Page 122 of The Rebel Billionaire

I chuckle. “Is there a time when you haven’t worried about me? Even as a little girl, you would jump every time I got the slightest scratch.”

“Which was all the time, if I remember correctly, as you tried to keep up with the boys.”

“Exactly. I’ve never been a shrinking violet. More the rough-and-tumble, tree-climbing type of girl.”

“I think they’re called tomboys,” Caleb shouts from the background. “Hey, Harps, Happy New Year, little sis.”

“Same back to you, you clown.”

“Pen and Elijah want to speak to you,” Kat says. “Love you, little sis. Stay safe.”

“Love you too, Kitty-Kat.”

“Hey, Harper,” Pen says, coming on the line.

“Hey, Pen. How are you doing? I hope you’re keeping my big brother in line?”

“Of course. That’s one of the reasons we wanted to talk to you.”

“You’re getting married?” I ask, my heart hammering in my chest.

This is the best news. I love Pen. She’s been like an adopted sister to me. She and Kat have always taken on my brothers whenever they forgot I was seven years their junior. She’s also been my style icon. I’ve spent the past few years modelling myself on her and her take-no-shit attitude, wearing it like armour. She’s always understood and supported me from the sidelines when everyone else saw only rebellion.

“Not quite,” she says.

“Although we will be as soon as the stubborn woman agrees,” Elijah says with a harrumph.

I chuckle.

“We’re pregnant,” Pen announces.

“Pen,” I squeal. “I can’t believe it.”

“Neither can I,” she says.

“How long?”

“I found out just after you left. I’ve not wanted to jinx it,” she says.

After I left. Eleven weeks ago.

“I’m so happy for you. I wish I were there to give you a big hug,” I say, swallowing against the lump forming in my throat. I don’t need to be emotional around them and have them worry about me.

“We’ll get you home soon,” Pen says.

“I can’t believe I’m going to be an aunty again. The Frazer brood is really growing.”

I don’t even ask how Lottie’s taking the news. I know my niece. She’ll be ecstatic. She loves Pen with all her heart. She was over the moon when she found out her godmother and father were together.

“Hello, darling,” Mum says.

“Hey, Mum. How are you?”

“Missing you,” she says, her voice sad. It’s been that way for months now. “It’s simply not the same.”

“Hey, it won’t be forever. And I had a great Christmas with Sophia and her family. I think I’ve introduced a new Christmas tradition for them.”

“Let me guess, table presents? They always were your favourite.”