While the other workers were busy in the store, by the store, which is where Tisha and her family lived, Jack, short for Jacqueline, made the biggest subway sandwich for everyone.
They sat down to eat. The wooden table groaned slightly under the weight of the massive platter, their breathing coming light and relaxed while everyone leaned back into their chairs with hungry smiles.
On the ground, the pups were playing in their own world, their tiny chests rising and falling in rapid, energetic waves as they tumbled over one another on the soft mat, while Tisha’s grandparents served side dishes with the sandwiches.
"See, Ms. Kings, I told you my daughter makes the best charming subway sandwich on the whole continent," Grandpa Brown said, patting his daughter’s shoulder as he praised her. His broad chest swelled with proud, deep breaths, his cheeks crinkling with a bright smile while his hand rested warmly on Jack’s arm.
"I learned from the best, Pa," Tisha said, holding his hand. She squeezed his fingers gently, her voice soft while her own pulse thumped a quiet, happy rhythm against her wrist, her lungs pulling in a sweet breath of family comfort.
"And now you are better than your master..." her grandfather laughed, and everyone laughed too.
The warm sound filled the place, their chests heaving in synchronized bursts of joy that instantly eased any lingering tension in the air.
"Do you like it?" Jack said to Princess. She leaned forward over her plate, her eyes sparkling with curious anticipation while her lungs pulled in a light, hopeful draft of air.
"Oh yeah, I don’t just like it, I am in love with it," Princess said as she took a big bite. The crisp bread crunched loudly under her teeth, her eyes widening in pure delight while her heart beat a fast, satisfied cadence, her chest rising and falling in a deep wave of enjoyment.
"More than Faye?" Beam said with a fake cough, teasing Princess. She smirked knowingly from across the table, her breath catching in her throat for a brief second as she let out a quiet, mischievous huff through her nose.
"Nothing beats my love for My Faye. This is my second love," Princess said, forcing a smile onto Beam’s face.
"You love the sandwich more than your own children? It looks like they have a competition..." Tisha added with a giggle. She covered her mouth with two fingers, her heart rate giving a light, playful jump as her lungs pumped out quick, amused puffs of air.
It looked like the couples had beef with Princess, attacking her from left to right. The playful teasing bounced around the table like a lightning storm, Princess’s eyes darting between Tisha and Beam while her own breath hitched in a sharp, hilarious gasp of mock offense.
"I love my girlfriend and my pups more than anything in the whole world. This is my third love... haha.. ha," Princess laughed.
"Don’t mind them, Ms. Kings. The love for a person can’t be equal to the love for food. Having a big heart is a good thing as well," Grandma Brown said. Her soft voice cut smoothly through the laughter, her chest rising in a slow, peaceful wave as she patted Princess’s arm comforting.
"Your pups are lovely and beautiful, just like you. They are very special, especially the walking one," she added, looking at the playing pups. Her warm gaze rested on the toddlers, her heart beating a sweet, maternal rhythm.
"Yeah, he is a boss baby, the first to walk in the group," Princess said, looking at her pups proudly. Her broad shoulders squared up with immense pride, her chest swelling with a huge, affectionate draft of air as her eyes followed the small boy toddling steadily across the place.
"That is fascinating for an Alpha. Alpha pups tend to grow rapidly and sometimes surprisingly. At the hospital, it’s always regular pups and Omegas I tend to, but it’s a great honor to be the Alpha pups’s doctor," Jack said, smiling at the pups.
"Dear sister, please don’t bring the hospital to my house. I have warned you several times to leave your work at the hospital before coming home," Tisha said. She shook her head with a fake scowl, her chest expanding with a bossy, dramatic sigh that made her posture stiffen up for a second.
"Okay, my Iron Lady, I won’t do that," Jack said, saluting her sister in a playful manner.
"When is your girlfriend going to take you on a vacation or anywhere, just so you can take a break from being a sales attendant at the store?"
Beam, who had been focused on her sandwich, looked up. She swallowed her bite and gulped down her Coke.
"I plan on taking her somewhere special during the holiday before the end of the year," Beam said. Her chin tilted up proudly, her eyes having deep affection while her pulse settled into a strong, confident rhythm against her ribs.
"Wow, sweetie, you didn’t tell me that," Tisha said. She turned toward Beam instantly, her eyes lighting up like bright stars, her breath catching straight in her chest with sudden, overwhelming joy.
"It was meant to be a surprise, but your aunt asked, so I guess it’s no longer a surprise. Surprise!" Beam said. She threw her hands wide in the air, her chest rising in a fast, energetic heave while a massive, goofy grin spread across her face.
"Wow, just wow..." Princess rolled her eyes. A long, dramatic exhale escaped her lips, her eyes darting toward anywhere as her heart thumped in utter disbelief at her friend’s cheesy behavior.
Beam looking like a lovesick idiot was not what she expected to see this year. It made her stomach flip in silent amusement, her lungs pulling in a quiet, exasperated breath.
"It’s a good thing, my grand-daughter-in-law. Take her far away from this store. She’s always working like a workaholic, non-stop," the grandfather said. He nodded his approval firmly, his chest rising in a heavy, satisfied wave as he took another bite of his meal.
"My grand-daughter-in-law..." Princess said to Beam. Her voice wasn’t audible, but Beam could read her lips. Princess was about to roast Beam right there and then. Her jaw worked as she prepared to open her mouth and deliver a lethal comeback about Beam’s total submission to her girlfriend.
"If I’m far away from the store, you two are going to work, and I don’t want that to happen. You are old. You need to rest. You two are the ones who should go on a long vacation," Tisha said to her grandparents. She pointed a finger toward the old couple, her voice dropping into a firm, protective tone while her heart thundered with deep love, her breathing fast and earnest.
"There are other workers, and Jackie is always here," Grandma said. She waved her hand dismissively, her chest falling in a gentle exhale as she smiled back at her stubborn granddaughter.
"She has her own job, a doctor at the Kings Hospital. It’s not like before when she always had free time. Her new boss is always giving her more work, and she barely comes home. It’s even a surprise she is here today," Tisha said, pointing her sandwich at her aunt.
"You don’t have to worry. Go on your romantic vacation. I will monitor the workers and also make sure that Pa and Ma don’t enter the store. I always find a way to get off work," Jack said. She smiled reassuringly, her chest expanding with a light, easy breath that instantly smoothed over her niece’s worries.
The table was noisy with laughter and eating.
Then Princess got a text.
Her breath locked straight up in her throat, her eyes snapping down to the screen as her pulse suddenly exploded into a wild, frantic sprint against her ribs.
"Oh God, I have to go. I really love spending time with you all. Can you please watch the pups until I get back?" Princess said, standing up.
"Where are you going?" Beam asked.
"My girlfriend just got arrested. I have to go get her out. I will see you all later." Princess blurted out flatly. Then rushed to go get her girlfriend along with Beam, who followed behind...