sam’s pregnancy would progress, though. Harris had heard about omegas who miscarried in their first trimester, fetuses that died in the third trimester.
All the baby clothes had arrived at the mansion, but Harris had been hesitating on surprising Sam with them, the same way Sam hadn’t wanted to mention the baby’s parentage to Harris. They were both still afraid of the possibilities of the pregnancy failing.
Regardless of the risks, that was his baby in Sam’s belly, too. And a surge of possessiveness roared through Harris’ chest.
He couldn’t lose that child, not when it was his, and Sam’s, and Valen’s.
“Congrats,” Sam said, stepping close to hug Wyatt. He had to do it from the side—there was no way they’d get two round bellies between them. “It’s been quite a journey for you and Raph.”
Wyatt chuckled. “The worst is over—we’ve been doing fine for a while.”
Sam’s gaze was soft, a little melancholy, and Harris wondered what he was thinking then.
He wanted to reach forward, cradle Sam’s face in his hands. Tell Sam it wasn’t so bad, watching his friends get married. Was Sam hesitating about his own future with Harris and Valen?
“All the best with everything,” Sam said to Wyatt, then smiled. “Though it’s not like I won’t be seeing you at the drive-in tomorrow.”
Wyatt grinned. “All the best with you and yours, too.”
Wyatt met Harris’ eyes then. He could’ve judged Sam, Valen, and Harris for their relationship. But with his stepbrother as his bondmate, Harris figured no one would be throwing stones in this circle.
“Thanks,” Harris said.
Valen stepped close to Harris, brushed their hands together. Slipped his fingers against Harris’ palm. Wyatt didn’t miss that, but he didn’t comment on it, either.
“All right, the ceremony’s starting soon.” Wyatt hugged Sam tighter, then pulled away, glancing at his guests. “Sam, you’ll be standing with Valen on my left, and Harris, you’ll be with Penny on my right.”
On a couple of other occasions, Harris had glimpsed Penny at the drive-in. She was a cheerful omega with blond curls and round glasses, and Harris was surprised she didn’t have an alpha of her own.
What did it look like to
