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There were a few nods of approval around the table. I hoped it was obvious we’d put a lot of thought into our plans.
“How old is your brother?” Kit asked me.
“Reed is fourteen. He’ll be fifteen at the end of August, right before he starts tenth grade. He’s the reason our move is happening so quickly. I want to keep his privacy, but I can tell you two weeks ago, he was in crisis, and my family came to realize how bad his situation had become. We’ve decided, as a family, he’ll have a better shot at happiness living with Miles and me in Sacramento the next three years.”
“He can stay with us after he graduates too,” Miles added.
“Of course.” I smiled at him, a surge of love hitting me in the face. “He’ll probably be sick of us by then.”
“I can’t imagine he’d be sick of me,” he teased.
“Shut up, Spreadsheet,” I murmured.
With a low sob, Elise got up from her seat, circled behind Weston, and threw her arms around Miles then me. Her breaths were shuddery as she gave us a watery smile.
“My brother dropped everything for me when I needed him when I was in high school,” she whispered. “Sorry, I just—I love that you’re doing this for him. He’ll never forget the way you’re going to the mat for him.”
Miles stood and pulled her into his arms, giving her an all-encompassing hug. My eyes fell on Weston, who was watching his brother and wife with an expression I couldn’t decipher.
Then his gaze flicked to mine. “Thank you,” he murmured. “For standing with him.”
“He’s taking on me and my teenage brother,” I replied. “I’m sort of madly in love with the guy.”
That got a smile from Weston and an “aww” from Saoirse and Kit.
And just like that, the hard part was out of the way. We were peppered with questions for the rest of brunch, but the tone had switched from challenging to genuine curiosity. They seemed to understand we weren’t moving on a whim. We were going to save my brother’s life and carve out a new one for ourselves.
In the end, we hugged and kissed everyone, promising to stop by Elliot and Kit’s to squeeze baby Joey before we left. Weston and Elise lingered until it was the four of us outside the restaurant.
“I never pictured you leaving,” Weston said.
Miles slipped his arm around my waist. “I never had the right reason to.”
“I think you’re making the right decision,” he added.
Miles nodded. “I know we are, but it’s really fucking great to have your support.”
Elise looked up at her husband then back at us. “I hope you know you can always come back.”
“We know.” I bumped my head against Miles’ arm. “Luckily for us, the flight isn’t very long.”
Weston’s eyes narrowed on Miles. “You better not be planning on flying private on your monthly trips back. Do you have any idea the CO2 emissions—”
Miles’ cackle cut off Weston’s rant. “There’s my brother. I’m gonna miss you and Lisie something fierce.”
Weston frowned. “That’s not an answer.”
Miles laughed harder. “I guess you’ll have to wait and see.”
After a few more hugs, we walked away, melting into each other from laughter.
“His face,” Miles chuckled. “I bet he waited as long as he could to bring up CO2 emissions.”
“He loves you. They all do.”
“I know,” he said with an assuredness I hadn’t heard from him regarding the affections of his friends. “And I love you, Daisy-daze. I’m so fucking excited for what comes next.”
Packing. Cleaning. Driving for two days. Repeating the process in reverse. I honestly couldn’t wait either. With Miles and Reed, we were bound to make it fun.
