Chapter 13: You've Changed, Brother

 

The ride home was quiet. Sebastian had his eyes closed, leaning his head against the window. He looked exhausted, but the tension that usually tightened his jaw was gone.

"Boss?" Harper whispered from the front seat. "Did you have fun today?"

Sebastian didn't answer. Harper thought he was asleep, so she settled back into her seat, humming softly.

A long time later, a low, barely audible sound came from the back. "Mmh."

It was a soft, affirmative hum. Harper turned around, surprised. Sebastian’s eyes were still closed, but the corner of his mouth was slightly upturned.

When they got home, the wheelchair battery was completely dead (thanks to the kindergarten joyrides). Harper had to push him manually up the ramp.

"Boss," Harper panted slightly as she wheeled him into the living room. "That 'Mmh' in the car... did that mean 'Yes'?"

Sebastian looked at her. His dark eyes reflected the warm lights of the hallway. "Yes."

Harper beamed, clapping her hands. "Great! Mission accomplished!"

Sebastian watched her happy dance. A small chuckle escaped his lips. "You are noisy," he said, but there was no bite in his words.

---

[The Refrigerator Gallery]

The next morning, Harper was busy in the kitchen. She took the only polaroid photo from yesterday—the one where Sebastian looked like a confused, golden cat on a white horse—and stuck it right in the center of the massive, stainless-steel refrigerator door.

"Perfect," she admired her work. She had a plan. This fridge door was going to be her gallery. The center was for Sebastian’s sticky notes (his royal decrees for food), and the rest would be filled with photos of their adventures.

She was humming while flipping pancakes when the front door burst open.

"FOOD!" A zombie groaned. "I NEED FOOD!"

Harper spun around, spatula in hand. Standing there was Liam Sterling. But he looked like he had been through a war. His designer suit was wrinkled. His hair looked like a bird's nest. He had dark circles under his eyes that could rival a panda.

"Liam?" Harper gasped. "Are you alive?"

Liam collapsed onto the sofa face-first. "Barely. Three days. Four nights. Ten hours of sleep. My father is a slave driver."

"Breakfast isn't ready yet," Harper said sympathetically. "Do you want some chocolate?"

"I hate chocolate," Liam mumbled into the cushion.

Harper sighed. Why did all Sterling men hate joy?

Liam dragged himself off the sofa and zombie-walked to the fridge to find water. As he reached for the handle, he froze. His bloodshot eyes widened. He stared at the polaroid photo.

"Is this..." Liam pointed a shaking finger. "Is this Photoshop?"

"Nope," Harper flipped a pancake. "Took it yesterday."

"You went to the Amusement Park?"

"Yep."

"WITHOUT ME?!"

Liam’s scream shook the chandelier. "YOU WENT TO THE AMUSEMENT PARK WITHOUT ME?!"

Harper winced, rubbing her ears. "You were working, remember?"

Liam clutched his chest, looking betrayed. "I was slaving away for the family legacy, and you two were riding ponies?!"

Just then, the elevator dinged. Sebastian rolled out, fresh and rested, wearing a casual sweater.

Liam immediately pointed an accusing finger at him. "Brother! How could you?! You went to the park with her but never with me!"

Sebastian glanced at him coolly. "I wasn't alone. Harper was there."

"That's the point! You took Harper!" Liam whined. "Am I not your favorite brother anymore?"

Sebastian frowned. "Harper?"

Liam froze. The temperature in the room dropped a few degrees.

"Since when do you call her Harper?" Sebastian asked, his voice low and dangerous.

Liam blinked. "Uh... since last week? Her family calls her that."

"You are not her family," Sebastian said icily. "Call her Ms. Evans."

Liam’s jaw dropped. "Ms. Evans? Are you serious? We are friends!"

"Ms. Evans," Sebastian repeated, picking up his coffee.

Harper, sensing the awkwardness (and secretly finding Sebastian’s jealousy hilarious), quickly shoved a bowl of porridge into Liam’s hands. "Eat. You're delirious from hunger."

Liam took a bite, tears welling up in his eyes. "You've changed, brother. You used to be mean. Now you're... possessive."

"Shut up and eat," Sebastian said.

"See?" Liam smiled through his porridge. "There's the brother I know."

---

[The Next Date]

After breakfast, Liam went upstairs to pass out in a guest room. Sebastian sat in the sunroom, reading. Harper sat on the floor next to him, surrounded by travel guides and a notebook.

Sebastian watched her. She was scribbling furiously in that brown leather notebook. He had seen it before. The first page had big bold letters that she always hid from him.

"Is the plan ready?" Sebastian asked, putting down his book.

Harper looked up, her eyes shining. She showed him her phone. "What do you think of this restaurant?"

Sebastian looked. "The Golden Lotus." A high-end restaurant with traditional Chinese performances, dancers, and interactive theater. Most importantly (though Harper didn't say it), the reviews said it was 100% wheelchair accessible.

"The food reviews are vague," Harper admitted. "But look! Dancers! Fire breathers! It looks so fun!"

Sebastian looked at her eager face. He didn't care about the dancers. He didn't even care about the food. He just liked that she was planning things for him.

"Sure," Sebastian handed the phone back. "Book it."

"Yes!" Harper pumped her fist. "Should I ask Liam if he wants to come?"

"No," Sebastian said instantly. "He needs to sleep for twenty-four hours. Don't wake him."

Harper nodded solemnly. "Right. Let the zombie sleep."

She booked a table for two. Then she showed the confirmation screen to Sebastian. "Total is $1,888. Please reimburse me, Boss."

Sebastian looked at the price. He pulled out his black card and handed it to her. "Pin is 090909. Buy yourself a dress too. You can't go there in jeans."

Harper held the black card like it was made of diamond. "Yes, Sir! I will be the best-dressed caretaker in the city!"

(End of Chapter 13)