Page 37 of Vengeful Guard

Except, I do. And it’s getting really old.

11

PAIGE

After getting ready in my room, I fume and pace as I think about Kael telling me I can go out. As if he’s the boss of me.

The nerve on that guy!

How dare he?

About half an hour after he left me in that living room, I’m all but walking to Kael’s room to demand he apologize to me when the doorbell rings.

Finally. Lara’s here.

I walk out to greet her, sliding into her car, a cute little sedan. Da tried to talk to her into a more expensive car, but Lara fell in love with this one, mostly because it’s her favorite color—blue-grey.

Lara grins at me. “Hey, sis. Ready for brunch? Maybe a few mimosas to start off the day on the right foot?”

I put on my seatbelt, making a gagging noise in the back of my throat. “No booze today.”

She chuckles. “Long night?”

“Just too many drinks with Sophie.”

Lara smiles. “I’m glad you’re back to your old antics.”

Not exactly.

I smile and look ahead. I don’t want Lara to worry.

“Shall we?”

Lara nods, taking me to my favorite restaurant—a greasy spoon that makes the world’s best prime rib tip sandwiches.

As soon as the server comes over, we order our usual—a cup of black coffee and scrambled eggs with ham, mushrooms, and cheese.

“We’re creatures of habit.” I sip my coffee, plenty of cream and sugar.

Lara shrugs. “I know what I like.”

I’ve always admired Lara for that. She’s always been pretty self-assured, despite how protected we’ve been, but I guess, being the youngest, I’m protected on a different level than the rest of my siblings.

Da always said Lara was the most like Ma, and I was the most like him. I guess knowing himself made him all the more overprotective.

Not to mention my two oldest brothers, who haven’t taken their eyes off me, especially since I became old enough to date.

“How’s it going with Kael?”

I grimace, sipping more coffee while we wait for our food.

“It’s going, I guess. He’s teaching me some self-defense moves.”

Lara raises a groomed eyebrow. “Oh?”

“Just a little.”

“Well, that’s great, right? Sounds like it isn’t as bad as you thought it would be."

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