Page 116 of The Echo of Forever

Maybe it’ll work, maybe it won’t, but I had to believe the intention was to help and never hurt or hinder.

“The memory is never attached,” I said after guzzling down half the bottle of water. “Were we close?”

She nodded.

“You’re my family. I’ve been telling you my secrets since…” I tipped my head, and she shook hers. “We can talk about that another day, when my brother isn’t lurking with his bionic hearing. Needless to say, Oliver and I love you.”

The urge to say I loved them too was so strong, but I held it in, not wanting to speak on what I didn’t understand yet. And thankfully, Demetrius’s footsteps on the stairs ended our conversation for now, but I had plans to talk to her more. To get to know her again.

“Did you handle your business?” Demetrius asked, eyes on Solei.

She sighed and rolled her eyes, but responded with respect.

“Yes, I handled my business, father. Everything is everything for now.”

Her gaze slid my way, and she smiled.

“Later, babe. Oliver and I have something to do.”

She left in a hurry, and I could tell it was to avoid being questioned by the man standing behind me with his arms around my waist.

“You smell like you belong to me,” he murmured, pressing his nose behind my ear. “Did you take the ibuprofen?”

I nodded, and he hugged me tighter.

“Thank you for trusting the people I trust.”

I leaned into him and closed my eyes.

“I’m just following my intuition,” I said softly.

We stood in silence for a while, both content in the moment before he released me and turned my body toward the door.

“Take a walk with me.”

I allowed him to lead me in the direction Tristian had walked, and at the end of the path, right where it curved into another one, there was a playground with a basketball court attached.

The kids from earlier were wreaking havoc as they should, while an older group of boys and two girls played basketball.

“Tristian!” I yelled, waving both hands before jogging over.

Demetrius followed more casually, not interfering but keeping a close eye as expected. He was letting me feel out my new home.

“She’s got the arms of a shooting guard,” one of the boys said, looking like he caused trouble on a daily. “I’m Tank. The smarter, better, and younger version of him.”

He hooked his thumb in Tristian’s direction and threw me the ball; it was unexpected, meant to catch me off guard, but I caught and went up for a shot without dribbling.

“Oh, shit,” the girl with blunt cut bangs said, covering her mouth with a fist as I backed away with a smile.

“I know Tristian told you guys, but I’m Forever. When I have time, I’ll join in,” I said, wiggling fingers at them before turning toward my husband. “Where we headed?”

He looked over his shoulder at the kids and took my hand, a tiny grin on his face that felt more smug than anything.

“Security house. I want to give you access to enter and leave as you please,” he said, tipping his head toward the house that looked more like a bunker at the end of the road.

I frowned.

“Do I need to give my fingerprints? Or do a retina scan?”