Page 126 of The Way Home

“I’ve got you,” Jamie murmured softly, his other hand rubbing his back. Caleb stayed there for a long moment, listening to Jamie’s heartbeat and the rhythm of his breathing as it slowly returned to normal. Eventually, and with great effort, he shifted enough to look up at him.

Jamie’s hair was a mess, his cheeks flushed. The sleepy, contented look on his face made Caleb’s breath catch.

At what point during this trip had Caleb started letting Jamie take care ofhim?

Jamie brushed a thumb along Caleb’s cheek. “Shower before dinner?”

Turning his head to the side, Caleb kissed Jamie’s palm. “Yeah.”

Dinner went smoothly, even though Caleb could feel the jet lag hitting him harder by the minute. He was starving, though, and Jamie, bless him, insisted they order more food than they could possibly eat so they’d have leftovers for tomorrow.

Mike was actually…reallychill.

Not that Caleb thought Bri would date an asshole, but she had always been so low-key. Quiet and reserved, a little like their father. Mike was like a walking ray of sunshine with endless energy.

Most of his attention had shifted to Jamie, peppering him with questions about growing up in Britain. Jamie talked about himself far more than usual, probably to carry the social burden of the outing so Caleb didn’t have to.

Mike popped a garlic knot into his mouth and chewed. “Have y’all been out to California at all? To visit Tay?”

Jamie glanced nervously at Caleb and shook his head. “No, but I’d rather like to. This is my first time in the States. I want to meet Caleb’s whole family eventually.”

He squeezed Caleb’s thigh under the table.

“Me too,” Bri said softly, earning surprised looks from all three men. “I’d like to visit… her.”

Caleb’s hand tightened slightly on his water glass at the wordher. He’d never heard Bri use Tay’s correct pronouns before.

While Jamie carried most of the conversation, nowenthusiastically describing his own hoard of siblings, Caleb found himself watching his sister more carefully. And Mike.

When Bri asked the waiter a dozen questions about the wine list, Mike leaned back and smiled at her. When she asked what kind he wanted, he shrugged and said, “Whatever you’re having, babe.” All the while, his arm stayed slung leisurely around Bri’s shoulders or his hand resting over hers on the table.

Caleb hadn’t realized how much he was studying them until Bri laughed at something Jamie said, startling him from his thoughts.

Bri had been a pretty uptight kid growing up, always trailing behind Tay and trying to do every single activity she did. Dance, choir, softball—whatever Tay signed up for, Bri followed.

When Tay came out as trans and announced she was moving away, Bri became lost. And while Caleb hadn’t agreed with the way she reacted back then, he suddenly felt like a pretty shitty brother for never checking in afterward.

After they finished dinner, with Jamie and Mike fighting over the bill, they said their goodbyes with a round of hugs. In the parking lot, Caleb pulled Bri aside and tugged her into his chest.

“Mike’s not so bad,” he joked, earning a small smile and a quick glance over her shoulder at her boyfriend.

“I don’t know why he hangs out with me,” she said with a shrug. “But yeah… he’s pretty great.”

“Are you kidding me? He’s lucky you let him near you.”

Caleb tucked a loose strand of her dark hair behind her ear. She looked so much like their mom.

“I’m… I promise I’ll visit more than I have.” A small frown appeared between her eyebrows as he added quietly, “I miss you, Bri.”

She blinked back tears and kissed his cheek before stepping away. Bri hated crying in front of people.

“Miss you too. I’ll see you tomorrow, okay? Ten still good?”

“Yeah. Ten’s good.”

She looked down at her hands.

“Caleb, the doctor told me today that it’s not looking good. I… I think it’s a matter of weeks.”