Page 4 of Lost the Handle

Emery

“This is your fault.”

My brow furrows as I cut my gaze to my siblings, the accusation coming from one of my older brothers. Not sure which since I’m in a state of shock. This is not what I expected to come home to. I should have called. Let someone know I was coming, but that isn’t my style.

I like the element of surprise, yet I’m the one shook.

Each of my siblings stands with their arms crossed, their noses scrunched up, and visible distress on their faces. We all mirror one another, dark features, bright gray eyes, and a balanced mixture of our parents. Most of the time, I love my siblings, but then there are moments when they put all the blame on me, and I find them utterly annoying.

Aiden snuck out? It’s because Emery left the door open. God forbid he closed the damn door and stayed home! Stella lost her favorite pair of shoes? Emery stole them. Or maybe, they’re under all the clothes on Stella’s floor. Asher’s computer crashed? Emery downloaded a virus. Yup, it wasn’t the loads of porn he had all over his hard drive.

Jackasses.

It’s always me.

Joys of being the baby of the Brooks family.

“How in the hell is Mom and Dad selling the house my fault?” My voice is full of venom and anger.

Stella sets me with a glare. “If you hadn’t moved to California, they wouldn’t have sold it.”

I gawk at her. “All three of you moved out before I did.”

“But you’re the one who was supposed to stay until you found someone who isn’t scared of you murdering them in their sleep,” Asher throws at me, his eyes in slits. “Now our family home has been sold.”

“All because you couldn’t just stay home. It’s selfish, really,” Aiden muses, shaking his head. “Way to go, Emery.”

The audacity.

“Or it’s the fact that all three of you got married and are now reproducing, leaving our parents alone with each other, thinking they don’t need a space so big?”

“I’m not reproducing,” Stella says with a blissful exhale. “I’m enjoying married life.”

“Stella,” Aiden warns. “I don’t want to kick Wes’s ass.”

“For what? Doing married stuff? Bruh, that ship has sailed. We do all that—and more.”

Asher gags. “Ew.”

“Because Alexis came from a stork.”

A sneaky grin pulls at my brother’s lips at the mention of his sweet daughter. “Nope, that was all me.” He winks. “Strong swimmers.”

“Exactly.” Stella rolls her eyes. “But our marital lives have nothing to do with the fact that our family home has been sold.”

A silence falls over us as we stare up at our home. Over the years, the colors of the shutters and front door have changed. Along with the roof, which is now made of black tin thatDad loves when it rains. The house is large—three stories—and stunning. This home holds so many memories. Other than Aiden, each of us was brought here from the hospital. Birthday parties, anniversary parties, Stanley Cup celebrations… But most of all, we were loved by two of the greatest people here.

Lucas and Fallon Brooks.

When the second-chance romance trope was invented, it was because of my parents and their love story.

Though, now, I guess I’m trying to write my own epic story.

With the guy I left behind.

Not that I can dwell on that at the moment.

I know I shouldn’t say anything, but it’s hard for me to keep my mouth shut. “But our life changes are the reason they sold the house.” My brothers and sister once more shoot me a glare. “What? It’s true. If we’d stayed little forever, we wouldn’t be standing here mourning the loss of our home.”

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