Page 83 of Caged Bird

Ophelia bit her lip, clearly wanting to run to him, but she glanced at me. “He’s missed you almost as much as I have.”

Zane gave my hand a squeeze and then let it go, a silent encouragement.

I looked over at the man my sister loved, and a smile spread across my face. My footsteps got quicker, each one coming faster until I was running up the path and throwing myself at him.

He caught me at the last second, his blue eyes filled with tears he didn’t even try to hide.

He just engulfed me in strong arms, burying his face in my neck and lifting me off the ground.

I laughed, my feet dangling, and hugged him back. “You even smell the same,” I whispered in his ear.

“Are you really here?” he choked out, pulling back and looking me up and down. He ran his hand over my head in the way he used to.

I’d been so desperate to see something more in the action that now I knew was nothing more than brotherly.

He let out a slow breath. “Shit, you’re so much like Lia with your hair this color… I never realized…”

I smiled up at him. “I hear you’re dating my sister.”

He eyed me. “You gonna give me shit about that the way your brother does?”

Scythe cleared his throat. “I’ll have you know it’s only me who is witty enough to give you shit. Vincent is too polite.” He glanced over at Zane with a murderous glare. “But don’t worry, Augie. You’ve just been promoted to my new favorite brother-in-law.”

I sighed, and Augie followed Scythe’s line of sight to Zane, his gaze darkening before he turned back at me. “You’re not…he’s not…” He crossed his arms over his chest with a near identical expression to Scythe’s. “Nope. Not a chance in hell.”

“That’s what I’m saying!” Scythe threw in.

I sighed.

So apparently nobody liked Zane. I could hardly blame them, but after years of Eddie making every decision for me, I wasn’t about to let my siblings do the same. Even if their intentions were good.

Zane squeezed the back of my neck. “It’s okay. I can get a hotel.”

The thought of him leaving sent panic whipping through me. “No!”

I faced off with Scythe and Ophelia and Augie. “It’s been a long night. None of you have slept. But if you’re sending Zane away, then I’m going with him.”

Scythe and Augie both seemed like they wanted to argue, but Ophelia shook her head.

“You’ll stay here.” She sighed. “You’llbothstay here.”

Zane shifted his weight uncomfortably, but a sense of relief settled through me. I needed them.

But I wanted him.

I hugged my brother and promised I’d see him later that night after we’d all slept, and then I followed my sister and Augie into the home they’d made together.

I’d been to the little house in one of the worst parts of Saint View a handful of times back when Augie and I had been friends. Back then it hadn’t been much more than walls, a couch, and a TV.

It had been a bachelor pad, with a feeling of sadness that had been practically palpable every time you walked in the door.

It was anything but that now. The couch was still the same one I remembered, but now it was decorated with cute floral cushions, and a thick rug covered the floor. Plants grew in colorful pots, and family photos hung on the walls, Augie and Ophelia posing together in front of various international locations, and a few kids with big, cheesy smiles beaming at the camera.

I stopped to inspect them all.

“That’s Lexa and Mila.” Ophelia pointed at two little girls. “They’re Vincent’s girls.”

I touched my fingers to the glass gently. “I have nieces?”

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