Cari laughs and slips an arm around him.He kisses the top of her head.Everyone peers at the cage in turn, murmuring compliments.Brooke drops down cross-legged beside it, examining her new friend.“He’s hungry,” she announces.
“Let’s get him some lettuce and a bowl of water,” Enzo says, taking her hand, and the two of them disappear into the kitchen.
Dex snorts.“You weren’t ready for Jett Junior, so you bought Brooke a rabbit.”
Jett shoots him a look.“It’s a very well-researched rabbit.”
“Of course it is,” Dex says solemnly.“Does it have a trust fund yet?”
That gets a faint huff of laughter out of everyone.I put my arm around Maya’s shoulder and pull her into me.I don’t want her feeling out of place, especially knowing it’s the first time she’s seen all of them since my birthday party.
Jett meets her gaze first.“I’m glad you’re here, Maya.”
Dex nods.“You okay?”
Rio gives her a quiet, respectful look.
“It’s good to see you again,” Matteo says.
Maya smiles at him.“It’s good to see you again, all of you.I’m sorry I didn’t stick around to say goodbye at Zach’s party.”
They all rush to tell her it was okay.Jett waves it off immediately.“You didn’t owe anyone anything.”
They all nod in agreement.Maya exhales, and her body relaxes as she leans into me.We stay like that for a long time.Surrounded by my brothers, with Maya snuggling up to me, I realize what we are at long last.
Family.
Epilogue
ZACH
I didn’t want this to turn into another hot and steamy session.
Ever since her mom left, Maya and I have been having a hard time getting out of bed these days, especially at the weekends.We’ve been alternating between staying at the Tribeca apartment and my place.But this morning, I got up and showered before my body had other ideas.I wanted to be calm, and clear-headed and not distracted by sex.
Maya stands by the windows, arms folded loosely, in her silky shorts and tank top.
Damn.She’s irresistible.She could be wearing medical scrubs and I’d still want to tear her clothes off.
She’s staring out, enjoying the view.She loves this place so much.She lights up as soon as we walk through the door.I step closer behind her, making her turn around.
“You rushed out of bed,” she says, searching my face for clues, wondering if everything is okay.
This is it.This is the moment.I press the spare fob into her palm.She looks down at it.Then up at me.
“What’s this?”she asks, even though she knows exactly what it is.
“It’s yours,” I say simply.“Not as a favor, or something temporary.It’s yours forever.”
She doesn’t take it.“Zee, we already talked about—”
“I know.But this isn’t charity.It’s me starting to make things right.Please let me.”
Her throat works, and she looks like she might cry.She’s fighting the many reasons I know she’s come up with, for why she doesn’t feel right taking this, but my words seem to sink in this time.She shrugs, and looks like she’s about to give in.
“For you then,” she says, tip-toping up to give me a gently kiss.“Thank you.”
We don’t say anything else about it.We don’t need to.
