Sleet Banshee by S.J. Tilly
CHAPTER FORTY-NINE
MEGHAN
Everyone is silent for a moment before Sebastian says, “Oh.”
It’s hard to read his tone off that single syllable, but he sounds surprised. Taken off guard. And then I feel his body relax against mine. I hadn’t realized how coiled he was, but since he’s still holding me tight to his side I can feel the softening of his muscles.
Then it clicks. The tension. The faceoff with my brothers. The scowl. The grabbing and the kissing.
A bark of laughter escapes my lips. He looks down at me and I’m sure he can see the humor in my eyes.
I smirk. “Oh my god, you thought…”
Sebastian’s grip on my waist releases and in a flash his arm is wrapped around my shoulders, his large hand covering my mouth.
“Brothers, of course. Nice to meet you guys.” He reaches his free hand out to Marv. “Which one of you played goalie?”
My traitor brothers don’t even care that Sebastian is physically silencing me. They all shake hands and start telling stories about putting Marv in goal before he knew how to skate.
Marv laughs. “These assholes didn’t even take the time to teach me. I had to play in my tennis shoes that first winter.”
I cannot believe that Sebastian thought I was on a date with my brother. Gross.
And I cannot believe that they’re all acting like I’m not even here anymore.
Screw that. Parting my lips, I stick my tongue out and lick Sebastian’s hand.
He has no reaction. None.
I do it again.
And feel his bicep flex against the back of my neck. That’s it.
Guess I need to escalate.
Opening my mouth a little farther, I bite the underside of his finger. Hard.
He grunts and yanks his hand away from my face, shaking it out. “Fuck, Banshee. That hurt.”
I pat his chest. “Suck it up, big guy.”
“Banshee?” Miles asks.
I step towards him, pointing a finger as I talk. “No. None of you get to call me that.” I glare at them all. “Don’t even think it.”
“Aww, why not? It’s perfect for you, you little psychopath.” Max says pouting.
Sebastian chuckles behind me. “Yeah, Baby, why not?”
I whirl on him. “And you! Don’t call me Baby.”
Sebastian looks right over my head to my brothers. “Has she always been like this?”
“Difficult?”
“Crazy?”
“Annoying?”
I shut my eyes and shake my head. Goddess grant me the strength to survive this encounter.
Katelyn pops her head into our group. “Hey, do you guys want to come over to our place for a little bit?”
An image of my brothers and Sebastian ganging up and trading stories flashes before my eyes. But before I can decline, my brothers are all agreeing.
Oh, bother.
“Great! Meghan has our address. We’re heading out now, so we’ll see you there in a bit!” She waves and takes off.
Sebastian’s hand grips the back of my neck. “Text your brothers the address. You’re riding with me.”
“Okay.”
I pull my phone out and send the location in a group text to all three of them. “There’s a parking lot under the building, and the apartment is on the top floor.”
The guys nod, but Miles steps up, looking at Sebastian. “I trust you’ll get there the same time as us. No lengthy detours.”
“Miles! Can you not?” I feel my cheeks heating.
Miles looks at me. “You might be old now, but you’re still our sister. And Ash might be an amazing hockey player, but we don’t know him.”
His unspoken words are clear to me. They only know what I’ve told him. When I cried over him.
Sebastian nods. “We’ll be right behind you. Promise.”
