Sebastian smirks. “You could try.” The smirk slips a smidge. “I just feel like an asshole. I’m your brother I should’ve believed you.”
“Stop feeling bad. I was partially guilty anyway. I hurt Jules, maybe not as bad as Cole did, but I still hurt her. You had every right to believe what you did. I’m just thankful you were there for Jules when I couldn’t be. If it weren’t for you…” I trail off, a distinct ache forming in my chest. I don’t want to think about what it would be like for Jules if she didn’t have somewhere to go.
Sebastian places his hand on my shoulder, stopping the thought from taking root. “All that matters is that you have her back, she’s healing, and that you won’t make the same mistakes again. She loves you, and I know you love her, so don’t do anything stupid to ruin it.”
“Oh, I fucking won’t. I’m never giving her up, ever.”
Sebastian smiles. “Good, because if you do, I will seriously kick your fucking ass.”
“Don’t worry, you won’t have to. I’ll kick my own ass.”
We both laugh and I help Jules set the table for dinner while Sebastian finishes up the salad and breadsticks.
“I love you,” I whisper against Jules’ lips as I pull her into my chest. She wraps her slim arms around me, and I relish in the feeling of her wound around me. It’s been two weeks, two weeks of holding her, and still, I can’t get enough of having her in my arms. Once upon a time, I wanted revenge…I wanted her to feel my pain, but now all I want is to take away her pain, take away the nightmares that still plague her.
Love, the deep unruly kind that claims every ounce of your soul has a way of changing things, and it changed me, completely. The sound of Jules’ belly rumbling makes me pull back.
“Hungry?” I smirk.
“Starved.”
“Hurry it up in there, Seb. Jules is going to eat the house down.”
Jules elbows me in the stomach and shakes her head, a tiny little smile on her pink lips. At that same moment, a loud pounding on the front door startles all of us. After spending nights at the police station, I wouldn’t be surprised if it was Detective Garcia dropping by to check in on us. I release Jules and walk to the door, pulling it open without even looking through the glass window off to the side.
As soon as I open the door, my mouth pops open. Shock and excitement paint my features when I see no one other than my oldest brother, Alexander, standing there with a knowing grin on his face. He’s bigger, taller even, and I have to blink a couple times to actually be sure that it’s him standing in front of me.
“You going to let me in, Rem, or do I have to stand outside?” He snickers, his russet brown eyes twinkling with amusement. I move out of the way, giving him room to walk in.
“What’s going on? Who’s…” Sebastian’s words cut off when he sees Lex.
“Holy fucking shit,” he mumbles under his breath. “Dad, you’ve got to see this.”
Lex rolls his eyes, acting as if we’re being dramatic or something, but in reality, it’s been over a year since we’ve seen him, so having him walk in here without warning is going to take a little bit of getting used to.
“What the hell, son, the game’s on, and Jules and I are…”
Lex’s gaze sweeps over me. “Hey, Dad. Jules.”
Dad and Jules come walking around the corner a moment later.
“Well, I’ll be damned. I’ve got all my boys back at home again.” Our father wraps Lex in a tight hug. “You’re staying this time, right? Please tell me you didn’t re-enlist.”
“No, I’m home for good now,” Lex responds, the emotions are cut off from his face, almost like he’s hiding them, or he isn’t letting himself feel anything just like Jules did and if that’s the case then I feel incredibly sad for Lex.
“Thank goodness. I’ve missed you, son, how are you? How was your flight in? If you had let us know you were coming home, we would’ve had a party or something.”
Lex shakes his head. “And that’s exactly why I didn’t tell you. Sunday dinner with my family is all that I could ever ask for.”
Humble, kind, determined, and stubborn, those were just a few words to describe my brother. Joining the Marines was all he ever wanted, and I think it was good for him, gave him discipline. But now I wonder what seeing the dark parts of the world had done to him.
“Jules.” Lex winks at her, and she shakes her head, walking up to him. She wraps her arms around him, and he squeezes her tight to his chest.