Page 71 of Nathan

I sit beside him. “Sure I will. On Tuesday.”

His lips twitch, and he presses his forehead to mine. Silence stretches between us, and it isn’t uncomfortable so much as necessary for us both to take a breath.

I break first. “Why did go to your parents’ house?”

His fingers entwine through a stray lock of my hair, and he brings it to his nose. The tenderness of his touch makes my heart clench. “How do you know me so well after such a short period of time?”

I hitch my right shoulder.

He sighs softly. “I guess after telling my brothers the secret I’d kept hidden for seven years, I yearned for the memories of when things were simpler. When I was still one of four.”

Releasing a protracted exhale, I say, “You’re still one of four. Don’t you see that?”

He stares at the wall opposite, thoughtfully rubbing his chin. “Maybe.”

“Did Ciaran talk to you before?”

“I didn’t give him a chance. Just stormed in here and began packing. Callum tried to apologize for his knee-jerk reaction, but I didn’t want to listen.”

Color me shocked.

“Are you ready to listen now? Because I think you should hear what they have to say before you run away like a spoiled brat who hasn’t gotten their own way.”

He cocks an eyebrow in warning, but I barrel on regardless.

“I understand where Callum was coming from, even if it came out wrong. It must be a hell of a shock to all of them. But come on, Nate, you’re not the only one affected by this. For God’s sake, don’t let something that happened twenty-eight years ago ruin your relationship with your brothers, or fuck up the memories of your mom. You’re better than that.”

His gaze drops to his feet. “Am I?”

I crawl onto his lap and nudge a finger under his chin until he gives me his eyes. “I wouldn’t be here if you weren’t.”

He captures one of my hands and presses a kiss to the inside of my wrist. “Okay, Titch. We’ll do this your way. Let’s go face the music.”

Nate’s brothers aren’t alone when we emerge into the living room, but as soon as Indie, Millie, and Laurella spot us, they all get to their feet.

“We’ll leave you to it,” Indie says.

“No, stay,” Nate says. “This affects all of us.” He looks at each one of his brothers in turn. “I’m sorry for running out. Guess I still have some growing up to do, as Dex rather gleefully pointed out.”

“Someone had to,” I mutter, earning a round of laughter from the room, and a hard stare from Nate.

“Come and sit down,” Declan says, gesturing to the sofa.

Callum gets to his feet to make room for Nate and me.

“Bro.” He claps Nate on the back. “Again, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean you’d found it easy when I said you’d had a chance to come to terms with it. I can’t imagine how awful it’s been for you to carry that around for so long. I feel like we’ve failed you.”

Nate drives out a hard sigh. “You haven’t failed me. I guess I built this moment up in my head for so long, I convinced myself I’d lose you. I overreacted. It’s me who should be the one apologizing to you.”

He takes a seat, tugging me down beside him to lace our fingers together, and he keeps brushing over my skin with his thumb, as if he craves the contact.

Ciaran perches on the coffee table and rests his forearms on his knees. “Nate, I’m only going to say one thing, on behalf of every one of us here, and then I’ll shut up and let you talk. You are our brother, our family. Nothing will ever change that. None of us give a flying fuck about genetics. We all love you so very much. All we need now is for you to let us.”

Aimee chooses that moment to let out a loud wail. Millie flashes an apologetic smile and gets to her feet. “Sorry, Nate.” She picks the baby out of the bassinet and rocks her.

“Can I hold her?” Nate asks.

I guess this must not be a normal request from him when the whole room falls silent. I glance around at a sea of shocked faces.

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