Page 87 of If You Were Mine
Though the accident had taken ten years off my life, at least when it came to thinking about how Harper had been hurt, we were okay. And I had gotten far luckier than I had ever dreamed.
“Well, with that smile on his face, I suppose he is doing fine.” Emily walked into the room, leaned forward, and kissed the top of my head. I had been sitting at the edge of the bed, trying to get the energy in order to get up and get downstairs to meet the family for dinner. For the first time in far too long, every single Cage in my generation would be there. The mothers weren’t planning on being there, and for that I was grateful. My mother wasn’t invited, and the other Cage mom had begged off, saying that she was going to take the grandmother’s prerogative to watch the babies.
Sophia and Cale would be happy to have a few moments to themselves, even surrounded by so many of our siblings.
“What do you mean?” I asked Emily, feeling awkward all over again.
“You’re thinking about Harper, and with that smile on your face, I suppose you’re going to do just fine.”
I narrowed my gaze at her, wondering why she reminded me so much of Flynn. Genetics were such a weird thing.
“Is this what happens when you have younger sisters? You have to deal with their teasing?”
“Pretty much. And I’m not even the youngest.”
“That is very true,” Sophia said as she leaned over to grip the cane I had rested on the other side of the bed. My leg was killing me, and I was stuck using the cane for a bit longer. The wounds, the burns on the side of my body were finally healing to the point that it didn’t hurt as much as it had even two months ago. But the new wounds from the storm weren’t being nice.
“I always forget that you’re not the youngest,” I teased Emily.
She rolled her eyes. “It’s because Phoebe is married and happy and all of that lovely glittery stuff. She cut in line, and if we were in regency time, I would have to have a speech about having no prospects and being a burden.”
I snorted. “I’m sure we can find you a nice man who likes potatoes.”
“You know Pride and Prejudice?” she asked, eyes wide.
“Of course, I do. Wellesley loves it.”
Both women made cooing sounds, and I rolled my eyes.
“You know, it shouldn’t surprise me that the two of you found each other, especially because she is Joshua’s little sister, but now that I see you two together, it just makes sense.”
“Damn right it makes sense,” I said as Sophia grinned.
“Well, if you know a nice small town guy who’s looking for maybe forever and maybe not forever, send them my way,” Emily said as she fluttered her eyelashes.
“I’m not going to send anyone your way. Because then I’d have to kick their ass.”
Her eyes widened. “Excuse me?
“I’m sorry, but you’re my little sister. I have to be the overprotective asshole. I didn’t get a chance to be that way with Phoebe and her husband.”
“Is that really how it works?” Sophia asked.
“And you’re telling me that Isabella or Kyler didn’t act all growly and possessive with anyone you dated when you were younger?” I asked.
Sophia cringed. “Isabella was always the one that tended to do research and interrogate our dates. But she likes Cale, so I guess I was okay there.”
“She let you marry him.”
“And you act as if I didn’t do my own reconnaissance,” a deep voice said from the doorway and I looked up to see Kyler Cage Dixon standing there, leaning slightly with his arms crossed over his chest. His hair was far longer than it had been the last time I saw him, and the dark circles under his eyes told me that while his world tour was kicking ass, it was also kicking his ass.
“Kyler! You made it!” Emily said as she threw herself into her brother’s arms. He caught her in a blink, that smile on his face wide and true.
“Of course, I came. I had to make sure this asshole stops hurting himself.”
I rolled my eyes as I tried to stand up. I couldn’t help the groan that escaped my lips, and suddenly Sophia was there, helping me.
“I broke my leg once when I was younger, and it was still during the time when I was growing, and between that and the fact that I refused to stop dancing, I resented the hell out of having to use a cane. So I completely understand.”
