Rebel

The more she saw of Zak's brother, the more she felt she had been misled.

Lee had been a casual fixture in Zak's conversations ever since they'd started dating; always the uptight elder brother, the responsible one, the model soldier. She'd expected a bit of a cardboard cut-out, and though she refused to think too closely about that first warm night of empty bottles, the vague assumptions about him she'd absorbed through osmosis had contributed to her mistakes.

They were both far more careful now.

But every time they met she found new edges, piercing and unexpected. He was the most refreshingly competitive man she'd ever met; her sense of humor didn't embarrass him; he walked away from fights like he was carrying off some secret prize. She didn't understand him very well, but she felt like his family must understand him even less.

For some reason, she took that personally.

One night at dinner, Zak made some comment about Lee's latest wrangle with their father, and Kara couldn't entirely suppress the accusation in her tone when she muttered, "You always said you were the misfit in your family."

"Oh, I am," Zak smiled. "I'm the misfit and Lee's the rebel."

"What?"

Zak toyed with his food, looking nostalgic. "I break small rules for fun. Lee'd never do that. He saves himself for the big rules, and he breaks them like it's serious business."

He set down his fork and poured himself a little wine. "Our mom drank too much when we were growing up," he said lightly, lifting his glass like a toast, "so Lee spent his teenage years defiantly sober. Our dad gave the military first priority, so ever since Lee enlisted he's made it a point to date attentively. Half the time I think he cares more about proving it can be done than about the girl he's with. He's kind of an idiot."

Zak shook his head. "He hasn't really got his head on straight, yet. But once he does, just watch him. He's gonna change the world." He lifted his glass again, this time tilting it toward her. "So are you."

"Oh, really?" she grinned.

"Uh-huh," Zak nodded.

"And what about you?"

"Me? I'm gonna be happy." Zak reached across the table for her hand. "And so are you." He kissed her fingers. "You'll see."