Page 78 of The Vet's Unconditional Love
"What's up?"Emmett asked.
"Nothing, now that I'm back.It took me longer than expected.Sorry, bud."
"There's nothing to be sorry for.I told you that you didn't need to rush."
"I didn't.I gave myself enough time to do everything I needed to.Trouble was, I didn't factor in Mav needing a word before I left.Harper left you alone, then?"
"She didn't want to.She was hanging around.But I told her, and I'll tell you—again—I'm fine by myself."
"I'm not saying you're incapable, I'm saying I want to be here.In case I can be useful."He looked around the house."I was gonna ask if there's anything I can do, but it looks like Harper's already taken care of everything."
Emmett looked around the living room.It looked...different.It wasn't as though Harper had been cleaning or rearranging anything.But somehow the place looked and felt more...lived in than it had for years.He liked it.
When Blane went to stand in the corner and took up his usual stance, Emmett raised his eyebrows.
"Oh, for fuck's sake.I'll sit down if it makes you feel better."Blane came to sit in the armchair across from him.
"Thanks," said Emmett.
"You're welcome.So, what's the plan?"
Emmett chuckled.That was the way Blane worked; he'd expect a plan for Emmett's recovery.
"To get better as fast as I can and get things back to normal."
"Yeah, that's the big picture.But what do the next couple of days look like?"
"Janey's on her way over.We're going to go through the appointments for the rest of the week."
"She's covering today and tomorrow, right?And then what do you want to do?Are you holding out for getting back out there?Am I acting as your chauffeur and assistant?"
"I'm hoping so," said Emmett."But I'll have to convince Janey."
"That's why I'm asking now, before she gets here.If I've already decided that I'm going to be with you the whole time, she's less likely to argue—or to think she might win."
"Thanks."
Most people thought of Blane as stubborn; Emmett knew better.Almost everything Blane did was calculated, and once he had the objective, he was already three moves in.
"Yeah, want me to fix you a drink or anything?"
"We might as well wait until Janey arrives.She should be here any..."
His words trailed off, and they smiled at each other when they heard a vehicle pull up outside.Blane started to get to his feet, but Emmett held up a hand."There's no need to get the door.You're not the only one who just marches right on in here, you know."
One side of Blane's mouth quirked up into a half smile."Good to know.But then, I guess, Janey considers you a brother the same way I do."His smile grew wider, and he added, "Just that she thinks of you as a big brother while to me, you're my little brother."
"Three days, Blane.You were born three days before me."
Blane chuckled as he got to his feet."Could have been three minutes, Mitty.The amount of time doesn't matter.The fact that I arrived first is all that counts—it puts me in big brother territory."
"And don't I know it," said Emmett.
"You should by now.It ain't ever going to change."
"Hey, guys," Janey called as she came in through the front door."How are we doing?"She went to Blane first and went up on her tiptoes to kiss his cheek as he gave her a hug.
"I'm good, Janey.Just keeping an eye on this fella so he doesn't cause any more trouble.How about you, darlin’?"
