Page 37 of Sebastian

“You want a coffee?” she asked as they walked back into the kitchen.

“This late in the day? I’d never get to sleep.”

Emma stared at Gage.

“How did you survive on long missions?”

“You think we were able to take an espresso machine with us out into the field?”

“Fair enough, but they didn’t even provide you with an instant option?”

“Yeah, sometimes. But honestly, I never needed it. I never wanted my mind to be in an altered state.”

Emma laughed. “I’m pretty sure I’m eighty-five percent coffee. The addiction is real.”

“You know, maybe a cup or two less a day would help with your nerves.”

Oh, of course. She couldn’t help but roll her eyes at him. “What are you, my big brother?”

“You do remind me an awful lot of my sisters.”

Sisters? Interesting. He hadn’t mentioned them before. She couldn’t help the happy little shiver that ran up her spine. Her mind peaked with interest.

“Younger or older than you?”

“They’re both younger. Alicia is twenty-eight. Really smart. Like, light years beyond me, and she knows it too. She’s always been destined for big things. I was thrilled when she went to school to become a lawyer.”

“Why do I sense a but?”

“But…she fell in love with creative writing. She’s a novelist now. Doesn’t pay quite the same as a career in corporate law would, but her writing is brilliant. Really creative and immersive. I’m super proud of her.”

“And your other sister?”

“Elizabeth. She’s the baby and the one who you remind me the most of.”

“Oh, it’s not the super smart sister who you’re abundantly proud of?” she asked, rolling her eyes as she placed both hands on her hips.

He laughed. “You remind me of her, too. But Elizabeth has always had such a special place in my heart. She’s twenty-three. I was ten when she was born and basically understood what it meant to be a big brother once she came around. I’ve protected her from a lot of things over the years, including herself.”

“Gage.” Her heart squeezed, the understanding of what he was saying overwhelming her.

“Emma, you have to be smart here, okay? You cannot go walking outside by yourself. Those two minutes between you going outside and me getting the alarm and making it back there to you could have been the last two minutes of your life.”

“I know. I know it was stupid. I’m sorry.” Tears pricked at the back of her eyes.

“Shit, Em, don’t cry. Tears are my kryptonite.” He stood and she gave him a watery laugh as he wrapped his arms around her.

“I know, you big jerk. That’s clearly why I’m crying. To manipulate you.”

“Ah, more like Alicia than I gave you credit for.” She backed up and punched him in the chest, but his reflexes were too fast and before she knew it, she was being hauled back against him.

How quickly these men became her friends. They felt more like the brothers she never had, yet had always wanted. Something so scary had brought her something so precious, and it was weird to feel thankful for it.

The front bell chimed, and she stepped away from Gage. Sebastian walked into the back and clearly caught Emma trying to sweep the tears away from her eyes.

“What the fuck happened? Are you okay?” he asked, walking towards her with a fierce flame in his eye.

“I’m fine. Nothing happened.”

---