709 At Least Pretend
Ashleigh stared at the two mugs that remained on the tray. She glanced at Galen. He sipped his cup and winced before blowing on it more.
She reached down to the mug closest to her, picking it up carefully by the handle and bringing it up to blow on.
“Careful,” Galen said, “it’s still really hot.”
Ashleigh gave an irritated look.
“I’m from Winter,” she said, blowing on her drink, “I’m familiar with how hot chocolate works.”
Galen grinned.
“My bad,” he said.
Ashleigh sniffed the warm and sweet aroma. She glanced toward the third cup. Did Caleb like hot chocolate? She couldn’t remember ever having seen him drink anything other than water, alcohol, or coffee.
She took a drink, and the velvety warmth spread over her tongue. Having enjoyed hot chocolate many times throughout her life, she didn’t expect much in the way of flavor. It was warmed chocolate and milk. How different could it be?
When the richness of the chocolate hit her taste buds, she smiled. It was pleasant, delicate, and not cloying. But her eyes went wide momentarily from the surprise of the unexpected spiciness that hit her.
“Oh, I probably should have mentioned… this is Fiona’s special recipe… it has a kick,” Galen smiled.
Ashleigh set her mug down and wiped her mouth. She was only slightly annoyed. The taste was surprising but pleasing. She glanced at the other mug again. This time she noticed that the drink’s color was different than hers.
“Do all the mugs have the same drink?” she asked.
Galen nodded as he sipped from his mug.
“Then why is the other one paler?
Galen looked at the untouched mug and gave a gentle smile.
“Caleb, if you couldn’t tell, can be a bit impatient,” he said.
Ashleigh smiled to herself. As patient as Caleb had been with her coming around to accept their bond, he lacked that same patience in most other aspects of his life. He was an Alpha, and very few enjoyed waiting for anything.
“When we were little, Caleb burnt his mouth more than a few times when Fiona made cocoa for us. She tried to make us wait, leaving the mugs on the counter until they were cooled, but Caleb being Caleb, just waited until she had turned around or walked away and took it for himself.”
Ashleigh chuckled softly, imagining a small Caleb sneaking behind Fiona to get his sweet treat.
“So, eventually, she came up with a different solution,” Galen continued.
He smiled, looking at his mug as he recalled those moments of their shared childhood. The trouble they would get into together, and the adventures they had.
“What did she do?” Ashleigh asked.
Galen looked over. Ashleigh was sitting back in her chair, her head tilted against the back as she looked at him. He could almost see a faint smile on her lips.
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He smiled, remembering the day Fiona pulled out the ice cream. She had just finished cooking a fresh batch of cocoa when Caleb had already pestered her for his mug.
“You are a terrible listener, Caleb, and your impatience will burn a hole in your mouth!” Fiona shouted in frustration.
“I can’t help it, Mother, you just make the most delicious hot chocolate!” a small Caleb replied with a charming grin.
Fiona let out a soft growl. She reached down and grabbed his chin to look up at her as she leaned down to meet his eye.
“Don’t you use your adorable smile as a weapon against your mother,” she said.
A young Galen giggled. Fiona turned her eyes to him.
“You think it’s funny?” she asked.
Galen straightened up and shook his head.
“You listen to me, Galen,” Fiona said, letting go of Caleb and turning her attention to him. “It’s too late for Caleb, he is a brat and a troublemaker, but you are still a sweet young man that knows how to listen. Don’t let him influence you too much, all right?”
Galen grinned and nodded.
“Traitor,” Caleb huffed at Galen.
Galen shrugged his shoulders and let out a chuckle.
“Mom!” Caleb objected with a pout, “you could at least pretend that Galen isn’t your favorite!”
“Why should I?” Fiona huffed, crossing her arms over her chest. “He listens when I tell him the cocoa is too hot. He doesn’t make me worry that he will always hurt himself.”
Caleb sighed and moved closer to Fiona. He hugged her around the waist and laid his head against her.
“It’s not that I am trying to make you worry,” he said sweetly, “you just make such delicious cocoa I can’t wait to drink it. It’s mom’s special recipe, made just for me and Galen.”
Caleb caught Galen’s eye. He motioned for him to help.
Galen sighed but hurried over and wrapped his arms around Fiona.
“It really is the best,” Galen said. “Even I have a hard time waiting to drink it.”
Fiona tried her best to hold her position, but she was helpless with both her boys charming her. She reached down and hugged them both.
“You know I can’t stay mad at the two of you…” she said softly. “All right, all right. There is one more idea I can try.”
Fiona pulled away and went to the stove where the cocoa still sat. It was still too hot to drink, but she poured it into the waiting mugs anyway.
Caleb and Galen sat at the table, eagerly waiting. She brought over the tray with their mugs and set it down. Immediately Caleb reached for the mug closest to him.
“Don’t touch!” she quickly shouted. “Caleb, if you grab that mug before I tell you, I will never make cocoa for you again, do you understand?”
Caleb quickly pulled his hand back and nodded.
Fiona stepped away and went to the refrigerator. She came back with a small container and a spoon.
“Ice cream?” Galen asked.
Fiona smiled and opened it. She scooped out a small spoonful, dropped it into one of the mugs, and then did the same for the other. She stirred each one briefly.
“Now, you may take a mug,” she said.
The boys each grabbed their respective mugs. Galen looked curiously at the last bits of melting ice cream that floated in his chocolate. Meanwhile, Caleb grinned happily and almost immediately took a drink.
Fiona and Galen observed as Caleb pulled the mug away from his lips.
“Delicious, and no burns!” he laughed.
Fiona sighed and shook her head. She pointed out that he still grabbed the mug without fear or concern for his hand. She and Caleb continued to bicker back and forth for a few more minutes as Galen watched them with a warm smile.