Page 28 of This Reckless Home

“Jus, you really shouldn’t be cursing so much. You’re ten years old for fucks’ sake.”

“Almost eleven, and you swear all the time,” he sasses back and I roll my eyes.

“Do as I say, not as I do,” I advise, taking another sip of beer.

“Can we talk?” His voice holds a little uncertainty, and I snap my gaze to him, my eyebrows dipping.

“Sure, what’s up?”

He looks around. “Somewhere private?”

“Okay, let’s go inside.”

I lead him inside, finding the laundry room and shutting the door behind us. “What’s this about Jus? Is everything okay? Has anyone⁠—”

“Chill!” He laughs, but there’s an edge. “It’s not that. It’s just…”

“Just what?” My heart races a little. I hate that there have been so many years I’ve not been there to fucking protect my own brother because of red tape bullshit.

“I just wanted to ask, are we still leaving?” My racing heart stalls out. “It’s just, I really like it here, Miss. Blossom is like the coolest and best mom, more like a big sister, and the other kids are great. Especially Sally.” His cheeks heat and my lips twitch up into a smile. My kid brother is having his first crush.

“Do you want to stay, Jus?”

He looks at me from under his lids, sucking in his lower lip, then huffs out a breath.

“Yeah. I do. I want to stay, but I want you guys to stay too. I’m sure Miss. Blossom would let you.”

I run my hand through my hair, letting his words sink in. It’s only been a week since we turned up at her front door, but already this feels more like home than anywhere else I’ve ever lived. Justin is happy, he’s no longer lashing out so much, and fuck, Steele is smiling more than I’ve ever seen him.

Eight years of fighting to give him something like this, and it took nine days of her to make it real.

Nox, is still, well Nox, but even he’s toned down the sarcasm, and stopped bitching about Blossom at all. I’ve caught him watching her, a look of surprised awe on his face when he thinks no one is looking. Like he can’t believe someone so good, so fucking pure, is actually real.

You and me both, bro.

“I could talk to her. I like it here too, and it’s good for you,” I tell him, and his grin is something I’ve wanted to see for so long that a lump in my throat forms.

“Yes!” He fist pumps in the air, and I laugh. “And you like her too. Miss. Blossom. I see you watching her with fucking heart emojis in your eyes.”

My lips thin as my eyes narrow.

“I do fucking not!”

“Yeah you do. The others too, and polygamy is a thing these days, though I don’t think you could all marry her.”

My brain short circuits.

Not just at the fact that that my ten year old fucking brother knows about polygamy — where the fuck did he even learn that word?! — and is suggesting it, but that the idea of marrying Blossom and staying here permanently doesn’t have me running for the hills.

“Slow down Romeo,” I finally get out. “No one said anything about polygamy or marriage.”

“Yet,”’ he teases, darting out of reach before my hand can grab him. “Anatole, Nox, Steele and Miss. Blossom sitting under the tree. K-I-S-S-I-N-G!”

He runs away cackling like the child he is, and I can’t even be mad at his teasing. Suddenly all my thoughts are of Blossom standing underneath one of the trees in the garden, me and my brothers making her breathless with kisses.

Fuck.

Hours later the party is finally fucking over, and I feel that good kind of tired that comes with a day in the sunshine and meeting new people. I’m helping pack the tables and chairs away, the last of our guests having left, when I spot Blossom carrying a tray full of dirty dishes.