Page 166 of Cheap Shot

The nurse apologized and Brie shot Luke a sidelong glance, clearly surprised by his comment. He shrugged. At this point, there wasn’t much point in hiding anything.

Especially when Sebastian walked in a moment later, carrying a bag of food and a tray of drinks.

“Oh! Uh, hey, what are you doing here?” he asked, glancing at Luke.

“Wanted to see how Harper was doing,” Luke explained, then reached for the tray of drinks. “Need some help?”

“Yeah, thanks.”

As Luke took the drinks, Sebastian leaned in and brushed his lips across Luke’s cheek. “How was practice?”

“Okay,” Luke said. “Told the team about us.”

Sebastian blinked. “Really?”

“Really,” Luke confirmed. “Hey, do you want to come to a thing at O’Neill’s Pub with me tonight?”

“Uhh, sure,” Sebastian said. “Sorry I didn’t get you food by the way. I didn’t know you were coming.”

“It’s fine. I ate at HCI.”

“Good.”

When Luke leaned over to offer the drinks to Brie, she was staring at them wide-eyed. “So this is serious-serious then?”

“What is?” Harper asked. “What’s serious?”

“I’m dating Mr. Luke,” Sebastian said.

Harper squealed. “Yay! This is the best day ever.”

Brie grimaced. “I really prefer the ones where you’re not in the hospital, kid.”

“But Uncle Sebby is Mr. Luke’s Ducky. I love this for us!” Harper clapped her hands together, then picked up the stuffed bunny. “Did you hear that, Mr. Bun-Bun?”

Sebastian chuckled and looked at his sister. “Where on earth did she pick up ‘I love this for us’?”

Brie sighed. “I have no idea. Now give me my lunch, Seb. I’mstarving.”

“I should have been there,” Brie said, later that day as they walked around the courtyard of the hospital.

Harper was getting testing done and they had some time to kill. Luke had gone home and Sebastian and Brie had been wandering around the soggy garden, enjoying the last of the warm spring day.

“Should have been home when Harper collapsed?” Sebastian guessed when his sister didn’t continue.

“Yeah, what was I thinking?” she asked, twisting her hair up in a clip. “Going out like that?”

“I don’t know,” Sebastian said drily. “Maybe attempting to have a life of your own?”

“I can’t have a life of my own, not when Harper is?—”

“Sick?” Sebastian said bluntly. “You have a kid with a chronic condition, Brie. She’s always been sick and she’ll always be sick.”

“Fuck!” Brie burst into tears.

Horrified, Sebastian put his arms around her and pulled her close, holding her until the sobs slowed to hiccups. He rubbed her back and said, “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have?—”

“No, you’re right. You’re right and I know it.” She pulled back, wiping at her eyes. “It’s just so fucking hard to admit, you know?”