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“You’re welcome, baby.” She turns back into the kitchen, pausing with a hand on the door. “When will the rest of your brothers get here?”
There’s so much hope in her voice that I almost forget how long it’s been since we could visit her.
“Soon, Mama,” I say gently, the corner of my lips turned up in a soft smile for the woman I’ve admired my whole life.
“Brothers?” Aria hisses, gaining me another backhand to the pec. “As in, plural? And not the one that just hauled ass across the lawn?” She looks longingly over her shoulder to the large bay window overlooking the front of the house. “I think I’ll just fuck off to where he went.” Worry creases her brow, longingly staring at the green grass.
“Ma!” I call out, making Aria jump. “We’re gonna go find Mac.” I tug Aria to her feet with me and rub reassuring hands over her arms.
“Ok, baby!”
“You’re gonna be fine, babe,” I say to my girl as I plant kisses on her face, venturing into her neck. “I love you. They already love you.”
“I hate you for this.” She groans, but sighs into my touch.
“I know.” I chuckle, reluctantly pulling back from her delicious skin and walking us back out into the sunny day with hands held and smiles shared.
“There’s a trail right over here.” I nod my head to the tree line on the far side of the property.
Birds chirp out a melody I remember from my younger years of spending time here, cicadas accentuating the tune with their vibrations and before I realize it, I’m humming.
“You really are talented, Rex.” Aria’s words are quiet as we step into the shade of the trees, pushing branches and brush out of our way.
Damn, my heart.
“Thanks, babe.” I wrap an arm over her shoulders and pull her in to kiss the top of her head.
“So is the rest of the band coming?” We step over fallen logs and roots, and dip under branches and vines.
“Yes,” I answer, clearing the tree line and coming into an open space with only one tree left in the center.
And a treehouse built right into the sturdy trunk.
“Oh my fucking God.” Aria squeals and takes off at the dead sprint for the latter despite the heeled shoes she wears.
Yeah, my girl can handle herself.
“You better not have brought Ma!” The words echo from inside the fort, Mac’s head poking out of the open window past the worn drapes.
Well … they weren’t originally drapes.
One’s a blanket Ma doesn’t know we took and the other is a fitted sheet Mac slept without for weeks before Ma noticed.
Aria flies up the ladder without any issue, pushing the trap door open and disappearing inside.
“Babe!” I call out on a laugh and take off after her.
“You let the cooties in, Rex!” Mac whines as soon as my head breaches the surface of the treehouse.
“Oh, whatever!” Aria snags a throw pillow and tosses it at Mac’s face.
He sputters through the cloud of dust that explodes on contact. “That was mean, baby girl.” Mac works his mouth, desperate to rid himself of the dry filth.
“You said I was cooties!” Aria defends, throwing her hands up. “You deserved the shit!”
“That’s raw.” I chuckle at my brother who attempts to dust himself off, a gentle sheen of gray all over the front of him despite his brushing hands.
“Fucking rude, turkey brain.”
