“I’m gonna bail.” Drew bends over and kisses his sister on the cheek. “I’ll swing by in the morning.” He wrangles Kaiden into a hug. “Remember how badly you’ve wanted this reunion, and maybe not whale on Zayn’s ass too much.” He eyeballs Roman. “Nice to meet you, man. I think you’ll love it here. My sister makes a mean hot chocolate with sprinkles and marshmallows.”
Jesus, kill me now.
“Nice to meet you too, Zayn.” Drew hands me a business card with his contact details. “If you need me for anything, call anytime. Try not to bust Kai’s balls. Despite that gruff exterior, he’s one of the good guys.”
“The jury is still out,” I grumble, pocketing Manning’s card.
Drew leaves, pulling the door shut behind him. Roman looks over his shoulder at me, and I nod. “I’ll see you in a bit,” I reassure him, rubbing at my chest as I watch him grab his bags and walk off with Abby.
“He’ll be fine,” Kaiden says, probing my face with observant eyes. “Everyone loves Abby.”
“I can see why.” I toss him a smirk as I swing one bag over my shoulder.
“You just can’t help yourself, can you?” He’s fighting a smile as he lifts my other bag.
“I’ve got it.” I reach for my bag.
Kaiden sighs deeply, but he doesn’t protest, handing it over. “I’m not your enemy, Zayn.” He lifts one shoulder, urging me tofollow him. “And you don’t have to do everything on your own anymore. I’m here for you. I want you to lean on me.”
“We have coped just fine our entire lives without you,” I lie, walking beside him through a large open living area with a kitchen on our right and a living room to the left. “If this is driven by some savior-complex shit, you can knock it off. We don’t need you. I’m only here because Roman wants to know more and he wants to meet his other two brothers. First sign of false agendas, and we’re out of here.”
“Our only agenda is to reunite our family. Sans our asshole bio dad.” He strides down a narrow hallway, passing a few doors. I peer into a door on the right halfway down, spotting Roman sitting on the bed, looking all around as Abby shows him where everything is.
“You’re across the way,” Kaiden says, opening the door on our left.
I push past him into the generously proportioned bedroom. A large king bed dressed in navy and gray bed linen occupies prime real estate in the middle of the space. There’s an en suite bathroom, a walk-in-closet, and a study area with a long desk, chair, and tall shelving unit. I dump my bags on the ground and press my spine against the wall.
“You can change it however you’d like, and if there’s anything you need, just let me or Abby know.”
“You talk as if we’re permanently moving in here. This is temporary,brother.”
“Can you try not to say the word like it’s poison?” he snaps.
“Just keeping it real.” I shrug.
“Look.” Air whooshes out of his mouth as he threads a hand through his hair. “I don’t want to fight with you. I know it’ll take time to get to know one another and to build trust. All I’m asking for is a chance to explain and to show you we’re sincere.”
I mull over his words as I stare at him. I think he is genuine, but it’s too little too late. Doesn’t he see that? He can’t just swoop in now and pretend like the past hasn’t happened.
“If not for yourself, do it for Roman.” Kai drops onto the edge of the bed, checking the hallway before he speaks. “I don’t know him like you do, but he seems troubled. Is he okay?”
“He’s fine,” I say through gritted teeth.
He mumbles something under his breath. “It wasn’t an accusation, Zayn. Are you always this defensive?”
“I have good reason to be,” I retort.
“It’s clear you’re the protector, and I can’t begin to imagine how tough it’s been for both of you. I hate you had to step up and shoulder all the responsibility. Like I hate that the two of you were all alone after your family died. It kills me to know we were out there trying to find you while you were dealing with all of that when you were only fucking kids.”
“I don’t want your pity,” I bark, pushing off the wall. “We survived. We more than survived.”
“Thank fuck, you did.” He stands. “What I’m trying to say is you don’t need to do that anymore. In time, I hope you can share the burden and lean on us. I wasn’t around for the past sixteen years of your life, and I just want a chance to make it up to you. I want to be around for the next sixteen, and the sixteen after that, and after that.” Emotion glimmers in his eyes. “Hate me. Throw shade at me. Curse me. Punch me. Do your worst, Zayn. I can take it, but know that I love you. You’remy brother.” He pauses for a beat. “Those words mean everything to me.”
He thumps his chest, and his voice cracks a little when he speaks. “I won’t force you to stay here if it’s not what you want, but understand one thing. Iwillbe in your life. Roman’s too. Nothing or no one is ever tearing me away from my flesh and blood again. So, find a way to make your peace with it because I’m going nowhere.”
Chapter Twenty
Zayn
