I glanced up from the blueberry cheesecake she set in front of me and smiled. “Doesn’t change a thing.You’remy family.” I drew emphasis on just how important they were.
“And you’re ours.” She grasped my shoulders, leaned down, and dropped a soft kiss to my cheek.
Laughing, I nuzzled her nose with mine. “Thanks, mama.”
“Still keen on Harvard?” Harsh forked a piece of cheesecake into his mouth, his eyes on me.
I knew he was trying to distract me from wondering why the package arrived early. Lifting my shoulders in a slight shrug, I popped one of the blue berries decorating the cheesecake into my mouth and licked my fingers. Given my good grades, I’d been accepted to all five universities I’d applied to.
“Whichever one you choose, we’re proud of you, you know that, right?” He winked.
Nodding, I stuffed my mouth with more cheesecake then stood. “I’ve got homework to finish.” Wiping my mouth, I dropped a kiss to both their cheeks, glanced at the package and ignored the tightening of my stomach muscles before trudging upstairs. Even as I dropped to my mattress, stuffed my buds in my ears and reached for my books, I knew sleep wouldn’t come easily. Between the tension and excitement tingling in every inch of me, I tried to focus on my notes.
3
Zayne aka Gabriel(29 years)
Parking my car, having driven down from Seattle, I climbed out and stared up at the house belonging to Sam Tanner and the one place I was able to call home for a long time. While the white Tudor style presented a holistic family façade to anyone looking in, only a handful of people knew what went on beyond the red door in his basement. It led to a mass of underground tunnels not even sophisticated technology would detect.
The bell barely chimed before the door was flung open and Katrina grabbed me into a tight embrace. “It’s so good to see you, Gabriel,” she gushed, leaning back. “I thought I’d never see you again.” She dabbed the corner of her eyes, trying to hide her tears.
Laughing, I swallowed her in another hug. “It’s good to see you too, Kat.”
“Whatever happened to calling me mom,” she teased. We had this long-standing joke after she’d fucked a guy up for calling her mom and saying women belonged in the kitchen.
“Sorry, mom.” I winked.
She walked toward the kitchen where the scrumptious smell of homemade scones and apricot jam-filled the air. “Sam’s wife has been baking again. Coffee?”
“Thanks. Where’s Sam and Declan?” I asked as she placed a steaming mug in front of me.
“They’re working up a storm downstairs.” She nudged a plate of scones toward me. “That man’s getting too old for this game and he won’t listen to us about retiring. I’d swear he’s married to that job.” She grinned as we played catch up.
Five minutes later, I followed her to the basement. Reaching Sam’s office, I stood at the open doorway for a second, taking in the scene, letting memories flood back for just a moment before Declan lifted his head. Shock registered on his face momentarily before it broke into an excited smile.
He shot up from his seat. “Would you look at what the elephant dragged in?” We came together in a bro hug in the center of the room. He clung to me for a second longer before he stepped back and raked a gaze over me.
