“Can I paint the walls?” Nora nearly screeches.
“Of course,” Jasper says at the same time as I say, “Probably not.”
The two of us lock eyes, and he raises his shoulder in a shrug. “I don’t mind. It’s just paint. I want her to feel at home in her space.”
I nod, my throat too tight to even consider talking. How in the fuck did I get so lucky?
“Do you wanna paint yours too, Salem?” Jasper asks.
Salem’s eyes go wide, and he shakes his head. “No, that’s okay. I’m sure it’s fine like it is.”
“Okay. If you change your mind, it’s no big deal.” Slipping his hand into mine, Jasper gestures toward the bedrooms. “They’re just over here.”
One of my favorite things about Jasper’s house—that I didn’t even know I’d appreciate until this very moment—is that the main bedroom is across the house from the rest.
“Salem’s first. Then Nora’s. Bathroom’s across the hall,” Jasper says, reaching into the rooms and flipping the lights on before turning around and pushing open the door to the bathroom across the hall.
Nora bounds into her room, jumping onto her bed and sprawling out across it. “I love it!”
I couldn’t fight my smile if I tried. “I’m glad.”
Pushing open the door the rest of the way, Salem steps into his room. He stands in the center, taking it all in.
“Do you like it?” I ask.
He nods. “Doesn’t feel real.”
I exchange a look with Jasper, then drop his hand to step in after Salem. “I’ll be back. I’m gonna…” I gesture over my shoulder.
Jasper nods. “I’ll see if Nora wants a snack.”
I nod, offering him a smile. I hope he knows how much I appreciate him and everything he’s done for me. Forus.
When Jasper pulls the door shut, leaving Salem and me alone, I walk up behind him and spin him around, pulling him into my arms.
He presses his face into my shoulder, inhaling a deep breath. He’s trying to regulate himself the way I taught him, but it’s not long before he’s sobbing in my arms like a small child.
When we were younger, I’d hold him just like this. When Mom and Melvin had been fighting, or when they were on a bender. Sometimes it would get so bad that I’d cover his ears with my hands and make him close his eyes, trying to get him to block out everything but me.
It worked sometimes, but others? Not so much.
His body shakes in my hold, and I run my fingers through his hair. “You’re safe now, Salem. I’ve got you.” That only seems to make him cry harder. “I’m sorry it’s been so hard, but we’re together now, and nothing is gonna take us away from each other again.”
Nodding into my shoulder, he sniffles a few times but doesn’t step back, and I don’t let him go.
I’m not sure who needs this more—me or him. My baby brother. Home with me where he belongs.
I sigh. “Are you okay?”
“It’s just a lot. I really started to think you weren’t going to come. Not because I don’t trust you. I do. It’s just…”
“I know,” I say softly. “I understand. I’d never let you down on purpose.”
Salem sniffles again, then pulls back, wiping at his face. Glancing around, he shakes his head. “Nicest house I’ve ever been in.”
I nearly laugh at that. “Me too.”
Leaning toward me, Salem lowers his voice. “And Jasper’s the real deal? You’re sure he isn’t going to leave us high and dry?”
