Crimson Summer || Book Two

84| Mood Swings

~Galen~

 "Well that was...exhuasting,"

Casper groans as he leans back in the front passenger seat with our girls asleep in their booster seats in the back. With the size of our family, we had to split between two cars with Tora and Micah taking the boys in Tora's SUV. 

Lily was fast asleep from the moment I put her in while Vailen held out a little bit to munch on her fried dough that she loved, managing to somehow get powdered sugar everywhere except her mouth. But after finishing half of the sweet treat bigger than her face she gave up and put it back in its bag to the side as she fell asleep with her head against the seatbelt. 

"It was, but I came with five kids, two husbands, and a sister and I left with that exact number so I'd say it was a success," I explain as he reaches back and fixes Vailen's head a bit. The Festival was held at the halfway point of the island in Forester with the drive back being about four hours long. 

"Husband? I'm sorry I didn't know we were engaged never mind married, don't you think you're getting ahead of yourself," Casper asks as he gets sits back while facing me. 

"Well we were married together so why not to each other?" I ask and I can feel Cas roll his eyes. 

"And here I was thinking you were the romantic one or is that side of you only reserved for Tora?" He accuses and I would glare at him if I wasn't focused on driving, especially with our children in the car. 

"What? No? Why would you say that?" I ask and he's quiet for a few moments that have me gazing over, catching him eying me with a curious look as I meet him with confusion.

"We married Tora, not each other. Although I guess you were always like my husband, but if you truly believed that why didn't you call Micah your wife?" Cas sees straight through my flawed logic, but I don't want to directly admit he's right. 

"Well she's different, she's my little sister," I mention and Casper hums. 

"But we all got married, you called me your husband and her your sister," He brings the obvious right back up and I tap my fingers against the steering wheel. Reaching the highway, I let autopilot handle the driving as I cross my arms. Refusing to look at him as I think through my own bonds. 

"Because you're not my brother Casper, not anymore. You haven't been...for a while," I confess and I can hear him shift against the leather seat. 

"And I understand that, but I'm also your second mate and not even your second chance, like literally the second that came six years after. Yes, the same goes for me too, but it's like...I don't know. We married Tora, not each other. That's the point I was trying to make," He huffs and I feel a twinge of his insecurity in my own heart as he tries his best not to get riled up over it. 

"Okay okay baby, I won't call you my husband anymore. Will that make you happy?" I ask as I turn towards him, gently scratching under his chin as he playfully smacks my hand away. 

"No, because I want to be," He says in a lighter voice that I almost don't recognize as his while he sinks into his seat with furrowed brows and I gently poke his cheek. 

"Hey, Mr. Impatient," I call him but he continues to be angry as he glares ahead with his arms crossed, deep in thought so I poke him again and again until he finally turns to me as I lean on the console with my heart set on bothering him.

"Spending an eternity by someone's side is intimidating you know. I went from holding your hand as you shit out crayons to-"

"If you finish that sentence I will not hesitate to kill you,"