Whispered Promises

Musketeers

The light of the sun filtering through the window woke Brie, and she was surprised to find herself in bed with Sir. She had no memory of what happened after she drifted into subspace with Tono, but she could still feel the glorious remnants of that high.

Smiling, she turned slowly in the bed to look at Sir. Whenever she caught him sleeping, his relaxed expression had a boyish look to it—but not this morning. She could see lines of concern on his forehead, and his lips were flattened into a tense line.

Even in sleep, he could not find any rest or escape.

Brie was worried for him. She understood the pressure he was under. Sir was determined to help her heal while watching over the kids and continuing to work. All of it was taking a heavy toll on him.

She attempted to slip out of bed unnoticed so he could sleep in, but the moment her foot touched the floor she heard him ask, “Did you sleep well?”

“I did, Sir,” she answered, turning to him. “But I didn’t mean to wake you.”

He sat up in bed. “I wasn’t sleeping well anyway.”

She looked at him with concern. “How are you doing, Sir?”

He failed to answer her. After a few tense seconds, however, his eyes softened. “I was happy to come home and hear you had a breakthrough with Nosaka. I haven’t seen you fly that high in a long time, babygirl.”

Brie thought back to yesterday and shivered. “I was shocked when I felt nothing at first. But Tono was able to explain why, and he never wavered in his confidence that I would experience flight again.”

She crinkled her brow. “What happened to Tono?”

He chuckled. “Nosaka stayed several hours after I returned home, and we talked while he attended to your aftercare. He’s currently on a plane headed home as we speak.”

Brie frowned. “I’m sad I didn’t get the chance to thank him.”

Sir smiled, reaching out to graze her jaw with his thumb. “Trust me. Seeing you in subspace was the only thanks he wanted.”

Brie tilted her head, turning her attention back on Sir. “How did it go with my parents?”

His hesitancy to answer her question spoke volumes.

Looking at him with sympathy, she said, “I feel guilty for enjoying myself when you were stuck dealing with my unreasonable father.”

“Guilt has no place here, babygirl. I chose to speak with him.”

“But my parents are needlessly causing you stress.”

Sir shook his head. “You mean our parents. Bill and Marcy accepted me into the family with open arms, and a disagreement between us doesn’t change that.”

Brie growled. “I hate that my dad is being such an asshole to you!”

Sir held up his hand to stop her. “I don’t want to hear you speaking about your father in that way. He may be overbearing and hardheaded, but he loves you. You should reserve those words for people who hurt you with deliberate malice.”

She realized he was talking about his mother and half-sister, and it gutted her. Sir deserved only the best from others. Unfortunately, he had experienced the worst—from members of his own family.

Brie looked at him with admiration. “If my father truly understood what an exceptional person you are, he would bow at your feet.”

Sir laughed uncomfortably and smirked. “That is something I hope I never see.”

Brie was excited when Lea called and invited her to hang out at her place. When she arrived, she was pleasantly surprised to learn that Mary would be joining them.

“How the heck did you convince her to come?”

Lea grinned. “I told you Mary can’t resist my jokes. Although she claims she never read a single one that I sent, I know her. Mary’s a closet Lea fan, no doubt about it.”

Brie laughed. “Whether she secretly loves your jokes or not, what you did made a real difference to her. Thanks for being you, girlfriend.”