Chapter 32
“Eamon,” Galen yelled, squirming to get down, “I’m gonna have a scar!” Once his feet were on the floor, he ran into the living room, stopping short when he found himself surrounded by strangers.
“Gally,” Eamon cried at hearing his brother’s voice.
Galen’s eyes darted around until he saw Remy and Eamon, quickly running to them. “Eamon, look…I’m a pirate!”
Glancing up at Carson, Remy asked, “What happened?”
“Nothing serious, I’ll let Mrs. B tell you,” Carson said, as he turned to the nanny who’d just joined them.
“Galen tripped over his brother’s foot and Eamon got upset when he saw the blood,” Mrs. Beasley explained.
“Galen, let me see,” Remy said, removing the makeshift bandage. Examining the wound, he was relieved at what he saw. “C’mon, guys, let’s get this cleaned.”
“Carsso said I’m gonna have a scar,” Galen said excitedly.
“I want a scar too,” Eamon insisted.
Taking Rune from Mrs. Beasley, Carson said, “Oh, boy, someone needs his diaper changed, we better tag along with you, Remy.”
“Thank you, Carson,” said Mrs. Beasley, “I’ll go get lunch ready.”
Rising, Remy looked around at his guests. “I’m sorry for the interruption, but please will you all join us for lunch?”
“Yes, please stay,” Carson said. “Remy made this absolutely amazing dish and you just have to try it. ”
“Mate, can we?” asked Fionn. “We can’t pass up a chance to enjoy some real French cooking, now, can we!”
“Nope, we can’t. What about you, Oracle?” asked Hunter.
“Absolutely! I would never pass up a chance like this,” Oracle said. “While you are getting Galen sorted out, I will help Mrs. Beasley.”
“Hey, we can set the table, right mate?” asked Fionn.
“Right,” Hunter agreed, smiling.
Grinning, Carson followed his mate and the two boys out of the living room.
The worry in his gut was gone, chased away, knowing now he could protect his family.
Nuzzling Rune’s soft, white-blond curly hair, his heart was filled with love for all of Remy’s brothers, a family he was thankful for with every fiber of his being.
~/~/~/~/~
Groaning, Sawyer rolled over, his hand blindly groping for the source of the ungodly sound waking him up.
Reaching to quiet the alarm several times without success, he finally opened his eyes to the pre-dawn light, then quickly shut them again once he’d located and turned off the offending instrument of torture.
Sighing at the quiet once more enveloping him, he plumped his pillow, secure in the knowledge there wouldn’t be any more surprises.
Sleep reclaimed him, letting him resume the dream that had been so rudely interrupted.
Suddenly, bolting upright, Sawyer looked across his bedroom at his packed duffle bags sitting near the door.
“Holy Fuck!” A bolt of excitement shot through him.
“I’m really doing this!” Scrambling out of bed, he headed over to the window, checking for the motorhome to make sure it hadn’t disappeared over night.
Nope, it’s still here, waiting for my grand adventure!
Whirling around, a broad smile filled his face—his dream was going to start that day.
“Fucking hell!” he shouted, dancing over to the bathroom.
A shower and a shave were on his agenda before he said goodbye to Mac, though he’d done that last night along with saying goodbye to Mase and Quin.
But Mac was his twin, and Sawyer knew he’d miss him most. Shaking off that thought, he turned on the water, concentrating on arriving in Surf City, USA by the end of the day.
As the throbbing, jets of water bounced off his lean, muscled body, he realized he was too impatient to take his time and sightsee on the way down the coast—which is why he’d set his alarm to go off so early.
If the traffic is light, I can make it to Huntington Beach in about eight hours .
That’ll give me plenty of time to find a place to park the motorhome and, if I’m lucky, I can sign up for lessons and buy my surfboard.
Pleased at his change in plans, Sawyer wasted no time soaping up and rubbing out a quick one before rinsing off.
Toweling himself off, Sawyer glanced at the large shower, knowing he’d miss it; the one in the motorhome was tiny in comparison.
But that was a small price to pay… besides, I’ll be in the ocean most of every day.
Not bothering to wrap a towel around him, he strode out of the bathroom, stopping when he saw Mason sitting on his bed.
His grin faltered at the unexpected visit, wondering if something was going to threaten his trip.
“Hey, what’s up?” Sawyer asked, grabbing his jeans.
“Nothing much,” Mason replied, “I forgot to tell you Carson found his mate. ”
“No shit! Well good for him.” After putting on his jeans, Sawyer sat down in a chair before slipping his feet into his sneakers.
“Keep in touch, okay?”
“I will, Mase. And if you need me,” Sawyer said, his voice muffled as he pulled his t-shirt over his head, “call me. I’m not that far away.”
“I asked Zane to set up a laptop in the motorhome in case you need it.”
Turning around, Sawyer studied his brother, then asked, quietly, “What’s really bothering you, Mase?”
“Nothing…I’m wor…forget it…it’s not important.”
Squatting down in front of his brother, Sawyer locked his eyes on Mason’s, and said softly, “Hey, I’ll be fine. I’m not going far, just down the road…”
“Huh, eight hours down the road.”
“True, but I’ll be in the same state…and it’s only about an hour away by air…so I’m not really that far away.”
“I know…I don’t know why I’m panicking now. I really don’t have a problem with you going, but…I don’t know…ever since Mom…”
Grabbing his brother’s hand, Sawyer finished Mason’s thought, “Ever since Mom died, you worry about one of us dying, too, don’t you?”
Rolling his eyes, Mason said, “I know…it’s stupid, isn’t it? The likelihood of it happening is...”
“Nope, don’t tell me,” Sawyer said, “it’s one of those numbers I don’t need cluttering up my head. You know my motto…ignorance is bliss. ”
Giving Sawyer a punch on his arm, Mason smirked. “Okay, suffice to say, it won’t ever happen. Is that better?”
“See, that’s what you should be thinking about…you know, the glass half full crap,” Sawyer chuckled, rising. “I promise I’ll call or text once a day, how’s that?”
Nodding, Mason gave a tight smile. “That’s fine. And I’ll try to keep my warnings, cautions and statistics to myself.”
Grinning, Sawyer pocketed his phone and wallet before saying, “Nope, you better send me all of them otherwise Mac will be on my ass when you explode from trying to keep them inside.”
“I will not!” Mason replied indignantly.
“Uh-huh,” Sawyer chuckled. “Hey, it won’t bother me, so just go ahead and get ’em off your chest.”
“Huh! It won’t bother you because you never listen,” huffed Mason.
“See? We understand each other,” Sawyer grinned, giving a last look around his room, making sure he hadn’t left anything. Then, picking up one of his bags, he said, “Make yourself useful and put that bag by the front door. I’m headed down to see Mac.”
After his brother left the room, Mason remained seated, staring at the bag on the floor, envying Sawyer who floated through life without any worries, always viewing it as one big adventure.
Even when they were boys, his brother was a thrill seeker—whether it was climbing the tallest tree or white-water rafting?Sawyer lived for the adrenalin high he got from taking risks.
Shaking his head, Mason stood, thinking about his brother’s latest goal, surfing.
Well, at least he isn’t free gliding. Just the thought of Sawyer doing that sent a shiver through his body.
Picking up the bag, Mason wondered when his brother would outgrow his need to put his life in danger, hoping it would happen sooner than later, before the unthinkable happened.
~/~/~/~/~
Walking quietly down the hall to his brother’s office, Sawyer felt the pull he always had whenever he was close to his twin.
He knew he’d miss it when he was in Southern California, the same way he missed it when Mac was away, doing his residency.
But he survived and was stronger for it.
Pushing open the office door, he found his brother, reading.
“Ahh, the life of a doctor…did Quin give you another romance to read?”
Startled, Mac looked up quickly before slamming the book shut and pushing it under a pile of papers on his desk. “Hey, you leaving?”
Oh, that’s interesting! Even though Mac tried to hide it, Sawyer caught his brother’s look of alarm before it disappeared behind a smile.
Wondering what triggered it, he strolled over to Mac’s desk, sitting on the corner nearest to the hidden book.
“Yeah, all ready to roll…thought I’d say goodbye to my favorite brother. ”
“Right,” Mac snorted, moving the papers and book to the other side of his desk.
Raising his eyebrow, Sawyer asked, “Whatcha hiding?”
Ignoring the question, Mac asked, “You sure you have everything you need?”
“Yes, mother.”
“Fuck off, asshole! ”
“It must be my lucky day,” Sawyer smirked. “Both you and Mase worrying about me…makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside.”
“Mase’s worried? About what?” asked Mac.
“Well, let’s see…I think the better question is what isn’t he worried about. C’mon, you know Mase…he thinks I don’t have an ounce of self-preservation.”
Laughing at his brother’s conclusion, Mac replied, “Your medical records support his view…you know that, don’t you?”
“Normal boyhood crap. But to answer your question, yeah, I’m all set. I’ll shoot you a text once I get there.”
Standing, Mac grasped his brother’s shoulders. “Remember, I’m only a call away.” Then pulling Sawyer into a tight hug, he whispered, “Have fun, and come back to me in one piece.”
“Promise…to both. Take care of Mase and Quin for me, will ya? I’m gonna miss them too.”
“Promise…now go before Quin wakes up and starts bawling.”