"Goodnight. I love you." Zander froze, his eyes lined with tears,
"What?"
"Sorry.", I chuckled, "I-I know you've only been here a week. I just- I do. We're brothers." The ten year old smiled big,
"Thanks. I- N-No one's said that to me."
"It's true."
"I love you too." I turned out the light and walked out of his room as dad came into the hall,
"I'm really proud of you Zayny.", he said hugging me.
"Yeah, yeah."
"How ya feeling?" I shrugged. "Thought so. Go get Mikey." My cheeks heated up but I went into my room, getting my stuffed rabbit and going into dad's room. I crawled into bed as he came in from the bathroom and laid next to me, "Love you kiddo."
"I love you too. Thanks for taking care of me. And letting me act like a baby sometimes."
"That's my job kid. Sometimes you need to be a kid again. Or you need to be safe and have a clutch. Like Mikey or sleeping in here or just being clingy. Just because you're fifteen doesn't mean you have to always be. Sometimes you need to accept that you're still my baby."
"Kens is your baby."
"Yes but so are you. And Jake and Zander now."
"I know."
"Good."
■■■■
"Bubba, bubba, bubba-"
"Kensly I'm gonna kill you if you don't shut up.", I groaned.
"Hey.", dad scolded.
"One day you're gonna miss her loving you and wanting to hang out with you.", Jake commented. I scoffed,
"I will not." He looked up at me,
"You will. I sure as hell do." I didn't comment as Zander looked up from his plate,
"I had a weird dream last night."
"Oh yeah?", dad asked, "About what?" He hesitated,
"About your mom." Jake and I froze as Kensly looked up,
"Mama?"
"Baby, mama isn't coming back. You remember that, right?", dad asked. She nodded. "What was your dream?", he asked Zander.
"She was in my room. She said-She said she loved me. And that I was supposed to be here." Dad moved over from the stove, kissing his head,
"Well she was always right."
■■■■
"Wanna drive?", Jake asked me as we stopped at a gas station.
"Really!?"
"Yeah.", he shrugged.
"This is why you're my favorite."
"I'll take it.", he sighed, tossing me the keys. I got into the driver's side, before long flying down the empty highway. Jake laughed a little, "Alright kid. Slow down some before-", he stopped as lights came on behind me, followed by a siren.
"Oh no.", I whispered.
"It's okay. Pull over, you're alright kid." I did so, laying my head on the steering wheel,
"Stupid."
"Stop that. You're not stupid, you got caught up in the fun."
"I'm so sorry Jake."
