Page 135 of The Hero Within
"Adam?" she asked sharply, a fist of anxiety lodging in her throat. She'd hoped he'd be pleased. "I'm happy. Please be happy for me—"
Adam dragged her into a tight hug, thumping her back. "I am happy for you," he choked out. "You just took me by surprise."
"Squeezing... too... tight...."
He let her go, and Eden smiled up at him tremulously. Adam brushed a tear from his eye.
"Jeez, big guy," she teased, poking him in the ribs. "Anyone would think you were the one pumped full of hormones at the moment."
"Something in my eye."
"Yeah, yeah."
"We might be adding to our family in the near future too," he admitted.
Her heart swelled. "Mia's—"
"No." Adam shook his head. "Mia was raised by a foster family who took her in when she was little. She strongly believes there are too many orphaned children out here in the Wastelands who need parents. It's a hard world. And I had a hand in raising Lily for a few years. They were some of the best years of my life, so... we've been discussing adoption."
Eden gave a cry of delight and squeezed her arms around him. "That's perfect. You'd be a great father."
He cleared his throat. "Speaking of perfect, we'd better get you out there before your groom starts to get nervous and thinks I've kidnapped you."
Eden smuggled a smile as she drew back. "You're starting to like him."
"Am not."
"Are too," she said.
Adam rested his hands on her shoulders, his gray-green eyes gleaming suspiciously. "You've always been my baby sister, and to see you today like this.... Mom and Dad would have been so proud, and I know—" The word came out choked. "Shit."
He turned away, scrubbing at his mouth.
"Adam?"
He promptly held out his arm, waving her away. Couldn't get the words out right now.
She leaned up and kissed his cheek, accepting his arm. "Thank you," she whispered. "For all you've done for me over the years. And thank you for being here for me today."
He offered her his arm again.
The door banged open, and Riley stuck her head through. "What the hell are you guys doing in here?" She narrowed her brown eyes on Adam. "If you try and make a run for it with her, I will track you down and drag her back. Bridesmaid promise."
"Can everyone just relax?" he growled. "We're coming. I just needed a moment to say goodbye to my sister."
"We're living three houses down from you," Eden protested. They'd stayed at Absolution for the first month, before she grew tired of people staring at the warg in their midst. Some things never changed. Lucky for her, most of her family lived in Haven. It hadn't been a difficult decision at all. "I'm not going anywhere."
"No, you're not," he said, escorting her toward the door. "But now you'll officially belong to him."
"Oh God," Riley muttered. "You haven't changed a bit, McClain. You are so old-fashioned."
"Have you ever thought maybe it's the other way around?" Eden added. "Maybe I'm doing this for Johnny, so he feels like he belongs to me?"
Adam looked at her sharply.
"Johnny doesn't have a family," Eden pointed out. "I want him to be mine, and to feel welcome in my world. It's been hard for him. He's never spent much time around people, and he hates his past so much it creates a little bit of a wall between him and others. But now they'll be his people too. Maybe it will help him feel like this is his home."
Adam sighed. "If he starts calling me his brother—"
