Angel turned her big eyes on Runner and Tessa. "When are you gonna get maaaaarried?"
Tessa's eyes practically bulged out her head. "Angel!"
Diana and Ben smothered their laughter. Zeus didn't bother hiding it. Alex looked almost as stricken as Tess.
Runner choked on the potatoes, nearly coughing them out onto his plate before he got a hold of himself.
"Well, we've only been dating for a little while, Angel. Getting married takes a long time to happen."
She pouted, crossing her chubby toddler arms. "But whyyyyyyy?"
"'Cause I'm not old enough to get married." He figured this would be a good reason. "I've got another 6 months before we even can."
Angel opened her mouth to ask something else, but Alex stopped her smoothly. "Angel, I saw you watching that one show of yours. Could you tell me more about it?"
Tess shot him a grateful look, and he mouthed Ferrari. A thank you.
He snorted, returning to his food as his blush died down.
Tessa leaned over and whispered in his ear so no one else heard–even Zeus. "Remember, you promised me five minutes."
Well, that certainly didn't help the blush, but he kept it all down…for now.
She snickered and went back to eating, acting as if nothing ever happened.
Runner grunted as he finished the food. "Thanks, Zeus."
He gave a thumbs up. "Ben helped." Ben waved it off, saying he didn't do much.
He leaned back into his seat, smiling to himself. "Thanks for the warm welcome, guys. I appreciate it."
Almost all nodded, saying that he was basically family since Tess rarely wasn't too stubborn to open up to someone. Tess scowled at them halfheartedly, saying she wasn't that stuck-up.
He smiled, feeling surprisingly at home. Thank the lord this wasn't disaster.
Even when they were all done eating, the family talked amongst each other, bickering and laughing, and even included Runner. Even Alex, though he was still wary of Tess. The cookies were eventually passed around, and there was no limit as to how many someone was allowed to take.
"Man," he said fter taking a bite. "These cookies are good."
Zeus took a bow. "My own recipe. Just forget the dough explosion. It never happened." He grinned, and Diana and Ben both sighed 'Children' at the same time.
He rolled his eyes. "What did you put in it, nitrous?"
Tessa laughed, and Zeus scowled. "No. I may or may not have accidentally put the mixer on high before I was supposed to."
"Does sound like something you would do," he admitted, taking another bite.
Zeus stuck his tongue out like the proper college sophomore that he was.
Runner laughed, then patted his stomach. "Man, I'm full."
Tess leaned back, balancing her chair on two legs. "Saaaaaame." She smiled regretfully at her parents. "Sorry, but we're gonna have to head back soon. It's getting late."
Diana and Ben nodded, understanding. "We understand," Ben said.
Runner stood up and offered his hands. "Thanks for the dinner, I appreciate it."
Runner stood up and offered his hands. "Thanks for the dinner, I appreciate it."