Page 2 of Only Ever You

I close my eyes and push myself off the branch. I’m not sure I trust either of them to catch me, but maybe they can …

Oof.

I land on something soft and slowly open my eyes.

Somehow, they’ve caught me between them, and we’ve fallen in a heap on the ground.

I let out a delighted laugh and even grumpy Lucas smiles.

“I’m sorry,” I whisper.

Lucas wraps his arms around me. “As long as you’re safe, little sis.”

He plants a kiss on my cheek, and I giggle. “Thank you for saving me.”

“That’s what big brothers are for.”

A loud crack above us makes both Lucas and me look up. Deacon’s scaled the tree, reaching the branch Roger’s on, and he’s got one arm out to grab him.

Roger loves Deacon, and before I know it, he’s rubbing himself on Deacon’s hand. Deacon grabs him and drops down off the tree in an instant.

I hold my arms out for Roger, and he comes to me, purring so loudly and headbutting my face.

“Don’t climb the tree again, Pipsqueak. You’ll hurt yourself. Let one of us do it,” Deacon says.

Lucas rolls his eyes. “Don’t make her promises like that.”

“Why not? You don’t want your sister hurt, do you?”

He shuffles on his feet. “No.”

I love Deacon.

Chapter Two

Deacon

Age twelve

“Have you seen Katie Peters?” Lucas asks.

I shake my head. We’ve spent summer hanging out together before our move across the other side of town last week. I’m not sure what I’m going to do without my best friend being right next door.

“She got boobs over the summer. Sprouted out of nowhere. I’m so asking her out.”

I snort. “As if you’re allowed to date yet.”

“Boobs?”

Lucas glares at his little sister. She’s so quiet, sitting on the deck beside the table we’re lounging around. She’s holding a crayon in her hand, her hazel eyes flicking between me and Lucas.

“Go back to your colouring, Pippa. This is grown-up conversation,” Lucas growls.

Anyone else might feel threatened by his tone, but Pippa bursts out laughing and shakes her head, her dark pigtails flapping around. “Stop being silly, Lucas. You’re a kid.”

He goes to stand, and I shove him back in his seat. “What the hell are you doing?”

“She’s making fun of me.” He puffs out his chest. “Some people think I’m very grown up.”

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