Page 7 of Guarding the Singer

And a hero, even if he didn't listen to her music, deserved a reward.

"Do you have your phone with you?"

William looked startled at first. "My phone? Yes. I have it." He shrugged a little. "When my family toured the White House when I was in high school, we weren't allowed to bring phones inside. Even though I was told I could bring it for the event, I still felt a little strange bringing it in with me through security."

She laughed. "I know, right? I keep waiting for someone to tell me I'm in the wrong room and escort me out."

Selene held out her hand.

"Well? Dial up your sister and let me talk to her."

Shocked didn't seem to be enough of a description. "You want to talk to my sister?"

Selene gestured at the room around them. "I can't start dressing until the designer comes up with my gown. Why not get you more awesome big brother points?"

Grinning, he opened his phone and brought up his phone app.

Selene knew she was too curious for her own good, but she looked at his favorites screen and saw him select the second name.

MARY.

The top listing was HOME.

She caught the look he gave her when he asked if he should put it on speaker.

"Sure." She grinned. "You should talk to her first and show her the room. Enjoy the moment."

Nodding, he held the phone in front of him.

Selene wanted to move closer to him, but she was also enjoying the view.

The phone call picked up and she heard the soft gasp of surprise on the phone.

"Hey, dork! You're all dressed up."

To hide her hiccup of laughter, she covered her mouth, glad that she didn't have to worry about smearing her lipstick all over her hand.

William looked like he might have eaten something sour.

He cast a side-long look at her, looking mildly embarrassed, but he shook his head and greeted his sister in kind.

"Hey, squirt. You look like you just got up."

"Hey, I'm on Christmas break, dork! You know that. You're lucky I'm awake!"

"Actually," William turned and looked at her with a smile and Selene felt her heart skip a beat, "you'relucky you're awake."

Selene leaned a little closer and saw William's sister on the screen. She looked like a polar opposite of her brother. Blonde where he was dark-haired and she had bright blue eyes where he had dark brown.

She currently had her hair in braids with tufts of hair trying to escape. Her PJs were covered in bright blooms.

Selene sighed and smiled. She was adorable!

"I'm here at the White House."

His sister's eyes widened at that. "Wow. Hey! Today's that thing..."

William sighed. "The Inauguration. You know, where they swear in the next president?"

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