Page 111 of Stolen Fate

I let out a quiet groan and three sets of eyes turned my way, two expressing their amusement, and another, innocent concern.

“Are you okay, Evelyn?” Elliot asked me.

I smiled at him. “I’m fine, sweetie. Now, do you want your after-school snack?”

Elliot smiled and wiggled in Jace’s arms. “Down, Daddy. I want down.”

Jace put Elliot down before he could fall and Elliot ran toward me, holding out his arms. I crouched down and picked him up, settling him on the tall barstool by the kitchen island and placing the plate with his crustless ham and cheese sandwich in front of him.

“Thank you, Evelyn,” Elliot said, grabbing the sandwich and taking a huge bite.

“Careful. You don’t want to take too much and choke. Here, have some water.”

He grinned at me, showing off a full set of small white teeth, the food still in his mouth. I laughed and moved his hair back from his forehead. It wasn’t until a few seconds later that I realized how quiet the kitchen had gotten.

I’d almost forgotten both Jace and Jensen were there, and when I turned back toward them, both men were looking at me with the same gentle look in their eyes.

The intensity of their attention startled me a little, but I offered a small smile.

Jace walked over to me, and he surprised me when he wrapped his arms around my waist and pulled me in close.

I looked around, trying to get away. I didn’t want Elliot to think too much about this gesture, and I didn’t want Jensen to think I was unprofessional, but Jensen had gone to the fridge for some beer, and Elliot was busy eating.

“Hey, baby. Did you miss me today?”

I looked down at his gray tie and nodded shyly. God, when did I get like this? I was never shy, not even when I was little. A little quiet, sure, but that was what happened when you had a little sister who outshone almost anyone simply by walking into the room.

Yet, Jace made me shy.

And I didn’t know if that was a good thing or not.

“I did miss you,” I admitted quietly.

He smiled a little, his blue eyes twinkling, and speaking quietly, he said, “Good. Cause I fucking missed you.”

I played with his tie, tracing the slight crease there with my finger. Jace covered my hand with his own, stopping my movements. “Later. We can play later when Jensen goes home and Elliot’s in bed.”

Jace winked and I had to stop myself from grinning too wide like the total loser I was feeling. I moved away from him instead and put some distance between us. Now was not the time to act like a lovesick fool, even when I could clearly see how his blue eyes had turned playful and it was taking everything in me not to jump him right then and there.

I turned back to Jensen and found his eyes on us, a weird look on his face. He seemed… almost pleased, which was a strange look to be receiving from a stranger, but I wasn’t going to point it out.

Jace grabbed the beer that Jensen handed him and turned to me. “How was your day?”

“Good,” I said. “Elliot’s doing better today, too. He’s almost back to normal, and I don’t think we have to worry much more about it.”

I didn’t tell Jace that Elliot had spent the night in my arms, though he probably knew, considering he didn’t wake Elliot up for school today.

“That’s good.’

“You’re home early,” I commented. It was early, even for Jace. The only other time he came home as early was when he had promised Elliot he would take him on that picnic. That day felt like it happened years ago, not mere weeks. So much had happened in such a short span of time, and I was still reeling from it all.

“Yes, I figured I’d come home and spend time with my two favorite people.” His eyes twinkled as he said it, and I couldn’t help the pleased smile that came over my face.

I got it bad.

Jace moved his eyes to Jensen. “It’s too bad I couldn’t get rid of the stray that followed me home.”

“Hey,” Jensen said, though he was smiling, so I knew he wasn’t really offended by any of it. “You’re lucky to have me in your life. I brighten up your day by simply being here. Right, Elliot?”

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