“Emerson,” Emerson stepped in, offering a hand to Bailey and then?—
“And this is my brother Jacob,” Luca filled in as Emerson and Jacob shook hands.
“The best brother,” Jacob added.
“I hear there are lots of brothers,” Emerson said, and both Bailey and Jacob chuckled.
“The one who’s not here is obviously the worst one,” Jacob said. “A traitor to fuckingSeattle.But me and this one”—he threw a pointed thumb Luca’s way—“shared a room throughout our childhoods, so?—”
“We’re trauma bonded,” Luca finished, and Jacob grinned.
“Yeah. That.”
Five minutes inside the Yaegers’ house, and Emerson was already learning so much about Luca’s life. It should have feltoverwhelming, maybe; he should have felt more under-prepared to meet Luca’s family. But now that he and Luca had settled the whole naming-what-they-were-doing thing, now that he’d taken a breath, now that the introductions had started, Emerson felt almost surreally at ease. It was like this whole day was made of magic, a bubble where Emerson could have it all.
Except then something in Luca’s face fell, his forehead creasing in concern. He was reaching a hand toward Emerson when an older man bustled into the room, walking right between them, splitting them apart.
“Hello!” The man placed two six-packs on the kitchen counter before turning around. “Sorry to have missed the greeting party. Bailey, yes? And Emerson.” Luca’s dad’s handshake was firm, his eyes deep brown and inviting. “I’m Adrian. Welcome to our home.”
Adrian, with his salt-and-pepper hair, was also incredibly hot. Like what Luca would look like in thirty years. Emerson tried to act normal about it.
“Thank you for inviting me.”
“You’re both welcome any time. Although—how have neither of you dug into these yet?”
He walked past the group to the dining room table, where an array of photo albums was arranged.
“Seriously?” Jacob asked. “Thefirsttime she’s?—”
“Of course!” Adrian exclaimed. “Miss the opportunity for a twofer? Get to embarrass two of my sons at the same time? Please, Bailey, Emerson, get yourself a drink and dig in.”
A twofer. Guess that confirmed that question. Emerson’s mouth twitched on a smile.
“Do you want something to drink?” Luca asked, voice low and close to Emerson’s ear.
“Sure,” Emerson said as he took a seat. “I’ll take a beer.” He could have more beach days. He could have more beer. Hepulled a photo album closer. Luca watched him for a beat longer, as if making sure Emerson was okay, before retreating to the kitchen.
Emerson hadn’t turned past the first page by the time Luca returned with a beer for each of them.
“You’re gonna have to explain to me who all these people are. All the babies look the same.”
Luca finally smiled again, pointing out his older brothers Kjell and Daniel, aunts and uncles and cousins as they turned the pages. It was all interesting and charming; Emerson particularly loved seeing Leah and Adrian in the old photos, and the snapshots of an older Greyfin Bay. Almost every photo, from the beginning, took place in this exact house.
But Emerson wanted to see more of Luca.
He finally showed up at the very end of that first album—red and screaming as a newborn.
Emerson smiled, running a finger over the photographs.
“Show me more,” he said, waving to the rest of the albums. “One with more of you.”
Without complaint, Luca slid another over. Bailey and Jacob were similarly absorbed in their own album across the table.
“Do you have baby photos?” Luca asked Emerson, low again, only for Emerson to hear, as they flipped through the pages of Luca as a toddler.
Emerson nodded, smiling at how chubby Luca was.
“I do. I took some with me when I left after high school. They’re in a box somewhere in the house. I can find them for you if you want. The baby photos are all I have, though. My parents stopped taking many, I think, around this age.”
