I’m shocked to hear that because he sure as hell never talked like this when we were younger.
“Knowing you had my back made me fearless.”
Relief washes through me. Assurance that he really gets how much I love him. That I would have done anything in the world for him.
“I’m glad you know that, but sometimes I wish you needed me more.”
He angles his head, issuing a glare so much like my own. Must be genetic.
“You’re missing the point, Mart. You can’t fix some things, and sometimes the most you can do is be there for someone when they’re having a hard time. Because knowing I wasn’t alone at the hardest time in my life was what was important.” And it hits me like a brick before he says, “I know it sucks that you can’t magically fix Ryan’s problems, but being there for him is enough. It’s always been enough.”
A warm sensation stirs in my chest where all that tension had been bundled up, partly because I’m so touched by what he shared, and partly because I know that’s something I can do for Ryan right now. What I must do for him.
“Now give your little brother a hug, and then let’s go inside and I’ll give you hell like this conversation never happened.”
I chuckle as his sense of humor cuts right through the seriousnessof the moment. I give him a big hug, holding him close, appreciating the warmth of his hold, remembering times when we used to hug like this.
“You’re a really great guy, Aiden.”
“I know I am,” he says in a conceited way that gets me laughing.
“You’d make a good Alpha Theta Mu.”
“Actually, I’m too cool for them. I was planning to pledge Sigma Alpha.”
The fuck?
I pull away, giving him a nasty look, and he laughs.
“Sorry, I shouldn’t have made a joke while you’re all vulnerable like this. You know I’m Alpha Theta Mu, just like my big bro.”
“Damn right you are.”
“Gotta get to the frat, show all those guys that there’s at least one cool guy in this family.”
“You little prick.”
He grins, and as much as I may have helped him by being there for him when he was younger, it’s nice having this moment where he’s doing that for me.
“You really like him, don’t you?” he says.
Like? That doesn’t even cover it. Not even a little.
“It’s much more than that,” I confess.
Because I think I might be in love with him.
32
Ryan
Sitting on thecouch at Dax’s apartment, I scroll through old pics and videos on Instagram.
Mom, Dad, and me at the Grand Canyon.
Six Flags.
Universal Studios.
