❝ CHRIST , WHEN YOU SAID YOU HAD THIS WHOLE DINNER PARTY THING HANDLED , YOU REALLY MEANT IT . ❞ sebastian goes wide-eyed wandering around the dining room setup , impressed by how far athan went to make the space warm and inviting for guests . sebastian is the first to arrive ; he’d insisted on getting there early to help out , but he also brought a dish that needed time in the oven before serving . now he roams the space , marveling in his handiwork . ❝ a soup and a light salad , huh ? WHAT KIND ? ❞ he happily wanders after athan into the adjoining kitchen . ❝ god , what if i’m hosting next ? how can i even compete with this ? how’s anyone supposed to . . . ❞ a laugh . he drops a friendly hand onto athan’s shoulder and gives it a gentle shake . athan’s become a very good friend in the time since they met , someone he can trust . ❝ okay , soup , salad . . . my dish is in the oven . what else do you need from me ? you’ve got the table all nice and set , so what can i do ? CHOP VEGETABLES ? unload the dishwasher ? ❞ sebastian opens and closes his fists a few times , demonstrating his eagerness to help . ❝ do we need music ? NAPKINS ? i’ve come early to be your sous chef , athan , so drop all the tasks on me and i’ve got it . alice and mason should be here soon , i think . ❞ he grins at his friend , ROLLING HIS EYES PLAYFULLY . ❝ this was a great idea , by the way . i’m happy i get to spend more time with all of you , bonding over a quote unquote soup and light salad . ❞