Page 50 of A Hal for my Heart

Hal chuckled, stroking my stomach fondly. “I guess I need to wash you. Thoroughly.”

I had zero objections.

Freshly cleaned and well fucked, I left our rooms and joined Elias and Seb. They shared a knowing look, then snickered as I entered on wobbly legs. Rolling my eyes, my cheeks heated.

“So,” Elias began, waggling his brows. “We heard Hal was given the all clear.”

“How did you know that?” I asked. It wasn’t like Doctor Aron to talk about other patients so freely.

“Um,” Seb cleared his throat. “We heard, Briar. Everyone did.”

“Gods,” I breathed. I was going to die of embarrassment.

“It’s no big deal,” Elias said, waving it off. “We’re all happily mated here.”

“And you two deserved to be intimate again,” Seb smiled, only adding to my mortification.

“Can we not talk about it?” I pleaded, clutching my ears. “I just want to work and pretend like this never happened.”

They both laughed at that. “Sure.”

“How is Hal really doing?” Seb asked once we were all sitting and looking through our notes on what the new advisor needed to learn.

“He seems back to his old self. I know he isn’t, but he’s doing well.”

“And he’s excited about his new responsibilities here?” Elias asked, handing Seb a new piece of paper.

Nodding, I grabbed a pen. “He seems happy. I think the fact that he can use his hands will do him good.”

“And the horses could really use more space to roam,” Seb added.

Hal had been tasked with building a new fenced-in area for all the horses, and it was going to be huge. It would likely take Hal months to build, but Gus had seemed like an eager puppy when he’d learned of it, offering his services to help Hal with the project. I doubted those two would mind spending a few hours together each day, goofing around and having fun.

“Sin has accepted my request and will remain here in the palace,” Seb added. “He wants to babysit, which means Elias and I will have more time to work now.”

“As will Gus,” I grinned.

Seb smiled at that. “He’s so excited. Lumi and Ember took up a lot of his time, but with them now happy in Sin’s care, Gus can spend more time with his chosen brother, something I think they both need.”

Elias nodded, looking down at whatever he was writing as Seb continued. “He was terrified of losing Hal. Gus might not show it, but it hit him hard when he saw Hal injured like that.”

I hadn’t even realized how much it would affect Gus to see a man he viewed as family almost dying. I’d been so selfish in those moments, thinking I was the only one there who truly loved Hal, which was ridiculous. Hal was loved by Gus and their fathers; I’d seen as much. Gus had just been kind enough to let me have Hal all to myself. Originally, I’d planned on surprising Hal with lunch today, but now I decided to postpone it for another day. Gus needed his brother right now, and I knew Hal needed him, too.

“I think we should make sure the kitchen staff will bring them lunch today,” I said, smiling. “I bet they’re going to have too much fun to want to stop.”

Seb laughed. “Good idea. Then the three of us can eat in the garden and chat. I’ve missed that.”

“Me too,” Elias and I said in unison.

I’d missed these moments with my best friends, and suddenly I couldn’t wait for lunch. I had so much to catch up on and share with them. And now I no longer had any secrets to keep.

“Stop smiling and get to work,” Seb teased, handing me a pen.

“Yes, Your Majesty,” I grinned, just feeling so damn happy my body could hardly contain it.

Epilogue

Hal