Page 25 of Jared

“Oh.”

“I'm sure Mom will put all this stuff into the guide she's putting together. Don't worry about it. How about we go out for breakfast?”

Jared perked up. “That sounds good! Oh, but I need fresh clothes.”

“How about we stop by your apartment and you can grab some. You can invite Desmond along if you like.”

“Okay! Sounds good.”

“Just let me change and then we'll go.”

“Sure thing.”

Steve went into the bedroom to change. Note to self, have him bring spare clothes over. And get him a toothbrush and stuff. I should find out what his preferred brand of toothpaste is while I'm at it. And detergent for when his clothes get washed here. He could feel his wolf approving his decision.

“Oh my God, the apartment is fab! But man, was it stuffy! The air con doesn't seem to be working.” Desmond hadn't stopped talking since the moment they'd stopped by the apartment.

“I'll get on to maintenance when we get back,” Steve promised.

“Thank you, so much! Though I was a little put out with how high handed it felt, the way you guys showed up and just started packing my stuff! Talk about getting steamrollered! But then your dad told me it was the Council's fault that it went down this way, and I couldn't stay mad. I mean, got to do what those guys say, right?”

Steve looked around. Where's the waitress with our food? Relief flooded him as he spotted her heading towards them, her tray laden with their order. Thank the gods.

“Blueberry pancakes a la mode?”

“That's me,” Desmond chirped. She placed the plate in front of him.

“Chocolate chip pancakes?”

“Here,” Jared said, a sound of glee entering his voice as he looked at the face on top of his pancakes the cook had made using whipped cream.

“This'll be yours then,” she said, batting her eyelashes at Steve. The smile fell off of Jared's face, replaced quickly with a glare aimed at the waitress.

“That looks delicious, baby,” he said. “I'm tempted to snatch a piece of that bacon.”

“Oh, no,” Steve said, “Order your own side of bacon, sweetheart.”

“That everything?” she asked, looking disappointed.

“More coffee, please,” Desmond asked.

“Be right back,” she promised.

“So,” Desmond said, “What else is on the agenda for today? I'm off today but Jared works this afternoon. We gonna finish unpacking and stuff? I mean, I won't I can help you with your stuff since you've got way more than me. I pretty much just had the stuff in my room, you had an apartment full. I can finish unpacking my crap once you've gone to work.”

“Sounds like plan,” Jared agreed.

“It's very stuffy in there. You got any fans we can borrow until the air con is fixed?” Desmond flicked his eyes over towards Steve as he spoke.

“Can stop and get some on the way home. I'll let them know that needs to be fixed pronto. Hopefully it's nothing much and it'll be working by tomorrow at the latest.”

“Awesome.”

The conversation was interrupted by the waitress bringing their requested coffee refill. She filled the cups and left.

“You're meeting with the co- I mean, bakery, later today right?” Jared asked Steve.

“Yeah, around six, after they close. What time you get off?”