Grabbing Hold (The Motorcycle Kid #1)

27. Baby Steps

"What are you guys doing out here?"

Both Emma and Elliott jumped as their brother stepped out on the porch. Emmett was in nothing but his underwear, his hair shaggy and falling into his eyes. In his hand, a box of Lucky Charms. He stuffed another handful into his mouth as he waited for an answer.

Emma couldn't help but smile in amusement. "We could ask you the same question. It's almost three in the morning."

Emmett shrugged, squeezing himself into the space his siblings. "I was hungry."

"You couldn't get a bowl or something? You know how Mom hates us eating straight from the box-"

She scowled as Elliott stuck his hand into the box, completely disregarding her rant.

"What?" he asked defensively, his mouth full. "A guy's gotta eat."

Emma stared at him for a while, trying to place his thoughts. She was glad he'd stopped crying- she'd had no idea what to do. What did you say to someone in Elliott's position? It's okay didn't quite seem to cut it.

Also, that had been the first time she'd ever seen her eldest brother cry, and it had shaken her to the core. To Emma, Elliott had always been a pillar of strength, the brother who would protect her at all costs. She'd cried in his arms. Bawled, even.

What happened to you? she wanted to ask him. What happened to my brother?

Even now, Elliott was putting on a brave face, joining Emmett in eating cereal so he didn't have to explain why there were tear stains down his face. Why he couldn't sleep. Why he was outside on the porch steps at two-something in the morning, crying to his little sister.

Without knowing it, Emma reached across Emmett's lap to take Elliott's hand in her own.

Her eyes sent a silent message.

I got you.

He squeezed her fingers tightly before letting go. Emma leaned on Emmett's shoulder, her gaze drifting to the moon's reflection on the surface of Lake Minley.

"Pretty, ain't it?"

"Yeah," whispered Elliott. "Yeah, it is."

"Guys," Emmett said warily as they all registered Charlotte's footsteps on the stairs. "You know Mom's gonna kill us, right?"

Emma groaned, bracing herself for their mother's yelling.

"I'm not even going to ask," said Charlotte quietly as she stepped through the door. Without another word, she motioned them inside, waiting for them to move. Elliott chuckled as Emmett tried to hide the box of cereal behind him.

And in classic Daniel fashion, failed miserably.

Charlotte's eyes narrowed as she stared at the ground, which was now covered in Lucky Charms.

"Emmett Anthonio Daniel."

Emmett ducked to avoid her slap, but she clamped down on his shoulder. Fleetingly, she looked over at Elliott and Emma, who were grinning at their brother.

"You two get back inside."

She returned her attention to her younger son.

"As for you?" She gave him a solid wallop on the head. "Get the broom."

The next time Emma woke up, it was her cell phone that had blared into life. She was having serious regrets about her choice of ringtone as she pressed the answer button in the middle of Harry Styles' opening notes.