His gaze was steady.“I suspect Jasper’s hungry most of the time but doesn’t say so.He knows money is tight.He wears bulky clothes to hide how much weight he’s lost.”
Jemma’s mouth parted slightly.She glanced instinctively toward the hallway, heart squeezing.Jasper hadsaidhe was fine.Repeatedly.And she’d wanted to believe him.
“He’s...?”she began.
“He hasn’t complained.I know,” Saif said softly.“Because he’s a good kid.”He adjusted Jayla, settling her into the crook of his arm.“But I remember what it was like to grow fast.He’s probably starving all the time.”
He glanced back toward the kitchen.“Four of those sandwiches are for him.”
Jemma stared at the bag again, her throat tightening.She’d suspected it—seen the signs—but hadn’t wanted to push.Hadn’t wanted to make Jasper feel like a burden.
Frustration and guilt flared in her chest.
Without saying more, she grabbed two sandwiches and carried them into the living room.There wasn’t space for a dining table, so the couch doubled as their eating area.She set the food down carefully.
“You and Jasper should move in with me.”
Jemma froze.
She turned slowly, sandwich still half-wrapped in her hands.“I’m sorry—what?”
“You heard me,” Saif said, as casually as if he were suggesting they go out for coffee.His eyes flicked around the room again, this time with deliberate intent.“All three of you should come live with me.”
She opened her mouth, but he continued.
“You’re going to after the wedding anyway, so you might as well start now.”He took one of the sandwiches, still holding Jayla with practiced ease.“My family is already on their way.They’ll be here Friday.”
Jemma blinked.“Friday?”
“Yes.That should give you enough time to get ready.”
“Ready?”
“For the wedding.”
He took a bite of his sandwich, chewed, and then looked up at her as if this were a perfectly normal conversation.
“It’s Monday,” he said.“So that gives you four days.You don’t need to bring anything from here but your clothes.”
Jemma stared at him, utterly overwhelmed.Her heart pounded, her ears ringing.
Wedding?Moving in?His family is coming?
Wait.No.He hadn’t saidhis parents.He saidhis family.
Her mind went blank for a second.Saif was thenephew of Sheik Khal.Surely not—surelythat man wasn’t flying to the U.S.for a wedding on four days’ notice.
Was he?
She shook her head, trying to clear the panic.
“I can’t marry you,” she whispered.
From down the hallway came Jasper’s muffled—but far too enthusiastic—voice: “Yes, she can!”
Jemma threw a glare at the wall, though it did nothing to dim her brother’s enthusiasm.
“Ican’t,” she repeated, louder this time, turning back to Saif.
