Page 24 of Fallen Legacy

“Right now, I could really do with a girlfriend to talk this through with.”

Damon looks over at me and he slows the car and does a U-turn in the road. “Er, home is that way.”

“We’re making a detour. I think I know just what you need.”

* * *

Five minutes later,we pull up outside a large, detached house. I arch a brow in question at him.

“Emma’s house. My sister.”

I realise he has brought me to have some girl talk with Emma. We both climb out of the car, and he waits for me to reach him. I step up on my tiptoes and throw my arms around his neck.

“Thank you. For everything. For giving me a place to stay, for being there for me, especially today.”

He relaxes, and he places his arms around my waist, returning my embrace. “You going soft on me, princess?” he asks in a teasing tone.

“Maybe a little but tell anyone and I’ll have to kill you.”

We pull away from each other, chuckling, and Damon clears his throat and scratches at his head. “Come on, let’s head inside.”

The house is a hive of activity when we enter. Noah comes charging into the hallway from the right. He’s wearing a knight’s outfit and wields a sword in his hands.

“Uncle Day!” he exclaims, his face lights up with excitement. Damon swings him up into his arms and spins him around. “Uncle Day, you’ll make me dizzy,” Noah says, giggling. Oliver must hear the commotion as two seconds later, he comes charging through. He is also dressed in a knight’s outfit.

“Mummy, Uncy Day’s here!” Oliver stops in his tracks when he sees me, and he suddenly goes all shy and unsure.

I crouch down to his level and smile at him. “Hi, Oliver. Do you remember me? I came to your great grandmas for dinner the other week.”

He scrunches his face as he studies me, trying to place me, and he shakes his head and holds out his sword.

“Is this yours?” I ask, and he nods his head. “That’s a cool sword. How many dragons have you killed with it?”

He scrunches his nose up and giggles. “We’re killing bad knights, not dragons. Dragons aren’t real.”

I giggle along with him. “Silly me. You’re right.”

“Well, well, this is a pleasant surprise.” Emma comes through from the back of the house. She has a cup in one hand and a tea towel in the other. “Eliza! It’s great to see you again. Come through.” She gestures with her hand towards the kitchen, and I follow behind Damon.

“Nick, look who’s here, and he brought a girl, again,” Emma teases, turning around and winking at her brother.

“Hey Day. Eliza, nice to see you again,” Nick says from where he sits in front of the television; the football is on.

“I was thinking, me and Nick could take these two to play some footy on the field. It’ll give you a break and a chance to get to know princess.”

“Are you a real princess?” Noah asks me from over his uncle’s shoulder.

“No. I’m not and your uncle needs to stop calling me one,” I reply, giving Damon the eye, to which he just grins at me.

“Come on, get your trainers on and grab your footballs,” Damon tells them and yelling in excitement, they both take off to find their shoes.

“Tea or coffee?” Emma offers.

“Er, neither. I’m kind of off both at the moment. Do you have coke or lemonade?”

“Sure,” she nods. “Diet coke, okay?” she asks me, heading over to the fridge.

“Perfect thanks.” I take a seat at the island, and she brings my drink over and she sits down beside me. Two seconds later, the boys come charging through the kitchen with Damon and Nick hot on their heels.

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