“Pretty sure they’re both just fancy words for white,” Cord said, reaching across the table to take Billy’s hand. His thumb rubbed gentle circles over Billy’s knuckles, and Billy felt some of the furniture-shopping tension ease out of his shoulders.
The server appeared - a young beta who’d been working there for years and already knew their order by heart. “The usual for you two? Extra sauce on the side for Billy?”
“You know me too well, Marcus,” Billy said with a grin. “I definitely need some extra sauce today.”
As Marcus headed to the kitchen, Billy squeezed Cord’s hand. “Thank you for being patient with me today. I know I got a little... intense about the dining room chairs.”
“You were adorable,” Cord assured him. “Besides, you’re the one who’s going to be working from home. It makes sense you’d want everything just right.”
Billy felt warmth bloom in his chest. Even when he was stressed to the max over the huge number of furniture options available for sale, Cord still looked at him like he’d hung the moon. It was taking some getting used to, being loved the way he was. Beingclaimedthe way he was… Billy shook himself as his body reacted in a way not suitable for a public place, even among mated couples.
“Cece texted while you were looking at those bar stools,” he said, pulling out his phone with his free hand. “Him and Tristan want to know if we need help moving. Apparently, Tristan’s already planning where to put a gaming setup in one of the spare rooms.”
Cord chuckled. “Of course he is. Though I notice you didn’t say no to the bar stools.”
“They spun,” Billy protested, his cheeks heating. “And they were the perfect height for if I want to work at the kitchen counter while I’m watching you cook.”
“Everything’s perfect when you’re there,” Cord said, his voice dropping into that low rumble that never failed to make Billy’s pulse skip.
Billy ducked his head, adjusting his glasses to hide his blush. “You can’t just say things like that in public.”
“Why not when it’s true?”
Their food arrived, saving Billy from having to come up with a response that didn’t involve climbing across the table. Thefamiliar comfort of the Wonky Pig’s signature dish grounded him, bringing back memories of late-night coding sessions fueled by cold takeout leftovers, of celebrating small victories with Cece and Tristan, of that first lunch with Cord where everything had changed.
“Hey,” Cord said softly, and Billy looked up to find his mate watching him with those perceptive dark eyes. “Where’d you go just then?”
“Just thinking,” Billy said, swirling a fry in the extra sauce. “About how different everything is now. Good different,” he added quickly. “Just a month ago, I was eating cold takeout, from here usually, alone at three in the morning, trying to figure out why my code kept throwing errors. And now...”
“And now you’ve got a mate who’ll bring you hot takeout at three in the morning while you figure out code errors,” Cord finished with a grin.
Billy laughed, the sound bright and genuine. “Among other things.” He took a bite of his burger, savoring the familiar flavors. “Though I have to say, having someone to furniture shop with is definitely a perk. Even if you did veto my beanbag chair idea.”
“We’re adults, Billy. We’re not having beanbag chairs in our living room.”
“But they’re comfortable, and practical, and…”
“And not comfortable for two of us to sit in together. We’re getting the sectional,” Cord said firmly, but his eyes were warm with affection. “You can have one beanbag chair. For your office.”
Billy perked up. “Really?”
“Really. But I get to pick the color.”
“Deal.” Billy held out his pinkie, and Cord, after a moment of amused confusion, linked his own with it.
The simple gesture, childish as it was, made Billy’s heart swell. This was his life now - furniture shopping and pinkie promises and someone who’d make sure he ate actual meals instead of just surviving on energy drinks and determination.
“I love you,” Billy said suddenly, the words tumbling out between bites of his burger. “I just... I wanted to say that. Here. Where it all started.”
Cord’s expression softened, and he lifted their joined hands to press a kiss to Billy’s knuckles. “Love you too, sweetheart. Even if you do put an unholy amount of sauce on everything.”
“It’s good sauce,” Billy insisted, deliberately dipping another fry into the container. “You just have no appreciation for the finer things in life.”
“I’ve got you,” Cord pointed out. “Pretty sure that counts as appreciating the finest thing in life.”
Billy groaned, but he was smiling. “That was terrible. Truly awful. I’m revoking your romance privileges.”
“You can try,” Cord said with a wicked grin that made Billy’s stomach flip in ways that had nothing to do with hunger.
