Free Starr Destined (Starr Series) by G E Griffin

of character for you, so it’s going to take me a while to get my head around it, especially as it’s Sera we’re talking about here.  I’m just being up front and honest with you.”
    I heard him sigh loudly.
    “Fair point, I suppose.”
    Then there was a scrabbling noise, and a familiar female voice came on the phone.
    “Jamie?  It’s Sera,” she said breathlessly, as I heard Liam protesting in the background.  I guessed she must have snatched his phone away.
    “Oh.  Right.  Hi there,” I said, unsure how to react - we hadn't spoken since our disastrous Spring Ball date, when she’d ended up running out on me, so this was definitely awkward.
    “I just wanted to say… don't fall out with your brother because of me.  I know this all seems kind of weird - I'm still trying to get used to it myself,” she said in a rush, probably because Liam was trying to get his phone back.
    “Like I just told Liam, I just want you both to be happy,” I insisted, determined to sound as if I meant it.
    “We are… well, we’re getting there…  I hope…”  Sera replied.
    More scuffling noises and voices.  Then it was Liam again - obviously he’d managed to get his phone back.
    “I appreciate you calling, Jamie.  Even though we don't exactly need your approval or blessing, it’s good to know you're not quite as hostile towards us now.”
    “Hostile?  I wasn’t hostile, was I?”
    “Hmm.  Not sure how else I'd term the word ‘sick’ when used to describe a relationship.”
    “Okay, I guess that was harsh.  Like I said, this has come right out of the blue for me, which is gal ling when I find out that Abbey and Toby knew about it.”
    “Just circumstances, Jamie - Abbey happened to see us together.  You had other things to worry about at the time, and by the way you’ve reacted tonight, I was right to wait until you’d finished your exams.”
    “I suppose,” I sighed.  “Anyway, I'm going to head off now.  I'm glad we’ve cleared the air a bit.  And I'm sorry you’ve had to put up with having a pain in the arse little brother like me all these years.”
    Liam chuckled.
    “I've got used to it.  And thanks for calling - Sera was really anxious about your reaction.”
    “Yeah, well you take care of each other,” I told him as I finished the call.
    And by then, I think I actually meant it.

Chapter 4 ~ Liam ~
     
    Once Seraphina told me she felt the same way that I did, that she loved me too, getting married was the next logical step as far as I was concerned.  Knowing that I wanted to make that commitment with her, that I wanted us to be together for the rest of our lives, would surely help to dispel Sera’s insecurities, and make her believe that she really could trust and depend on me.
    But Sera didn't see things that way, of course.  Oh no, not independent Ms. Jones.  In fact, she stated that she didn't really believe in the outdated institution of marriage, and thought the whole thing was pointless.  Ironic really, considering I'd spent most of my adult life avoiding the clutches of countless women who were desperate to get me to put a ring on their finger, so that they could indulge all their extravagant wedding fantasies to the full.  Now that I was finally ready to get ma rried, I’d managed to find the one woman who didn't have the slightest interest in all that.  So fucking typical.
    But maybe this was one instance when the ten-year age difference between us did come into play.  I had to admit that the idea of marriage hadn't even entered my head when I was Sera’s age.  So I supposed it wasn’t unreasonable for her to need some time to get used to the idea, and I could wait for a while.  But there was no question in my mind, that at some point in the not too distant future, I would be putting a ring on her finger.
    In the meantime, I assumed she would at least be moving in with me. 
    Wrong again. 
    Sera thought it best if she didn't.  She thought we still needed our