74
EMERSYN
“I can give you the grand tour later,” Kaelin said as she opened a bedroom door. “Right now, I just want to make sure you feel at home and—” My face must have blanked because Kaelin frowned. “What do you need? I can get Doc if—”
“No, no—” I waved away her concern. Home. “It’s just—it all feels surreal still,” I said, my voice quiet as though speaking the words would break the fragile reality that I’d found myself in. “I–I thought I’d never see him again.”
As soon as I said it, my vision blurred with more tears, and I realized deep down I didn’t think I ever expected to see my father again. Kaelin smiled kindly, but without pity. Instead, there was understanding there that put me at ease.
“No one will bother you, take as much time as you need.” She nodded at the attached bedroom. “I’ve left some clothes on the bed for you. We’ll need to do some online shopping once you feel up to it.” She winked.
I couldn’t even find a thank you around the thickness in my throat, but she didn’t seem to care. Just before she left, she turned once more, and I saw the joy written on every inch of her face.
“Welcome home, Emersyn.”
Once she left, I walked around the room just touching things, convinced I was hallucinating all of this because really, what were the odds I’d found my father again?
Once I’d run out of things to look at, I locked the door—because old habits die hard—and moved on to the bathroom.
Like the bedroom, it was simple and clean, but looked expensive.
I started the shower and waited for the water to heat up.
I risked a peek at myself in the mirror.
I was a bit battered still, but everyone in this house looked like they’d just gotten back from a war, so I didn’t feel out of place with my various cuts and scrapes.
I took my time in the shower and half-expected the water to run cold, but it never did. When I got out, I blowdried my hair and even moisturized. It was amazing what a little pampering could do because after I was done, I looked and smelled like a new woman.
The clothes Kaelin had set out were workout leggings, a sports bra and a t-shirt.
I wished Seven was here to give me one of his sweatshirts.
The thought hit me out of nowhere, and I choked on a breath.
The idea that I might actually miss him was absurd after knowing him for such a short time, but I missed that dark, mischievous look in his eyes whenever he was about to say something cheeky.
The fact that he was gone—not just gone, dead—made me feel like something was missing.
Something that I hadn’t even gotten a real shot at experiencing, which somehow made it worse.
When there was nothing left to do, I hovered at the door. I put my hand on the knob and anxiety hit me. I could hear the hum of voices downstairs. This house was a hive of activity and all of a sudden I was nervous. I didn’t know these people. I didn’t know this house.
Before my thoughts could spiral, I opened the door and stepped out into the hall.
I walked past the room next to mine to see the door open about a foot.
Griffin sat on the edge of the bed, head in his hands.
Something in my chest tugged until I found myself pushing open his door further.
He lifted his head, and I saw a haunted look in his eyes before it disappeared in favor of what I can only describe as unguarded awe.
“I was going to head down…” I trailed off as he approached.
His proximity made my blood run hot, and my breath caught when he raised his hand and brushed a lock of my hair aside.
“You look beautiful,” he murmured.
I blushed. Hard. “Well, Mahoney didn’t exactly have a hair dryer I could use…” I said dryly.
He rumbled a reply, his eyes fixated on mine, and the tension between us thickened as his fingers lightly rubbed a strand of my hair between his fingers.
A knock on the half-open door caused us to jump apart like teenagers. My heart lurched into my throat, and I turned to see a man that sparked a vague memory I couldn’t place.
“Hey, Griff,” he said. “I just got in—North said I missed all the action earlier.”
“Hey, Knight,” Griffin embraced him, and his face lightened slightly. “Good to see you, man.”
Knight’s eyes jumped to mine and a gentle familiarity settled on his face. “Emersyn. Last time I saw you, you were this small.” He grinned and put his hand about three or four feet off the ground. “So, I don’t think you’ll remember me, but I’m an old friend of your father’s from our teams days.”
He held out his hand. “Trent Knight.”
That’s where I’d seen him before—a photo from the military in my dad’s office. I shook it with a tentative, polite smile. He looked back at Griffin and gripped his shoulder.
“Really glad you both are back home safe,” Knight said. “But, I really came up here to tell you Nyx has dinner ready.”
“I’m good,” Griffin said, but Knight shook his head.
“Afraid that’s not going to work. He said if either of you refused to come down I’m supposed to take drastic measures. North threatened nuclear war if we all didn’t sit down to eat together.”
“Is that a regular thing around here?” I asked.
Knight chuckled. “What? Family dinner? Hell no! Usually we’re all begging Nyx to cook for us, or raiding the fridge for leftovers.”
Knight headed toward the door. “Seriously though, he’s trying, and it’s cute so don’t blow this.” He looked one last time between the two of us and smirked. “Especially if this is going to be a thing. You need to get in the father’s good graces and all.”
Griffin flipped him off, but he just laughed his way down the hall.