Page 86 of More than Need

Your sister.“No.”

Theresa lifted off her chair and kissed him on the forehead. “You are strong, and resilient, and you get all of the best parts of yourself from me. The stubbornness and other unsavoury elements are from your father.” She patted his cheek and sat back down. “Now eat your food before it goes cold.”

Simon snorted but didn’t argue, either too focused on his breakfast to disagree, or he didn’t have an argument.

He didn’t get a chance to take another mouthful before pandemonium struck in the shape of two of his younger brothers. Lucas and Peyton waltzed into the room like they owned the place, as loud and boisterous as ever.

“Riley!” Lucas said, dropping into the seat beside him and nudging his knee. “Man, I was not expecting to see you. I can’t believe you left your office; are you feeling alright?” He pressed a hand to Riley’s forehead, and Riley shoved him away.

He grinned, unperturbed, and tugged Riley’s plate to himself. He plucked Riley’s fork out of his hand and stabbed it into the food, taking a bite.

Peyton chose to seat himself opposite, beside their mother. He closed his eyes and smiled when she wrapped an arm around him and kissed his cheek. “Hey, Mum.”

“You should visit more often,” she said. “I know you’re busy with all the men in your home, and I totally understand that; if I had four virile men living with me—”

“Mum! I can’t believe you just said that!”

Lucas snickered.

“—but it would be nice to see you. Why don’t you all come over for dinner tomorrow night? I’ve been having the loveliest chats with Jericho. He has a niece; do you think she could come over too? It’s been a long time since I’ve had another woman at the table.”

“Isn’t she seven?” Riley asked. “I don’t think you can call her a woman, not for a while.”

“Riley.”

Riley closed his mouth. He knew better than to keep going after that voice.

“You should probably take that up with Kell, just sayin’,” Lucas said with a full mouth.

“Your brother can’t even finish his house; he’s not having children any time soon,” Theresa said.

Peyton leaned forward and snatched up the photo. “What’s this? Are you showing all our baby pictures? I bet Lucas has some ugly ones.”

Riley froze with his glass of orange juice halfway to his mouth.

“Uh… it’s—” Theresa hesitated, looking to Riley. He nodded subtly. He would never expect or want her to lie for him.

“Riley’s biological sister approached him with the photo,” she said tactfully.

“Fuck off,” Peyton said instantly, face twisting in anger.

“Peyton,” Theresa admonished.

“Is she lying?” Peyton asked, unrepentant. He didn’t attempt to apologise or use the smile that always charmed their mother. His focus stayed on Riley, anger swirling in his blue eyes.

“No,” Riley said reluctantly. He wanted to say yes.

“Did you tell her to crawl back under whatever rock she came out of?” Lucas asked, leaning back in his chair and balancing on two legs. “I can do it if you want.”

Theresa gave him a look and flicked her finger down. Lucas sighed and returned to four legs with a heavythud.

“That,” Peyton said, pointing at Lucas. “Let’s do that. We can put an even bigger rock on top, so she can’t escape.”

“And here I thought I’d raised gentlemen.”

“Why would you think that?” Peyton asked.

“He’s our brother, not hers,” Lucas said. “She can find her own.”

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