Page 105 of Guarded Knight

Café Luna is already halffull when we walk in, the smell of espresso and warm pastries wrapping around me, a hug I didn’t know I needed. The girls rush ahead of us, arguing over who gets to sit next to Gabriel, which is ridiculous because we all know the answer.

“I’m sitting next to Uncle G!” Poppy declares, already tossing her jacket on the booth like she’s laying claim.

“I called it in the car,” Daisy huffs.

Gabriel lifts both hands like he’s stepping into a war zone. “I’m one man alone but I’m willing to sacrifice…” He reaches for a butter knife on a set table we pass. “One of you is going to have to cut me in half.”

He offers the knife to each one of the girls, and they refuse by shaking their heads while giggling like that’s the funniest thing they’ve ever heard.

Gabriel shuffles into a booth, and lets them climb in on either side of him like it’s the most natural thing in the world. Which, of course, it is. This man’s been half-uncle, half-human jungle gym since they were in diapers.

He’s so good with them. I’ve seen it before. From a distance. But now we’re being good with them together, and an ache builds behind my ribcage. This is normal life, and it seems like we could kick ass at it.

But also… if Gabriel does find his normal, if he can stop running, wouldn’t he want someone who could have kids?

I take a chair across from them, giving Xander the seat beside me. He’s watching everything—quiet, observant. Big-brothering.

Gabriel picks up a menu, and instantly, Poppy smashes into his side to tease him. “They don’t have any food for Grumpzillas here.”

He wiggles his fingers flashing a faux menacing expression and baring teeth. “Well, I guess you’ll taste good after eating those chocolate muffins.”

Then he tickles her, and she giggles again.

The girls love him. Always have. Even I have to compete for their attention around him, and while Gabriel and I weren’t talking, it bothered me a little. Now, it just feels like another beautiful thing we could share.

I’m smiling so hard watching them my cheeks hurt.

The waitress comes over and takes our order. I’m not hungry yet. Maybe I won’t be until Xander leaves because I can’t stop thinking about how hard it will be to hide my feelings for G around him. I shouldn’t have to. But now isn’t the time. Firstly, Gabriel and I are feeling things out, secondly, Xander looks tired as hell, and no surprise, a new high-powered job and two girls to take care of on his own must be exhausting.

Xander taps the edge of the laminated menu on the table, and the waitress arrives. “Two chocolate muffins, two orange juices, a black coffee, and…” He gazes between me and Gabriel.

“Black coffee,” Gabriel answers.

I’m not hungry but I always drink. “A latte, an orange juice, and could I get a glass of water, too, please?”

The waitress nods and heads off.

“Glad to see you’re getting your fluids,” Xander says.

“Yeah, it’s a surprise I’m able to take care of myself. I’m only thirty-four.”

“Shoot me for caring,” he answers back, “I only have one little sister to annoy.”

Daisy whines. “I don’t have a little sister to annoy.”

Poppy interjects. “You said we could get a dog.”

Xander sighs, not like he doesn’t like the request, but more like he wishes he could grant it. He definitely can’t handle a dog, too.

Gabriel saves him.

“Dogs are a lot of responsibility,” he says, then lowers his voice like he’s letting them in on a secret. “You know what the first test is?”

Both girls lean in. “What?”

“You have to keep a house plant alive. For six whole months. No forgetting, no skipping watering days, no blaming your sister if it dies.”

Poppy’s features are stone-cold serious. “We could do that.”