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"God, if you were reading up on Seb’s foibles, I’ uys here are handso All handsoreen Sherbet uy seems more aristocratic than any of them

Or maybe he’s just stuck up

"Wasn’t aware tabloids counted as ‘research,’" Miles says, folding his arms over his chest, and okay, yeah, definitely stuck up

I cross iven to read in America," I say "Tabloids for books, sad slices of cheese in plastic for lunchIt’s truly a godforsaken place"

Gilly hoots at that, elbowing Miles in the ribs "Bliives rimace, and I’m tempted to ask what his problem is

But before I can, Seb strides to the ne "A toast!" he calls, and Sherbet approaches carrying several flutes of bubbly I take a glass and thank his back, still watching his brother with this wary expression, his head tilted down slightly

"To Alex and Ellie," Seb says, and the rest of us lift our glasses with him

"To Alex and Ellie," we repeat, and I take the tiniest sip of chane The bubbles tickle my nose, and I wrinkle it as I look for solass

I’ve just turned toward a little table near the sofa when the front door opens with a crash

"What in the hell is going on here?"

Or at least I think that’s what theout fro nearly to his sternum, and his accent is so thick that the words aresound

Still, there’s nothe fact that he’s really pissed

In the al," he says, his own Scottish accent musical but comprehensible "You weren’t supposed to be here today"

"What?" Ellie asks, looking between Seb and the ht "Sebastian--" he starts

Thefast and furious, his cheeks scarlet above his white beard, and there’s a lot of pointing and possibly cursing, and while I have no idea what’s being said, it doesn’t seem all that friendly

"Cal back his chaonna pay for the place"

Ellie’s head swings to the side to look at Seb "Wait, what? I thought you said you bought this house"

Sighing, Seb shoves his hands in his pockets and rocks back on his heels "Well, I’entleman will just be reasonable"

"Uht now?" I ask, glancing around the farives me an easy sht be an unwitting accomplice to a crime, I still feel my stomach flutter at that endearment