It had been impossible to keep a lid on his temper, to be around anyone for a moment longer, which was why he’d called Sharptooth.
He couldn’t speak to her—he could hardly speak now, even as he made it home. Anger beat through him and, after dismounting from Sharptooth, he stood out in the cold, catching his breath. His chimera nudged her head against Luke’s side.
“It’s alright,” he gritted out, petting Sharptooth’s head. “It’s fine.”
But it wasn’t fine. He wanted to hit something. Instead, hedug his hands into the snow. The cold helped a bit, and when his fingers became numb, he headed inside.
He had thought he would spend time with Emmeline, that things would go well, and then maybe he’d get some work done at the bookshop, but now, he didn’t have the energy for anything.
He thought of Emmeline laughing with Flint again, and he slammed the door shut with such force that it rattled on its hinges. He kicked off his shoes and threw off his coat, then stalked into the living room and collapsed onto the couch.
Closing his eyes, he pressed his temples. He had a headache, now, too. Fantastic.
“Back already?” a voice asked.
Luke opened his eyes to find his younger brother Farhan sitting on the lounge chair across from him, a mug of chai in his hand. At twenty-eight, Farhan was two years younger than Luke. The brothers looked alike, but Farhan’s black hair was slightly shorter than Luke’s, and while Luke stayed clean-shaven, Farhan sported a neatly trimmed beard.
Their mother was sitting on the other chair with a shawl across her shoulders. There was an additional blanket on her lap, atop which sat her knitting. She still hadn’t finished the sweaters she was making for the baby chimeras, Butternut and Squash, both of whom were sitting happily by Rhea’s feet, munching on biscuits.
“Yeah,” Luke replied.
“I thought you had a date or something?” Farhan continued, snagging a biscuit from the plate sitting on the table between him and Rhea. “Though I’m not really sure who has a date on a Monday evening—”
“Shut up,” Luke replied, rubbing a hand over his face. He was still feeling foul.
“Someone’s in a great mood,” Farhan said cheerily. “What, did she stand you up or something?”
“Tch, Farru, stop bothering him,” Rhea said, setting down her knitting to take a sip of chai. “Being stood up is sure to put one in a bad mood.”
Was that a hint of amusement in his mother’s voice? His family sure was great at rubbing salt in a wound.
“I don’t wanna talk about it,” he said, brooding.
Rhea and Farhan exchanged a glance. “Was it Emmeline you were meeting?” Rhea asked. “I can’t imagine anyone else you would be upset over.”
“Emmeline?” Farhan repeated, shocked. “Emmeline Sterling? Dude, no wonder you’re upset she stood you up.”
Luke sighed. “You guys are seriously the worst,” he said, sitting up. He didn’t want to talk about it, but they obviously weren’t going to stop bothering him, so he might as well tell them the details they were clearly keen for. “Yes, I was supposed to meet Emmeline.”
Farhan whistled. “Good for you.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Luke asked. Farhan arched a brow, looking at Luke as if he was being obtuse.
“You’ve been committed to being obsessed with her for, like, seven years,” Farhan said with a snort.
“Even Ayman and the girls know about Emmeline,” Rhea added, referencing her best friend and her three daughters. The Din girls were just as nosy and desperate for gossip as any younger sisters.
“Great.” Luke rubbed a hand over his face. “Just further the humiliation.”
“Oh, jaan, I’m sure she had a good reason not to come,” Rhea said, voice pitying.
“Yeah, quit being such a baby,” Farhan added, taking a sip of his chai. “Have a biscuit.”
“She didn’t stand me up!” Luke cried. “I saw her down by the lake. With Flint.” Even saying Flint’s name made Luke’s temper flare up again, and he scowled.
“Fucking Flint?” Farhan said, immediately upset. “No wonder you’re pissed off.” A dark expression crossed his face, both brothers matched in their dislike of him.
Even Rhea was upset by the mention of Flint. Of course, she knew what had happened all those years ago between him and Lillie.
