Cassiopeia, The Pure

Chapter 18

We prepared 4 dozen cheeseburger sliders,  some with veggies, some with bacon, and some with just cheese. Ava popped those in the oven as I started sautéing asparagus and cooking the noodles. While the sliders cooked, Ava started making the baked potatoes and mashing them up after they fully cooked. When the asparagus and noodles finished cooking I turned the heat on low adding butter, garlic, salt, and Parmesan cheese. I began to cut up the tomatoes, cucumbers and onions while the asparagus and noodles cooked. Ava had pulled the sliders from the oven and was finishing the potatoes. When I was finished with the salad, I checked the pasta. I pulled it off the stove. We had cooked enough food for 48 people. When Ava and I had finished setting the table we stepped back to admire our work.
"We make a good team" She said.
"That we do Ava, you're an amazing cook." I said.
"So are you, I could've never done this without you." She said hugging me.
"Thank you for helping me today!" I said. Suddenly I felt Zekes arms around my waist.

"Ladies the whole house smells like heaven. What on earth have you created together" he asked smiling at me. I softly kissed him.
"Cassie is genius. I had no idea what I was going to make and then she came in and saved the day. She made cheeseburger sliders, loaded baked potato mashed potatoes, sautéed asparagus pasta, and a tomato, cucumber, and onion salad." Ava said excitedly.
"Correction WE made this meal together" I said smiling.
"Jesus there's so much food but damn am I lucky to have 2 chefs in the house" Zeke said laughing.
"Better to make more than to not make enough. Also Ava is joining us for dinner because she worked super hard on this dinner with me." I said looking to him.
"That sounds fair to me, go get changed and cleaned up Ava. Dinner will start in half an hour." Zeke said to her and she nodded before disappearing.
"I'm going to go change, would you like to come with me?" I whispered to Zeke quietly.
"Why I would love too" He said smiling. We walked up to our room talking and laughing. When we entered the room I began to strip out of my clothes. I walked to the closet in the black lace lingerie set I put on this morning. I could feel Zekes eyes on me the whole time.

I put on a white off the shoulder, lace up front, lantern sleeve, lace dress and picked out some white floral lace flat sandals. As I left the closet, I noticed Zekes back was turned and he was on the phone. I went to the bathroom sink and pulled out my curling iron. I curled my hair but kept half up with a clip. As I walked out of the bathroom I noticed Zeke was still on the phone but he was walking towards the kitchen. I headed for the vanity where I took off the eyeshadow I had on. I chose a white eyeshadow to go with the dress. When I was done I checked myself in the mirror before walking towards the kitchen. Zeke looked up and stopped talking mid sentence.
"I'm going to have to let you go. My mate just walked in looking like a whole meal." He said to whomever was on the phone. I started blushing. He hung up the phone but never took his eyes off of me.
"Is everything okay?" I asked.
"Yes that was Brecken calling to let me know people were arriving for dinner." He said quietly.
"Is that what you're wearing to the dinner?" I asked him.
"No I'm going to go change now" he said standing and walking towards the closet. I walked to the bedroom to wait for him. He came back out a few minutes later wearing a white shirt sleeve button up top, his khakis and white dress shoes. Zeke walked straight to me, kissing me passionately.
"If we didn't have guests downstairs we would not be leaving this room. But I plan to take this outfit off of you after dinner" he whispered in my ear. I looked at him in slight shock. Zeke let out a small laugh and stuck his hand out for me.
"Are you ready baby?" He asked me smiling.
"Yes my love" I said smiling back. We walked hand in hand down the stairs. People had begun piling up at the bottom of the stairs. When we came into visual everyone stopped talking and stared at us in awe.

I suddenly became shy and nervous. I tried to hide it though. As we reached the bottom of the stairs we began getting people. I met all sorts of people, age range varying from young children to elderly. Everyone was so nice.
"Is everybody hungry?" Zeke asked. Everybody responded with a yes. I walked to the kitchen with Ava and began setting up plates as people filed in to get their food. We were all eating outside, we had set up a huge table out back. As people got in line I heard someone compliment Ava's cooking. Ava looked to me before looking to the crowd.
"I was merely the help. Cassie picked out the meal and prepared most of it herself." She said loudly to everyone. I nudged her slightly because she was being modest. Once everyone has their plates I grabbed a plate for Zeke, Ava and I. Zeke waited in the back of the line so we could walk out together. Zeke, Ava and I each grabbed our plates and walked outside sitting next to each other at the table. Everyone talked and ate. Every so often someone would tell Ava and I we prepared a wonderful meal. I could see and feel Leilany's piercing glare on me the whole evening, others including Zeke noticed it too. We would both thank them. Everyone expressed their feelings about our plan during dinner and everyone thought it was a great plan. I felt better that they trusted me to protect the lives of their loved ones. Everybody agreed only certain people would be aware of where the apartment was located. When dinner was done we talked with everyone for a few hours. Those of us who were of age and not pregnant drank champagne and wine. I stuck to dark wine so did Zeke. Before the nights ending, Zeke announced that he had something to say in front of everyone grabbing my hand and we stood in front of everyone. He grabbed my hand leading me under a lighted banister and turned towards the people at our table. Everyone went silent and looked at us.