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Once again, Rylan was shocked that they cared enough to ask.

“It’s been absolutely fantastic. Never thought I’d actually get to work at the Royal Institute. It’s obviously a huge step up from the station on that moon.”

“I can only imagine,” Carmen chimed in.

“And working alongside your sister has been a dream, of course. You know how smart she is. Every day, she shows me just how brilliant she is. Just when I think I’ve seen it all, she does it again.”

“Yeah,” Sofia said, “that’s our Elena.”

Rylan looked over at her. She looked beautiful even as she shoved her food in her mouth.

“Together, I don’t think there is any project we can’t tackle. There is no problem this distinguished group of royal scientists can throw at us that’ll trip us up. Together, we’re nothing short of unstoppable.”

“Elena always was the smart one,” Carmen added.

“Of course, she is. She just needs someone who will remind her to stop working long enough to eat and sleep.”

Elena tried to protest, but her mouth was full of food.

Rylan and Elena’s sisters all laughed.

“Yes, she definitely needs that,” Sofia said. “And you think you can do that? Take care of our girl in that way?”

“Yeah,” Rylan said confidently. “I think so… Well, I mostly can. She can be as stubborn as she is smart.”

Both sisters nodded in agreement.

“But,” Rylan continued. “There is no one I’d rather argue with about when it’s time for dinner. Or when is a good time to go to bed. Or wake up. For her, I’m happy to do it all.”

“You better be,” Elena said after swallowing the last of her lunch. “It’s time to get back to work.”

Elena stood up and hugged her sisters. She then looked at Rylan, holding out her hand for him to take.

“Right,” he said. “Let’s get back to it. Carmen and Sofia, wonderful to see you as always. We should do this again if I can drag Elena from her work.”

“Even if you can’t,” Carmen said. “We’re happy to eat and chat with just you. You’re in the family now. Get used to it.”

Rylan stood up and took Elena’s hand as they headed back to work. As they walked together, Rylan came to a realization.

He could get used to it. All of it. Working with Elena. Spending every day with her. Lunches with her sisters. Trips to the spa. Private chefs on special occasions. He could get used to it all.

As long as he was with her, he knew everything would be all right.