I was mean, and this woman still cares. “It was a false alarm.”
She lets out a long sigh. “I’m so happy to hear that.”
“Everett is my brother,” I blurt out the words with no forethought. “Well, he’s more like my cousin, but still. The family is welcoming him tonight. I just thought you should know before someone mentions it tonight.”
“Your brother?”
“It’s a long story, but everything is alright. He’s going to move in here permanently.”
A tear runs down her cheek.
“Why are you crying?” I step forward, wanting to take her in my arms and comfort her.
“Because Everett has a family. He looked so lost when he came to Willow Street, yet he was so confident. So kind. I love that he found a wonderful family like yours to be a part of.”
Would you like to be part of my family too? Fiona isn’t ready to hear me ask that. “He’s already fitting right in. Though he isn’t as good as he thought he was at MMORPGs.”
“It sounds like there’s a story there.”
I want to brag so much. “He challenged a master and learned that age isn’t everything.” It didn’t hurt that I had been part of the development team since they hired my company to help with security. As a gamer, that was a fun job, and smushing Everett was even more so.
“Kids need to be reminded of that fact every now and then. They forget that with age comes experience and wisdom. Will Everett be leaving The Street completely?”
I shake my head. “No, he has too many friends there. And I think he wants to keep an eye on the place.” That stubborn, irritating kid tries to protect everyone. He hasn’t given me anything to go on. And he refuses to have the chip removed.
Nonna. I need to set her on him. She can make anyone do what she wants.
“They love him. I haven’t seen Maddox this impressed with a kid ever. Though right now Maddox is so lost in Mindy, I’m not sure he knows which way is up.”
Could you get lost in me?
Apologize.
“I’m back.” Hope’s timing leaves a lot to be desired. “Fiona, I want you to meet one of my favorite uncles.”
That little brat. She’s really going to try to play matchmaker with Fiona and Gabe.
The urge to growl at all of them to go away builds up in the back of my throat.
“We’re all your favorite.” Gabe reaches out and ruffles Hope’s curls.
Fiona smiles up at them.
“Hi, I’m Gabe.” He reaches a hand out to Fiona.
“Nice to meet you.” She hesitantly reaches out and takes his hand for a quick shake.
It’s wrong to want to chop off your cousin’s hand just for touching her.
Very wrong.
Fiona shakes her head. “Wait, you’re Gabriel Vincenti. The best quarterback ever.”
“I don’t know about ever.” Gabe pretends to be embarrassed, ducking his head down.
“Daria has you in her fantasy league. You’re her favorite player.”
“And what about you?”
