Wayward Wolf

Brotherly Advice

Evelyn

It's been almost a whole twenty-four hours since I left Ray's house and so far, it's been completely miserable. Even though the triplets have been at the house all morning and so have Emme and Trev, I've just been lying on the couch watching baby shows on the TV while Emme uses the coffee table and couches to walk in circles around the living room.

The moment I was home, Trav asked if anything happened. When I told him no, I wanted it to be a lie even though it wasn't. He seemed relieved and all I wanted to do was ugly cry and spend the rest of my life in bed. The ache in my chest hasn't eased, if anything it's spread to just about every corner of my body. The pinky toe of my right foot might be the only thing not pulsing with hurt.

A shadow falls over me, but I don't bother moving my eyes from the weird Australian dog kids on the TV. I can smell that it's Trev and I really don't want a big brother move on talk. Again. Trav gave me one this morning. He actually used the phrase there's plenty of fish in the sea, which just made my insides cringe. I didn't respond to him, just glared at him until he left me alone. What I wanted to tell him was to imagine if I said that if Val left him. Sure there's plenty of fish in the sea, but there's only one Ray.

"Good morning, starshine," Trev croons with what sounds like his signature goofy grin.

Despite myself I mumble back, "The earth says hello."

My brother snickers a little and walks around the couch before collapsing on top of my legs. Normally I'd moan and groan about what a jerk he is, but I just watch Emme as she finally takes her wide, fixated gaze off the TV and looks back at her father. With a squeal she starts moving towards him, her hands slapping down onto the coffee table and her legs almost tripping over one another in her hurry. Trev wraps his hands under her armpits and lifts her up onto his lap.

"Hello, sugar pie. Have you been cheering up Aunt Evie in here or just ignoring her in favor of that silly blue dog?"

Instead of paying attention to her father, Emme turns and sits her diapered tush down to continue gazing at the TV. She has no idea what exactly is going on, but it doesn't seem to bother her much as she leans forward to grab her feet. At the same moment, Nicky and Nay come tumbling in on four legs, tails wagging before they leave as quickly as they came. Ryan comes wandering in after, still in his skin side, but sits on the floor when he becomes just as entranced as Emme in the TV.

"How you doin'?" Trev asks, splaying one hand over Emme's stomach and chest so she doesn't tip off his lap. I give him a deadpan look and he just purses his lips. "Right."

"Sad?" a soft little voice asks. Ryan looks back at me, bright blond hair combed back from his face.

I pinch my fingers together so there's a tiny space left between them. "Just a little."

He potters over on his still chubby legs and gives me a kiss on the cheek. "No sad?"

"One more," I tell him, turning my face to expose my other cheek. He gives me one more kiss before giving me a big smile and sitting back down on the floor. "Thank you, Rye."

It's quiet again besides the sound of the TV and the distant sound of Nicky and Nay squealing. They're probably in Dad's office, bugging him. He loves it though. Those girls are maniacs, but they have everyone wrapped around their teeny, tiny fingers.

"When did you become so passive, Evie?" Trev asks, not looking away from the TV.

"What do you mean?"

Trev looks over at me with a brow raised. "Where'd all the fire go? When did you start letting other people make decisions for you? I would've expected you to tell Ray Dupont what for and that you aren't leaving his house until he bucks up and gives you a real answer."