“You shouldn’t worry so much,” Zev said, getting his attention. He turned in his seat and cupped one of Fox’s cheeks. “I can tell you’re worried that you won’t get your memories back. But you will, Fox.”
“What if I never get them back, and I become someone new? A stranger who looks like your brother but is nothing like him?”
Zev smiled. “No matter what happens or who you become, you will always be my little brother. I’ll continue to spoil, support, and care for you.”
“You deserve a brother who remembers you.”
Zev shook his head. “I deserve the brother I have.” He stroked a knuckle along Fox’s cheek. “Come on, let’s get inside. I can’t wait for Emma to meet a new family member. She’s been missing you.”
“Emma? Who’s Emma?”
During his stay at the hospital, he’d met his grandparents, uncles, aunts, and cousins. Thinking back, he couldn’t recall if any of their names were Emma—he would have remembered because it didn’t have an animal meaning.
“Seriously, who’s Emma?” Fox asked again.
Zev didn’t answer him but got out of the car, leaving Fox to follow. Just as they got out of the vehicle, the French stained doors opened, and Aria and Barret walked out. Zev took Genesis’s car seat from him as Barret hurried down the stairs and picked him up, surprising the shit out of him.
“What the hell are you doing?” Fox looked at the older man in astonishment.
“Picking you up, what does it look like?”
“But why? I can walk, you know.”
“You can, but I’m going to make sure you follow the doctor’s instructions. You’re not allowed to go up and down stairs for a couple of weeks.”
“If I remember correctly, there are a couple of staircases in the house, so do you plan to carry me around for the next few days?”
“Don’t be cheeky,” Barret gently chastised, only it felt familiar to Fox as if that was how their conversations naturally went. “If I want to carry you around the house, then I will. I did it when you were a baby, and I’ll do it now that you’re an adult.”
“I don’t have a say in the matter, do I?”
“You always have a say, but on this one, no. Besides, good little children should always listen to their parents. However, you’ve never been the most obedient. You get that from your mother.” The last part he whispered. “Don’t tell your mother I said that.”
“Too late, my love. I heard you loud and clear.”
Fox and Barret turned to see Aria standing next to him.
“I said that with love, my darling.”
Aria sighed, cupping Barret’s cheek. “I know, and I’ll punish you for your comment later.”
Fox noticed the smirk on Barret’s face, and the look in Aria’s eyes spoke loudly of what the punishment would entail. He could also tell they were deeply in love, and as lovely as it was to see such affection, he felt a bit uncomfortable since they were eye-fucking each other while Barret was still holding him. In his previous life, Fox grew up in a home where loving affection, of any type, was prohibited. Fox couldn’t remember if he’d ever seen his uncle hug his aunt.
My life’s not the fucking same anymore.
“You’ll get used to it,” Zev whispered in his ear. “They’re always like this. Word of warning; be careful when walking into a room. You might see something you cannot unsee.”
“Quit trying to scare your brother,” Aria chastised.
“Who’s trying?” Zev asked. “You guys go at it so much, I’m surprised we don’t have more siblings.”
“You two were enough,” Barret chuckled. “The antics you two got into gave us headaches.”
“We weren’t that bad,” Zev said.
“Explain how Fox broke his arm at five,” Aria said.
“I told him not to climb the tree, but he didn’t listen,” Zev defended. “Why are you always bringing that up?”
