Page 101 of My Broken Mate

“I am surprised they agreed to the invitation,” I admit.

“Me, too. Though to be fair, individually, we do have a relationship with them. It’s just the first time we will meet them all together.”

“That’s the point of the issue,” I mutter. “All of them at the same place.”

I think of how strained Remy’s relationship with them is.

I think of his reaction when Gabriel approached us in the café.

I think of how he believes he is a disappointment to both, but to Sean in particular.

I think of the things he can’t tell me yet.

Eve raises his eyes to look at me. “Let’s make the best of it.”

“I will try.”

“Do you want to help?”

“You will let me mess around with your perfectly planned dinner?” I ask, shocked.

“Well, under my supervision, of course.”

“Definitely!” I say. It’ll be perfect to keep my mind off the swiftly approaching evening.

Indeed, the time passes by swiftly, with me helping Eve. Soon, Joel comes home from his work and helps with setting the table and cleaning up. We work in relaxed silence, all three of us following different thoughts. I am anxious as fuck, while Eve looks thoughtful and slightly worried most of the time. Joel, on the other hand, just looks joyful. He seems to be really looking forward to this evening.

“You two,”—he finally breaks the silence, putting an arm around our shoulders and twirling us around—“are worrying over nothing.”

“We are worrying so much because you don’t,” Eve mutters.

“Okay, so let’s talk about this,” Joel says. “What’s your worry, Eve? It’s very unusual for you to be this tense.”

“This is an important family,” Eve says. “I know they aren’t getting along too well, and don’t want to add to the tension by fucking up.”

“And you?” Joel asks me.

“I am not good with these types of events,” I say. “Eve is right, it’s an important family.”

“But you are friends with Remy.”

“Sure, but not with his brothers. They are very,” I pause, “serious,” I add for lack of a better word. Terrifying and intimidating would fit more. “I don’t want to mess up.”

Joel just laughs. “Goddess, you two need to relax. They are just people! There is not any real difference between us.”

“There is a world between us,” Eve points out.

Joel lets go and grabs some bowls to carry to the table. “There is not,” he says, surprisingly serious. “You are creating it in your mind, but it’s not actually there.”

Despite Joel trying to raise our spirits and lessen our anxieties, I am still tense when our guests arrive. And the dinner is exactly how I imagined it to be. Nerve-wracking and strained, but also eye-opening. If Remy and his brothers can do one thing to perfection, it’s pretend. Remy pretends he is not anxious, though I can feel it through our bond. Gabriel pretends he isn’t tense, though his hands twitch sometimes, and Sean pretends he is completely calm and composed, while his eyes say otherwise.

Fortunately, Remy sits right next to me, so I can secretly squeeze his hand below the table.

“Goddess, give us strength,” Eve mutters when he and I disappear into the kitchen to grab the side dishes.

I rub my face. “Maybe Joel is right, you know?”

“Huh?”