“It's obnoxious.”
“Jealousy doesn't look good on you,” Nate said, grinning.
Rafe hesitated, then picked up the shelf I'd been struggling with. Lifted it easily, carried it across the room. Set it down gentle as placing a book on a table.
“You too?” I asked him.
“Sorry,” he said, not sounding sorry at all.
“I'm surrounded by supernatural adults with back muscles that actually work.”
“I'm twenty-four,” Nate offered.
“Still basically a teenager to my decrepit self.” I pressed a hand to my lower back, played up the wince. “I think I pulled something.”
“You did not,” Evan said.
“I might have. These old bones aren't what they used to be.”
Nate snorted. “You ran a marathon last month.”
“That was different. That was running. This is lifting. Completely different muscle groups.”
“You're ridiculous,” Nate said, but his voice was warm. Fond.
I watched him work alongside Evan and Rafe, the three of them moving in that eerie synchronization, and felt something settle in my chest. Something that felt dangerously close to contentment.
“Alright,” I said. “Since you're all so supernaturally talented, who wants to tackle the bathroom tiles?”
“Those are cracked through,” Evan observed.
“I know. That's why I bought replacements.” I gestured to the pile by the door. “But they're heavy, and my ancient human back?—“
“We get it,” Nate interrupted. “You're old and feeble and we're amazing.”
“Finally, you're learning.”
Rafe was smiling openly now, some of the tension easing from his shoulders. Just for a moment. Just enough.
“Michael?” Rafe's voice was quieter now. “Where do you want these tiles?”
I told him. Watched him carry the box like it weighed nothing. Watched Nate bump his shoulder companionably asthey passed each other, watched Evan include him in the workflow like he'd always been there.
Strange, I thought. How quickly strange could start feeling like family.
“Hey Dad?” Nate called from across the room. “You should see this grout situation. It's genuinely impressive how bad it is.”
“The grout is fine.”
“The grout is a crime against bathrooms everywhere.”
“I'm disowning you.”
“You can't. I'm too helpful.” Nate grinned at me, bright and happy.
“Get back to work,” I said gruffly. “All of you. Those shelves aren't going to install themselves.”
“Yes sir,” Evan said, with a mock salute that made Rafe actually laugh out loud.
