“Cathartic.”
The smile spreading on his brother’s face was one of deep relief. It almost annoyed him, but remembering that his family worried because they loved him helped.
“You should see when it’s done.”
“Of course.”
Travis’s smile only widened as he patted Emmett on the shoulder.
“I miss you,”Travis signed.
“I know.”
The middle finger he received in response made him chuckle before signing,“Your water bill too high now?”
Travis’s brows snapped together, lips twitching. It took a moment before his brother seemed to realize that he was talking about the fact that he wasn’t around to turn off the faucet for him when he forgot, and not whatever he’d first thought he meant. He didn’t want to know about that at all.
Travis nodded, head turning when something caught his gaze across the room. Emmett could only smile because he knew exactly who his brother was making heart eyes at.
Travis’s gaze returned to Emmett, who arched a knowing brow at him. Travis’s eyes widened for a second, and then his brother dropped his head into his hands, red creeping up the side of his neck. Their fair skin lent itself to blushing easily. It was annoying as hell because it was an easy indicator of things he didn’t want anyone to know about. Especially Wilder.
Travis lowered his hands, eyes searching Emmett’s face.
“You love her,”he signed.
Travis dropped his head back with a groan so loud it caught the attention of everyone standing around them. There was clear conflict in his expression when he met Emmett’s gaze, and he hated that. There shouldn’t be anything standing in Travis and Emma’s way. They clearly fucking adored each other. Always had. Travis was the calm to Emma’s storm. The one who’dalways grounded her when she needed it, and she was the only one who could push Travis out of his comfort zone in a way where he only benefited from it. They were perfect for each other. Their whole family thought so.
“Everyone knows.”
Watching his brother’s brain screech to a halt was kind of satisfying. He held back a laugh and signed,“Go after her, idiot.”
Blue eyes narrowed in a glare.
“Go!”
Travis huffed, then squared his shoulders and walked across the room toward Emma, his steps never faltering. Emma turned when he neared, and even from where he was standing, he could see the way her eyes lit up at the sight of Travis.
His brother didn’t slow down, walking straight up to her and grabbing her by the back of her neck to pull her closer as he brought his mouth down on hers. Emma swayed, caught by Travis’s other hand on the small of her waist as he tugged her against him.
Hoots and cheers filled the room, the twins and Cooper unsurprisingly the loudest. He loved seeing the expressions of surprise mixed with immense happiness that everyone had for the two of them. It had been a long time coming.
Ezra held a hand toward Kian, and Emmett nearly choked on a breath when Kian pulled out a ten-dollar bill and slapped it into Ezra’s waiting palm. Ezra patted Kian’s shoulder, his face splitting into a wide grin when Kian swiped at him. He stepped out of Kian’s reach and waved the bill at him with a wink before slipping through the patio door and leaving his empty plate sitting on the windowsill.
Emmett shook his head. Why was he not surprised? Their own parents had a wager going on about Travis and Emma, too. Someone was a bad influence on everyone else. He just hadn’tfigured out who it was, and he probably never would. Maybe they were all bad influences on each other?
He returned his gaze to Emma and Travis. Emma’s arms were around Travis’s neck, and she was kissing him back. They looked great together. He’d always thought so. He watched them with a smile?Aaaandthere was now tongue involved. Never mind.
He turned away, shaking his head, a smile playing on his lips. He was happy for them. Real fucking happy. So why did it feel like a fist was squeezing his heart? Why did he feel more lost than ever? More alone than ever? Why couldn’t his brain just let him be happy for them without dumping a bucket of ice-cold water on him?
He squeezed his eyes shut, hands and jaw clenched as he tried to breathe through his nose. He needed to shove all his bullshit way down deep and get over himself. He was much too aware that it was easier said than done, but he needed to try. His bad decisions and naivety had already caused his family enough distress as it was. He didn’t need to make it worse.
He turned back around in time to see Emma and Travis pull apart, both looking thoroughly kissed with messy hair and red cheeks as they stared into each other’s eyes. Emma opened and closed her mouth, then bit her lip and?Yep, he was so out of there. He was decently certain he made it to the patio door before those two made it to the stairs, but only barely.
He made his way down into the backyard, running his gaze over the people surrounding the firepit, noting that both Miles and Kaz were present along with Solo, Jane, and Ezra. Talon and Maddox were sitting by the firepit, a cooler between their lawn chairs. He hadn’t seen Wilder come back inside, but he couldn’t see him out here either. Where the hell had he gone, and why was he thinking about Wilder? He needed to stop.
He’d barely finished the thought when the stairs creaking had him glancing over his shoulder to see Wilder descending them, his gaze finding Emmett in a second. A wicked smile spread on his lips. Lips he shouldn’t be staring at. He cut his gaze away before anyone could catch him watching. Before anyone could catch him looking at Wilder in a way he shouldn’t.
He noticed Miles heading toward him and forced a smile onto his lips.
