Page 54 of Begin Again

The front door slams open so hard it ricochets off the wall.

“Marco!”

I jerk back like I’ve been electrocuted, my heart still racing for an entirely different reason.

Selene lets out a long, very frustrated sigh, her eyes snapping shut. “Polo” she practically growls, her voice flat.

I barely have time to step back before Orion strides into the room like he owns the place, hawk-eyed, blue gaze locking onto me with laser focus.

A step behind him, Celeste waltzes in, hands stuffed in her pockets, looking… sheepish.

I glance at Selene, who pinches the bridge of her nose like she’s debating whether or not to commit a crime.

“What. The.Hell.” she grits out.

Orion crosses his arms. “Just thought I’d drop by.”

Selene levels him with a glare. “You are staying with me while you are in town, Dumbass. There is no dropping by—you were already gone!”

He shrugs. “And now I’m back.”

Celeste clears her throat, looking suspiciously guilty for someone who was definitely in on this. “In my defense, I tried to keep him away longer. But you know how he gets when he’s on a mission.”

Orion ignores her, his stare never leaving mine. “I was just making sure everything’s, you know, appropriate.”

Running a hand through my hair I exhale slowly. “Uh-huh.”

Celeste leans against the counter, grinning. “We gave yousomuch alone time. A whole hour. That’s generous knowing Orion, don’t you think?”

Selene glares at Orion, hands on her hips. “You do realize I’m an adult right? At my big age of twenty-seven don’t you think I can make my own decisions?”

“Wait—you’re twenty-seven?” I ask.

“Yes?” She questions. “How old did you think I was?”

Laughing I respond, “That is a trap if I ever heard one, but let’s just say I wasn’t expecting you to be older than I am.”

Selene turns to me, eyes narrowing. “I’m sorry, what?”

Celeste gasps dramatically, “Ohh, Selene is a cougar.” She ends the statement with a growl and a slashing movement with her hand like she’s clawing at someone.

Silence. We all just stare at her.

Selene finally breaks it. “You really let him come back just for this?”

Shrugging Celeste winces. “In my defense, Ialsothought it’d be funny.”

With a groan, Selene says, “You guys need to leave, go check out the trails or take a walk.”

Celeste places a hand on her chest, offended. “Would you really cast out your only sister to go check out the trails at night? Even after everything Orion said?”

I frown. “The trails are safe, if you need bear mace I keep extra in my truck if you want some.”

“Bear mace won’t keep me safe from a serial killer.”

A heavy beat of silence.

A what now?

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