Surrogate for My Brother-in-law - Chapter 34: Chapter 34

I stared at Leo. I didn't know what to say, what to do. I was caught and everything was going to come out into the open. And Eva was right there. I could see the rage burning in her eyes. The only thing keeping her from beating me into the ground was the presence of two alphas.
Then out of nowhere, Ethan spoke up for me. He declared that we were on a date, and that it was my right to do so.
He scolded Leo for not giving me time off. And Leo backed down. He asked me why I lied, and I could tell my answer bothered him.
Ethan stepped in again, and suggested we all calm down and eat dinner. I didn't think I could swallow a bite around the lump in my throat.
The waiter, Jeremy, brought two more plates and poured a glass of wine for Leo. Eva, who had to pretend to be pregnant, had to refuse.
“Perhaps some ginger tea?” I suggested. “It's supposed to be soothing for an expectant mother's stomach.”
“We have a wonderful ginger tea,” Jeremy said. “I'll bring you some immediately, Luna Eva.”
“You're so considerate,” Ethan said. “Isn't she, Leo? You're lucky to have such a thoughtful maid in your service.
Eva glared at me as she sipped at the tea Jeremy brought. I blushed at Ethan's praise and drank my own tea with a smirk. Okay, it was a little petty. I still enjoyed every second of it.
“So, Tessa is dating you, Alpha Ethan?” Eva simpered. “How long has this been going on for?”
“Oh, this is our first date,” Ethan said. “The opportunity presented itself, and I took it. Can you blame me?”
“She is supposed to ask her alpha before going out with someone from another pack,” Leo pointed out. “If not me, then Arthur.”
“That's for a formal courting,” Ethan said with a roll of his eyes. “This is dinner, dude. We're just getting to know each other, see if we want to take this anywhere.”
“Oh. But...” Leo didn't sound convinced.
Eva and Leo's meals arrived. Eva picked at her food, too busy glaring at me to enjoy what was honestly a delicious meal.
“Not everyone's desperate enough for a mate to accept an arranged marriage,” Ethan nudged his friend's shoulder. “And I get why you were. But most folks want to know if they like each other before they petition the alpha for a walk down the aisle.”
“Of course, you're right. I just...” Leo shrugged and looked over at me.
I wasn't sure what the look in his eyes meant.
“You're protective of your wolves. That's a good thing.” Ethan leaned in closer. “And you like her, don't you?”
“I'm married, Ethan.” Leo said with a sigh.
“Sure.” Ethan grinned. “So you don't have any problem with me taking the pretty little maid out for a couple dinners. Right?”
“Right.” Leo's answer was more of a growl than anything.
“How did you even meet Alpha Ethan, Tessa?” Eva asked, stabbing her food with a little more force than the tender meat required.
“Oh, um, well...” I shrugged. “I kinda ran into him?”
“She helped me find my way last time I visited your lovely manor,” Ethan explained.
“And what about Dr. Angel?” Leo asked. “I seem to recall you introduced her as your lover. Which one of them are you dating, actually?”
Both, and neither. Because I was both women. And Ethan wasn't really dating either one of us.
“He's seeing both of us,” I said. Like that was a perfectly normal thing that I was all right with.
“Both of you? And you don't mind?” Leo was visibly shocked.
“This is just a dinner date,” I answered.
“And Angel?” Leo asked.
“We've only been out a few times,” Ethan admitted. “I may have overstepped just a little when I called her my lover. I was trying to make you blush.”
“You are such a jerk,” Leo muttered.
“Sometimes. But the ladies don't seem to mind. Do you, Tessa?”
“I think Ethan is very nice,” I said.
“Then he's got you fooled,” Leo said. “He's a scoundrel.”
“Scoundrel? Leo, you sound like one of those old pirate romance stories my mother liked so much,” Ethan chuckled.
Leo shrugged. “I could call you a cad. Or a rake, maybe. Do you like those better?”
Ethan laughed. “Please, stop, I can't possibly live up to such high expectations!”
I couldn't help a little pang of envy. I'd never had a friend I could tease and joke around with like Ethan and Leo did. For most of my childhood I only had my mother, and after the attack, I was alone.
“Seriously, though, we're just getting to know each other,” Ethan said. “There's nothing serious going on with me and either Tessa or Angel, not yet. It's just a couple of dinner dates.”
“And he told you he was with Angel, before he brought you here?” Leo asked me. “He didn't ambush you with that?”
“No, I knew. It was Dr. Angel's idea, actually. She didn't want Ethan to waste the reservation he made, that's all.”
“Well, that's quite generous of her,” Eva said. “This Dr. Angel sounds like a remarkably selfless person.”
I didn't want Eva to think too hard about Dr. Angel. She knew me better than either of the men. If anyone was going to look at Dr. Angel and see me, it would be her.
“She's very nice,” I said. “I think she just didn't want Ethan to be lonely.”
“She's thoughtful like that,” Ethan agreed. “Oh, Eva you have to try these little stuffed peppers. They're delightful.”
Eva thanked him and turned her attention momentarily to her food. I shot Ethan a grin and tucked into my meal. I was, despite everything, famished.
“I should make a schedule for you,” Leo said out of nowhere.
I looked up from my meal. “A schedule?”
“Yeah. So I don't forget again, to give you time off. That was really awful of me,” Leo said.
I shrugged. I never got a day off, not really. Sometimes Eva went on trips with her parents, and I just had normal servant's duties to attend to.
“No, don't shrug, I messed up,” Leo said. “You should have at least one day a week off. Do you want a particular day, or should it vary week to week?”
I needed to be able to help at Ethan's hospital. Rogue attacks and accidents wouldn't happen on a set schedule.
“I think it'd be better if it could be adjusted,” I said. “Thank you for thinking of that.”
“It is my job. I'm an alpha, I'm supposed to take care of these things,” Leo said. He looked away. “I'm still getting used to the more domestic side of running a pack.”
“You're just finding your feet,” Ethan said, patting him on the shoulder. “You'll get the hang of it. Now, how about we take a look at the dessert menu? Chocolate ganache cures all ills, I'm told.”