A cry came over the baby monitor. Dad waved Eriq off and dutifully went upstairs to see which triplet was awake. Branson plunked onto the only space Eriq’s feet had left on the couch and stared at the TV, not caring what was on it. One of his favorite things about his brother-in-law was his laconic nature; Eriq didn’t feel the need to fill quiet moments with banal conversation.
Eventually, all the triplets woke. Branson found himself feeding tiny alpha Shylo, while Eriq fed beta Ferran. Dad was still upstairs with Misha when Caden came home and, not long after, Papa and Emory arrived with a butt-load of groceries, as well as three large pizzas. Shylo decided he’d had enough of Uncle Branson and squalled until Emory came to rescue his baby alpha.
Branson and Papa followed the enticing scents of cheese, tomato and pepperoni into the large kitchen, where Caden was already eating. Branson fetched a pitcher of lemonade from the fridge, because pizza always made him thirsty. He poured cups for all three of them out of habit, then helped himself to plain cheese and coated the top with red pepper flakes.
He was the only person in his family who liked red pepper flakes, and he wasn’t sure where he got it from. No one else was big on spicy flavors. Probably his bastard of a biological sire.
“So, have you been awake long enough to make any plans with the new friend you made last night?” Papa asked Caden.
Branson nearly sputtered his lemonade. “His what? You have a new friend? You know how to make friends?”
Caden blew a raspberry at him. “Ha-ha. Yes, I know how to make friends. I have more friends than you do, you recluse.”
The acidic response was expected and familiar, and Branson replied in kind. “I like computers better than people. They make a lot more sense.”
“I’d say you aren’t wrong about that, but computers make no sense to me, beyond the basic functions of getting online and word processing. All those ones and zeroes you use to code is like an alien language.”
“Hey, if everyone could speak it then no one would need professionals like me.”
“Professionals who are doing amazing things for accessibility programs,” Papa interjected. “Some of your brother’s ideas have really simplified life for Rei and other guys like him with vision challenges.”
Branson smiled and tried not to preen under Papa’s direct praise. Sometimes being the only beta in the family sucked, because he couldn’t give his parents grandchildren (not that they really needed more, after Emory gave them three at once). But he loved knowing he could make his mark by helping his cousin.
“I know, I know,” Caden said with an odd snarl in his tone. “Branson’s got an awesome job and helps people every day. Emory’s raising three babies with his bondmate and is the apple of everyone’s eye. Meanwhile, I’m fooling around in trade school, living at home, and wasting time with casual friends every weekend.”
The anger in Caden’s voice surprised Branson more than it should have. Caden’s behavior since Emory was given back to them had fluctuated from overly possessive to blandly detached.This brief summary of their sibling trio said so much in only a few words, and it confused Branson.
Caden was still young and unmated, and this was the exact time in his life that he should be wasting time partying with his friends. Emory had been made an omegin far too young and against his will, and he’d lost the chance to just be a twenty-year-old. Why was Caden so?—?
Caden put his plate on the counter and strode out of the kitchen.
Branson nearly dropped his own pizza. “Caden, wait!” By the time he circled the island and followed his brother, Caden was gone. He hadn’t taken one of the cars, so he was probably stalking to the nearest bus stop. Branson gave serious thought to following him. Mostly to make sure his little brother didn’t do anything stupid.
He’s probably going off to smoke Flax, what’s stupider than that?
“I’m worried about going on this trip now,” Papa said as he came up behind Branson at the large living room window. “Caden worries me.”
Branson turned and straightened his spine, trying to seem more confident than he felt. “He worries me, too, but he’s had to overcome so much, more than just being one of the Cross twins. I don’t think we’ll ever be able to understand how he felt while Emory was missing.” Five long, painful months without your twin? It would make anyone lose their mind a little. “I’ll keep an eye on him while you’re away.”
“You have always been an amazing big brother.” Papa’s hand rested warmly on Branson’s shoulder. “I worry this is bigger than something we can simply watch.”
“Me, too.” Branson hated the concern swimming in his father’s wide, golden eyes. As far as he knew, their parents were oblivious to Caden’s drug use, and he didn’t want to educatethem the day before a two-week trip. “Something’s bothering him. I promise to keep checking in with him while you’re on your trip. I want him to know he can talk to me.”
“Thank you. You’re the best kid, Bran. You know that, right?”
“I’m the dependable kid,” he replied with laughter he didn’t feel. “I’m sure Caden is just stressed about you guys leaving for so long, and he’s probably feeling Emory’s stress, too. We’ll get through it.” Branson hadn’t gone two weeks without seeing his parents before in his life; Caden wasn’t the only one stressing.
“I know you will. Just…keep an extra eye on Caden?”
“For sure.”
Branson wasn’t hungry anymore, and he abandoned his half-eaten slice in favor of the backyard. Even though it was the middle of winter and freezing cold, he preferred the crisp silence to the noise of the house bursting with people. He loved his family, but sometimes he needed peace and privacy.
And sometimes he needed the voice of someone not related to him. Branson palmed his phone and hit one of his most frequently called contacts. It was a weekend, so he wasn’t interrupting work, but in the six-ish months since their friendship began, Branson worried about being too?—
“Hey,” Tarius said, a touch breathless. “Didn’t think I’d hear from you this weekend. Aren’t your parents leaving in two days?”
“They are.” Branson walked along the length of the yard’s tall, wooden fence, his own breath leading the way in puffs of vapor. “My parents will be okay. I’m worried about Caden.”
