“Hey Eddie.”
“Amaury, sorry, didn’t mean to disturb. Why don’t I visit some other time?” He turned away, but Amaury’s hand on his shoulder pulled him back.
“You’re here now. Might as well come in.”
“Eddie?” Nina’s voice came from the living room. “Is everything okay?”
Eddie entered and saw his sister get up from the couch, her hands pulling her T-shirt straight.
She shot him a concerned look. Behind him, Amaury closed the door.
“Yeah, sure, I’m all right. Why shouldn’t I be? I was just in the neighborhood and wanted to say hi. Can’t I say hi to my sister?”
“Of course you can.” She came toward him and threw her arms around him, squeezing him.
He returned the hug, holding her for longer than usual, until he heard Amaury grunt behind him. Rolling his eyes, he released her. “How you can stomach that man of yours day in and day out, I have no idea.”
Nina boxed him in the arm and admonished him, “Eddie!”
“So you’ve come to insult me?” Amaury asked and braced his hands on his hips.
Eddie grinned. “I hadn’t planned on it, but you bring out the best in me every time.”
Amaury laughed. “Cut from the same cloth as your sister.” He ran a loving look over his mate.
When his and Nina’s eyes locked, Eddie felt a never-known longing surging in him. He wanted what they had: a love so strong that nothing could tear it apart.
“I should go. You guys have better things to do than entertain me.”
Amaury tore his gaze from Nina, then motioned to the couch. “No, stay. I would offer you some blood, but I don’t have any here.”
Eddie had figured as much. Since Amaury only drank Nina’s blood, he didn’t keep any supplies of bottled blood at hand. “Doesn’t matter. I’m not thirsty.” He dropped onto the couch, and Nina and Amaury joined him.
“Been out on patrol?” Amaury asked.
Eddie nodded. “Yeah. Aren’t you on duty too? I thought I saw your name on the roster.”
His brother-in-law shrugged. “I changed shifts with one of the guys.”
Eddie tossed a sideways glance at Nina. “Nina’s idea?”
Amaury chuckled.
“I’m right here, guys, so don’t pretend I can’t hear you,” Nina interrupted. Then she put her hand on Amaury’s arm. “Baby, why don’t you get me a pint of chocolate ice cream from the store?”
“Now?”
“Yes, now. I’d be really grateful if you did.” She batted her eyelashes at him.
“How grateful?” Amaury whispered, his voice softer than before.
“Very grateful.”
Eddie groaned inwardly. Did those two really have to lay it on that thick? It was nauseating!
Amaury got up and walked to the door. “Back in a few.”
The moment the door fell shut behind Amaury, Nina turned to him, her face serious. “Now tell me what’s going on.”
“What do you mean?”
She reached her hand out to him. “May I introduce myself? I’m Nina, your sister. And I’ve known you all your life. So don’t bullshit me. You never show up here unannounced. In fact, I rarely see you unless there’s a party.”
“You’ve never complained before. Besides, I don’t want to intrude on your little love nest.”
Nina tilted her head to the side. “And I’m not complaining now either. I’m just stating a fact.” She paused and sighed. “Eddie, I know this look. Something is bothering you.”
He shouldn’t have come here. His sister had a way of squeezing information out of him that he didn’t want to share. Because how could he even start a conversation about what had happened between him and Thomas? No, nobody could ever find out about it.
“Nothing’s bothering me. I just wanted to hang out with you.”
“Mhm.”
“What?”
Nina tucked her legs underneath her. “You were always such a bad liar, even as a child.”
“What’s that got to do with anything?”
“Spill.”
He sighed. “Fine. I came to ask you for advice. I was thinking of getting my own place,” he lied.
She raised her eyebrows. “You mean move out from Thomas’s?”
“Yes. I mean, I’ve got myself under control now. I’ve learned to handle my vampire skills. I won’t need any mentoring anymore.”
“Well, it’s been over a year. You haven’t had any episodes of bloodlust, have you?”