Page 71 of Broken

Sin turned to walk away but I caught her wrist before she could reach the door.

"Sinclair. That's not why I sent Aine inside."

She turned to look at me, all her trust shown in her eyes. I brushed some stray strands of hair from her face as I gazed into those big green eyes. "I just wanted you to know that I think you're an amazing mother, and you've done an incredible job raising Aine on your own all these years. I love you, Sin."

When I bent to kiss her this time, there were no dramatic dips or stubborn resistances, it was a slow, loving kiss. A perfect kiss.

"I love you too Kai. Thank you," she whispered against my lips.

"Dad. I didn't know you never had your first kiss too!" Aines grinned, devilish, and proud.

"Yeah. How about that first kiss?" Cal asked, raising his eyebrows in my direction.

Sin laughed behind me. They all thought it was funny, me being put on the spot like this. I smiled at my brother scratching my eyebrow with my middle finger.

"Dad. Everyone knows you're flipping him off." Aine rolled her eyes.

"Yeah. Everyone. Including our daughter." Sin patted me on the shoulder as she pushed past me to reach Aine, who happily laughed with her uncle Cal and Millie.

"Ladybug, did you meet everyone?" Sin asked.

Aine rolled her eyes at Sin. "Mom. There were only three people I hadn't met. Uncle Noah, Uncle Cal, and Millie. So, yes, I've met them." "Aine. The sass. Please" Sin let out a long sigh.

I had a feeling the sassy attitude had been a recent struggle between the two of them. It was normal at Aines age for a little rebellion, but with all the recent events and changes. I thought it would be a good idea to suggest some counseling for Aine also when I reminded Sin about her promise to see someone.

"Sorry, mama." Aine left Cal's side and wrapped her mother in a tight hug. The bond between the two of them is obvious and unbreakable.

"It's bedtime ladybug. You'll have the chance to spend more time with everyone tomorrow. We're going to barbecue and swim. I promise." Sin bent down and kissed Aines forehead. "Now say goodnight and go shower. You smell like a campfire."

Aine hugged everyone, including Millie, and did as her mother asked.

The rest of the night passed quietly. We sat and talked about random things. Nothing important.

I discovered that I really liked Danielle. Her sense of humor was sarcastic and a little dirty. She was fiercely protective and loyal to Sin and Aine. For that alone, I would always be thankful.

Sin and Millie seemed to get along well too. They had a lot of similar interests as far as music and a love for reading. Sin even invited Millie to stay here with her. So, she didn't have to share a hotel with three smelly men.

Everyone but the 'three smelly men' laughed at Sin's jab.

Sin worried that all of us wouldn't fit comfortably in her little apartment, but as I looked around everyone seemed happy, cozy, and settled. Our group, our dependable, indestructible group of friends was whole again. With a couple of new members.

I turned to my older brother. He'd always been the voice of reason amongst the group. Noah was always the rational one, the one to keep us out of trouble or save us from it when we just couldn't avoid trouble.

Which happened a lot with Tess and Sin. Tess did it to herself. Sin was Sin, and she was dealt a shit hand, but she played her cards better than the rest of us, and I think she's the biggest winner in all this now.

I watched Noah. There was something between him and Mia. They talked on the phone constantly when they weren't together. When they were together though, they were never far from each other.

Right now, my brother massaged Mia's shoulder, not in a 'here let me work that kink out' sense. In the same way, I wanted to just touch and be near Sin. It was very intimate.

As if my brother sensed me staring, he glanced in my direction. A guilty look flashed across his face, but he didn't bother taking his hand from Mia's shoulder.

I raised my eyebrows at him in question and all he did was shrug.

Whatever it was, he wasn't going to talk. At least not here, or now, with everyone around.

forty-one

Sinclair

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