4. Trent Phoebe{ManxMan}

•CHAPTER 20

A few more weeks had gone by and it was safe to say that my mate was the sweetest thing after Knox of course.

We had grown closer, closer than I had ever thought we would and I lived for it. It was endearing how he would tell me every day when he was finished with work, how he would call me just because he felt like it, because and I quote "missed me". I had done it, I had become someone another person who isn't my family could miss.

Even my nieces and nephews had commented on how much happier I was. Harkin has begrudgingly said that I had some weird glow about me that wasn't magical. The kid hates anything he didn't get.

We'd had lunch in my car one time, subs because he was busy and I was at work and we didn't have time for anything that needed a long wait so I had made my loving brother make subs, bring them to me and them took them to Adriel. These things are all about teamwork.

"You know," he was laughing as he ate the sub in my car. "I can tell you didn't make these because that one time you made me a sad which, you just packed in so much meat."

"No I didn't." I was pouting and he poked my shoulder nodding.

"Like I had no idea what to do with all of it that I was like, damn, dude, you put a whole chicken patty, beef patty, cut up sausages, bacon!" He was listing and I made a face which only made him laugh. "I had to break it down before I had a heart attack.

"Oh come on, it wasn't that bad."

"Babe, we don't eat like that."

That was the first time he called me baby and I had desperately tried not to act a fool.

Today I was at work, in my nice chair and working on this new game I wanted to pitch to the board of directors, I was minding my own business, smiling at my progress but also at the framed photo on my desk of Adriel and I on our first date.

"Dude! Some hot boy is here for you!" I nearly fell off my chair as my coworker said these words.

"What?"

"Yeah, he's got like really cool salt and pepper hair." I stood fast abandoning my game and speed walking into the lobby. I shared an office with three others who all turned to watch and I knew the nosey asses would stand for this.

There he was, grinning at me and holding a lunch bag.

"Adriel," I said and looked around noticing some knowing looks from pack members and the curious gazes of humans. "Hey."

"Sorry, is this a bad time?" He pursed his lips and his eyes were so wide that I melted and shook my head.

"No, never."

"Good, here." He pushed the lunch bag into my stomach and gazed at it like it was a gift from heaven.

"What's this?"

"You mentioned how you were running late this morning, so, I figured you probably didn't get to pack lunch." He looked at his watch. "And it's almost about that time."

"For me?" My voice was small as I touched it like it was fine china because it was.

"Yeah, I had a few minutes so I dropped it by."

"You're going?"

"Yeah, the cafe needs my tea making skills, I packed one for you too." My eyes widened and I held the bag closer.

"I think your an angel." I told him and he laughed, beautifully, his hair flying back a little as he covered his face.

"Stop, go now." I couldn't move from my place as I watched him wave at me as he left. I was immediately swarmed.

"Step away from the package." I told them respectfully and they all gapped because I was not usually someone who spoke much let alone a whole sentence, I usually let my actions speak for themselves. "This is precious."

"Way to go, he brought you food. If you don't marry him I will." My coworker who had come to tell me whispered and I bared my teeth suddenly feeling mildly put off by his words.

Adriel was only mine.

Damn. That felt all kinds of possessive. I palmed my chest and carried my lunch back to the cafeteria deciding it was now my lunch break. He had cooked! Bless his heart. I smelled all the warm food and moaned, wondering how I was allowed to eat such precious things but my stomach told me to stop swooning as it grumbled.

My phone buzzed and I answered to see three triplets, Idris, Nickolai and Elias. They were fighting for the screen, mostly Idris and Nickolai.

"Uncle Trent!" They practically whined.

"Did you break something again?" They grumbled.

"No!" And I rolled my eyes already knowing their story. "Idris wouldn't put it down! Like, I said, I said he should put it down and he said no!" Nickolai was the first to cry about it and Idris was scowling.

"I have witness to say I did not such!" I smirked already knowing the witness was unwilling.

"I was threatened." Harkins voice sounded and I laughed.

"Just show me what you broke."

Elias sighed as he held the phone and stood, he looked at me, the tiny man rolling his eyes as Idris and Nickolai started arguing. "If you ask me, it broke because they both didn't wanna listen to each other." He sounded so adorable with his small voice and pronouncing everything carefully.

"This is why I only trust you." He beamed and I saw his chest rise at the compliment.

They showed me a condolence which was now in three parts and I mourned it, a coworker had walked by and winced at the sight calling whoever broke the precious item a very big meanie bo-beanie. My coworkers were bigger children obviously.

I ate and I was satisfied and figured I needed to return the favour. I was already plotting ways to melt my mates heart without him even knowing.

I texted him before my day ended and thought now was better than any other time. I texted him about having barbeque with my family, and he responded enthusiastically.  We arranged that I would pick him up after work as we'd just go there from there to which he argued he needed to dress fresh which resulted in a phone call of back and forth arguing about how inappropriate it was for him to not prepare.

He was thinking about it too much, it was just barbeque we would be outside.

"You've turned me into a caveman." He sulked and I huffed.

"We are going to be outside anyway, it's not like some fancy thing." I had mind linked Claude about this because technically there was never, or rather there wasn't much of a possibility they would all be there, but of course, it's the pack house and they all, my brother, sister, all my dad's friends like remembering they don't just have each other.

"Still, I have to make a good impression."

"They will love you no matter what."

"You don't know that."

"Listen, you won over Kalika and she's considered the most impossible person." He frowned.

"She's a sweetheart."

"Yeah, because you ran your sweet fingers through her hair. She probably stopped thinking straight right then." He laughed at me as we drove and I realised he was beginning to relax until he saw just how many trees surrounded us.

"I hope you aren't chosing now to be an axe murderer." I laughed at him and nodded.

"Yes, because that is why my family lives out here."

"Really-oh- wooooah!" He leaned forward as the house came into view. "Dude, are you like, some billionaire of something?"

I flushed. "I... Have a really big family."

A\N
Written: 5 April 2022

Trent's book is so family friendly. Like damn.😭👏🏽