Chapter 78 Lucky Guess
LUCKY GUESS
brIAR
I wake to an empty bed.
“Rem?”
“Remi?” I say with increasing panic, as I tear through the covers on the bed, like maybe she’s just tucked under them.
She’s not.
I practically fall out of the bed, checking the room for any sign of her. Fear paralyzes me when I see the hall door is open.
I bolt through it, anxiety rising when there’s no sign of my daughter in the hallway.
“Remi?” I whisper-shout. It’s still early, and with any luck, everyone is still asleep. We’ve been out and about in the house, but I’ve always been with her. I don’t even want to think what kind of trouble she could get into on her own.
The sound of her laugh sends me running down the hall, relief ebbing through me when I find her sitting atop one of the stools, her feet swinging under her as she stuffs her mouth full of—are those pancakes?
The relief is short-lived when my eyes slide to the guy sitting beside her.
“Mommy!” Remi waves wildly, and I look between the two of them. “We made pancakes! They’re chocolate chip!” She stuffs another huge bite into her mouth.
Koen.
Koen’s eyes find me over the rim of his coffee cup as he takes a sip. He leans back in his seat as I search the kitchen, looking for Liam, Aidan, Rory… desperate for the presence of literally anyone else.
“You made her pancakes?” I ask, stunned.
“We made pancakes, Mom.” Remi rolls her eyes, not to be ignored. “He flipped, and I chipped,” she announces proudly.
I look to Koen for confirmation, but he just shrugs. “You should try some.” I follow his fork to a breakfast spread that could put a five-star restaurant to shame. Plates of pancakes stacked high, along with omelettes and a bowl of fresh-cut fruit.
“I—um.” I’m frozen where I stand. Unsure what to do—how to act—especially after what he said to me last night.
“Coffee?” I manage to get out.
“Behind you.” Koen lifts his chin, and I back slowly over to the coffeemaker, not wanting to take my eyes off of the two of them.
She was out here. Alone. With him…
I find a mug, and pour myself a cup of coffee with shaking hands.
I’m saved from the awkward moment with Koen by the arrival of his brothers.
“Princess Remi!” Liam exclaims, throwing out his arms as if in complete surprise to see her here.
Remi giggles, “I’m not a princess!”
“Debatable.” Liam breezes by, winking at me on his way to the pancakes.
“Briar.” Aidan dips his chin as he trails in after his brother.
“Hi,” I clip out, sliding over a few steps so he can get to the coffeepot, immediately overwhelmed by the two brothers towering over me, both north of six feet.
“Make sure you eat something,” Koen calls after Aidan, who’s already retreating out of the kitchen with two cups of coffee.
“I’m on my way to right now,” Aidan smirks over the rim of his cup, disappearing up the stairs to the bedrooms, and I blush on his behalf.
“Gross,” Liam mutters, as he finishes piling layer upon layer of pancakes onto his plate.
“All done with your pancakes, Remi Rose?”
My eyes snap up at the sound of Koen’s voice.
Remi tilts her head, confusion on her face. “How do you know my middle name?”
Everything stops.
The kitchen is so silent; I swear you could hear a pin drop when Koen’s eyes slide to meet mine, holding my gaze for a moment, before answering her. “Lucky guess.”
My mouth opens at the exact time Koen pushes his chair away from the table. “I’ve got work to do.” He walks past me on his way to clear his plate, and I hold my breath when he passes by me, debating on whether to—
“Koen!” I call, trying to catch him before he disappears out of the kitchen. “Can we—can we talk?”
He turns to scowl at me, and nervously I chew my bottom lip, waiting for his answer.
“No.”
“Koen, stop.”
He doesn’t.
“Please?”
That does it. I swallow the lump in my throat that forms at the glare he gives me when he turns back to face me.
“What?” he bites out.
Bravery fails me and I straighten my spine, crossing my arms, which turns more into hugging myself than anything else.
“Um,” I swallow again, reminding myself that the worst thing that can happen is he can say no.
Except that isn’t the worst thing Koen could do—not by a long shot.
I lift my chin, paling under his full attention. “Remi needs stuff.”
His brow furrows, and for a moment that icy glare ebbs—slightly. “Stuff?”
I rub my elbow, uncomfortable, hating that I have to ask him for things. “Yeah, like clothes, pajamas… she didn’t have any shoes when she got here and she’s been wanting to go outside…”
“Right,” he says, running a hand through his hair. “I’ll take care of it.” He turns to leave.
“Thank you,” I say sincerely, and he pauses, his head turning slightly back in my direction, before he nods once, and disappears out the door.