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And I knew my god dad meant every word of that. He hadn’t wanted Bru to leave, none of us had.
Bru nodded at my godfather, but before he could take him up on his proposal to hang out, another door slammed in the house. Feminine laughter followed, and this time, no one barreled into each other on the way out of the living room.
“Hello. Hello. We’re home,” came Brielle’s voice, and Sloane’s followed. The two were laughing when we all did get to them at the door, and upon seeing all of us filling basically the entire fucking hallway, the laughter curbed off. Brielle’s expression fell. “Everything all right?”
“Bru?” Sloane pushed forward, shopping bags filling her arms. Brielle had about double the same, and it appeared Ramses had been right about them shopping. Sloane shook her head. “What are you doing here?”
I wasn’t going to put out there that her twin brother had asked the exact same question and even in the same way. It was already freaking me out enough I was going with my boy’s sister, but the fact they were twins only added another layer of weird. Honestly, I tried not to think about it most days, and I think my buddy was doing the same.
“Uh, Prinze texted. He didn’t hear from you so he texted me. Thought I’d swing by,” Bru said, and addressed, he came forward. His jaw moved. “You guys were shopping?”
“Um, yes,” Brielle said, beaming. I hadn’t seen her smile that big in a long time, and it only brightened seeing Bru here. She scanned the room, but stopped on her husband when he approached. “I’m sorry. We lost track of time. We didn’t worry you guys too much, did we?”
Before Wolf, Bru, or I could say anything, Ramses waved a low hand to shut that shit down. Our mouths closed about the same time he greeted his wife.
“Just called a few times since we hadn’t heard from you. Not a big deal,” Ramses said, kissing her cheek. He reached for her coat while he directed us to help with the bags. Wolf took the bulk while I got the rest and Sloane’s.
“Oh, I’m sorry.” Brielle let Ramses take her coat, then hugged her husband. “We were at city hall when Sloane noticed all the shops downtown. I suggested we check them out.”
“No need to apologize,” Ramses said, an inquisitive look with his smile. She eyed him right back, and I’d seriously never seen Wolf’s mom this lively. It’d been a long time.
Sloane held a similar look about her when I grabbed her bags. I kissed her too, which momentarily broke her gaze away from the shock of her brother being here. “Hey.”
“Hi,” she returned, hugging me when I hugged her. “Sorry we worried you guys. I would have answered my phone if I heard it. The shops were loud and busy with the holidays coming up.”
“No, it’s fine. Sounds like you two had fun.” Ramses had his arm around his wife. He kissed her head. “I was just about to call in dinner. You girls pick.”
“Excellent, and, Bru, please tell me you’re staying to eat.” Brielle grinned at him. “It’s been a while. We’d love to have you.”
Saying Sloane begged her brother with her gaze was an understatement, but I think none of us expected him to say yes. I mean, the dude had left.
But then, he smiled. He laughed too, scratching his neck. He nodded. “Sure. I haven’t eaten yet, and you’re right. It’s been a while.”
“Great.” Surprised herself, Brielle reached for Bru’s hand. She squeezed. “You can tell us all your news. How’s Thai food sound?”
“Sounds amazing.”
“Good.” Sloane looked at me, my girl fucking glowing, which did crazy shit to my insides. I was finding it harder and harder to not feel the same around her, and maybe Wolf was right.
Finding a little more happy in our lives might not be such a bad thing.
*
Sloane
I’d been surprised when my brother stayed for dinner, delighted. I’d already been on a high from hanging out with Brielle today. She’d given me a complete tour of city hall, and I got to meet all the people she worked with. I’d thought this would overwhelm me, but it hadn’t. It’d been good, and when she took me shopping, even better. I related to her in ways I never thought I would.
I’d lost Marilyn really young, a woman who was supposed to have been my mother but I’d never really gotten to know. It was nice to experience that relationship with Brielle, that of a mother and a daughter. Biologically, Brielle was my mom, and I think that overwhelmed me most today. It was the realization to know she was my mother and that I could have that.
I did have that.
Things only got better at dinner. Bru actually engaged, and he seemed lighter, happier even. When we were at school and I bugged him about how things were, he was always tight-lipped, but today, he talked about all the fun things he’d been doing outside of school. He’d joined a few science and math clubs, getting really involved with the business ones too. It seemed his time with Callum had been good for him, and that relieved me so much. He laughed and entertained the questions and almost seemed happy too.
He was happy.
It was all so weird considering where we all were only weeks ago, and things only got weirder when I noticed Ares sneak Bru away after dinner. I volunteered to do dishes with Brielle since the guys let us pick takeout, and by the time I saw Bru again, he was laughing, Ares by his side. The two even shook it out before Ares took the stairs two by two up to the second floor.
Bru stayed with me downstairs. I only even ran into them both because Bru texted me he was about to take off. I guess he had a science club meeting in the morning. I’d been finishing up with Brielle and the dishes when I got the text.
