Page 80 of Outnumbered

I scoffed. “That’s obviously a lie. We have Leona over often.”

“She’s beautiful, but not as beautiful as you,” he said.

“Well, I appreciate the compliment even if I don’t quite believe it.”

His cell phone rang and he dried his hands off. “Hello? Yes, sir. Okay. Okay, see you soon.”

“Another job for Dan?” I guessed.

He nodded. “Sorry.”

I waved his apology away. “You obviously enjoy it and I like how much more often you smile now.”

“You should go sit outside so you aren’t alone just in case you do have a concussion,” he urged.

“Okay,” I agreed and headed out of the kitchen and outside.

Triston and Riddick were sparring together while Jolie, her mates, and Caleb stood off to the side talking in a circle, all scowling.

I sat on one of the lawn chairs, still holding the ice pack to my face.

“You okay?” Riddick asked as he and Triston took a break to drink some water, sweat pouring down their chests.

“Mmhmm,” I said as I enjoyed seeing them shirtless and sweaty. So many muscles. “Branson is going to help Dan with something so I came out here because they’re worried I might have a concussion. I don’t think I do, but I figured you would all feel better if I was in line of sight.”

“Thanks,” Triston said with a smile. “You figured right.”

“What are they talking about?” I asked and tilted my chin towards the other group.

Triston and Riddick shrugged.

“Royal things?” Triston suggested, which made the three of us laugh.

“You sure that you are alright?” Riddick asked.

I nodded. “The ice is helping.”

“Shout if you need anything,” Triston said, and then pounced on Riddick.

Getting to watch them spar was great, to witness the banter, the teasing, the fun they had as they practice fighting. The two of them were definitely much closer than they had been two months ago, which I supposed was to be expected.

An SUV pulled into the drive and Ezio rolled down the window to wave.

“Keep him safe!” I ordered him.

He saluted me a Branson climbed into the passenger seat.

“Another task for Dan?” Jolie asked as she sat beside me.

“Yep,” I replied and immediately scowled. “It seems like everyone has something except me. Isn’t there more I can do to help out? Should I get a job?” Was it even possible for me to have a job when my adoptive parents wanted me dead?

“You help out plenty at the house and you’ve been helping me plan Dan’s birthday, which is a huge undertaking, and I’d be going insane without your help,” she countered.

“If only I was crafty like Kieran and could sell things that I made,” I said.

“Money is not an issue, Ember. We could give you monthly pay for the next thirty years without dipping into our savings. They make a lot of money with their businesses.”

I sighed. “I feel useless, Jolie. Don’t you understand?”

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