Page 135 of The Scarab's Game

Epilogue

EMMETT

Two months later…

I scanned the room, taking in Scarlett and Malcolm’s house. The air was thick with the aroma of roasted meats, mulled cider, and so many sweets I couldn’t distinguish one from another. All around us, the Reynolds crew mingled with their significant others, Scarlett’s friends Heather and Kelley, and a handful of faces I didn’t recognize. It was a potluck dinner in October, perfect for what Malcolm had planned.

He stood in the archway separating the dining and living rooms, his usual cool replaced by an uncharacteristic nervousness.

“You sure everything’s a go?” I asked in a low voice, doing my best not to laugh at my best friend.

Malcolm swallowed hard. He wore his favorite cologne, had spent a half hour on his hair, and was wearing the cream half-zip sweater Scarlett loved him in best. “Tell me I’m not about to make a fool out of myself.”

I clapped him on the shoulder. “You looked calmer when we were facing down the armed clowns in April.”

“That was only our lives at risk,” Malcolm muttered. “This is a lot scarier shit.”

“Much scarier, but the payoff’s far better.” I nodded, feigning gravity. “Or significantly worse.”

With a chuckle, I turned to see Jenn standing at the dining room table. She selected food, placing bite-sized pieces on a small paper plate.

The sight of her sent a rush of emotions through me—desire, love, and a fraction of the nerves Malcolm was experiencing. “Just give me enough time to maneuver Jenn into the room. She won’t want to miss it.”

Malcolm’s face practically blanched. “You have ten minutes. Any more, and I’m ducking out like a coward.”

I laughed before leaving his side for Jenn’s. As I approached her, she smiled at me—a beaming smile that warmed me from the inside.

“What’s with Mal?” she asked. “He doesn’t seem like himself tonight.”

I slid my hand down her left arm, over the Love bracelet she still wore—without the tracker—and over the custom-made bracelet that held the blue scarab from Naukratis. I pressed my lips to her cheek. “We got a text from Evelyn.”

Jenn’s brow furrowed. “Was she supposed to be here?”

I sighed inwardly, thinking about how my mother had become obsessed with mission planning since Enzo’s revelation about framing my father. “We’re flying out tomorrow for a short recon job. Shouldn’t be more than two days.”

Jenn put her plate down and placed her hands on my chest. “Shouldn’t be?”

Over the past couple of months, I’d done a lot of local work. The job we were preparing for would be the first long, high-risk trip I’d leave her for.

“I can’t give you the specifics,” I said, “but it got me thinking…”

Jenn tilted her head, curiosity replacing the worry in her expression. “Thinking what?”

I took a deep breath, steeling myself. Malcolm was waiting for us. I didn’t have time to hem and haw over this.Just say it, man.“We’ve spent almost every free minute together since we returned from Monaco. I want to make it more permanent. More than one drawer and your own toothbrush.”

Jenn’s eyes went wide. “Two drawers?”

I couldn’t help but brush my thumb over her cheek. “Let’s stop pretending this might be temporary. When I get home, I want you to move in with me.”

Jenn inhaled deeply, her gaze drifting back to the table behind her. The silence stretched between us, and a sinking fear settled in my gut. Was I rushing things? I glanced over at Malcolm, who gave me ahurry-upsignal.

“Unless…” I started, but my throat was too thick to continue.

Jenn snapped her attention back to me. “No unless.” She threw her arms around my neck, linking her wrists there. “I was thinking about my father. He’s part of my life, too. You think you can handle that?”

I winked at her. “You may not remember me tossing Enzo off a yacht, but?—”

“My dad’s pretty scary. But in the end, he wants me happy.” She lifted onto her tiptoes and gave me a peck on the lips. “And that’s what you make me. So if you’re willing to deal with him…”

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