Page 54 of Miles's Pact
"Sit, sit," Raphael insisted as he placed two big bowls in the middle of the table before returning with a dish stacked high with what looked like very flat slices of bread.
"I'm sorry. I don't know what these dishes are called," I said with an apologetic wince, and Jai smiled as he joined us at the table, his brown eyes full of kindness.
"That's okay. These," he waved toward the flat breads, "are called rotis. The singular is roti. This is gobi curry, cauliflower in a rich, spicy gravy," he said, pointing toward one of the large bowls that was giving off the delicious aroma I'd scented earlier. "And this is dal, a lentil soup you can eat as it is or with the rice."
"Everything looks delicious," I murmured, and Jai smiled widely.
"It tastes great too. Jai is a wonderful cook," Raphael enthused, making Jai turn his smile onto him. The love they shared was obvious to see, and they reminded me of my parents. If my dad was still alive, would I be sharing a meal like this with my own parents?
The thought made my chest ache, so I pushed it away, focusing on the food as Raphael insisted on serving us, adding extra helpings despite Alex's protests.
While Alex scowled and grumbled, I could tell they liked Raphael's brand of forceful caretaking. I didn't know much about Alex's past, but I did know how it felt to have someone take care of you after you'd been on your own for ages. Nothing compared to the quiet joy of knowing there were people who cared about you, about your health and your happiness.
Until a few weeks ago, I had been alone in the world. But now, I had two wonderful mates. I had my mom back, and I had a town full of people I was eager to get to know better.
I wasn't alone anymore, and I would never be on my own again.
