“He’s not my dog,” Caleb said, but they both knew it wasn’t true. As his brother crouched down to say hello to the bulldog, it was evident that Caesar had long since made his choice. He whimpered and burrowed as though he wouldn’t be satisfied until he shared Caleb’s skin. “Don’t take it to heart, Brother dear. I’m the one who really carries roast beef in my pocket.”

“As soon as you have somewhere permanent to live, you can have him.” Spencer gestured for Caleb to come the rest of the way in the house, where the duct-tape line was starting to peel in several places. “I’ll miss the old rascal, but it’s obvious he prefers you to me. I don’t have the heart to stand in the way of true love.”

Caleb released a low whistle. “It’s as bad as that, huh?”

Spencer didn’t have to answer. Caleb already knew.

“Then you’d better tell me what happened,” Caleb said. He came into the house, glanced around at the newly cleaned interior, and shook his head. “And don’t leave anything out. I haven’t seen the place look like this since the day I moved in.”

Spencer watched as his brother settled himself on the couch and patted for Caesar to join him. The ancient bulldog had trouble pulling himself up to that height, and Spencer had long since given up on asking him to make the attempt, but he managed to do it.

He did it because Caleb was the one asking. He did it because he wanted nothing more than to be near the person he loved most.

“How do you do it?” Spencer asked with a nod down at the pair of them.

Caleb lifted an enquiring eyebrow. “How do I make Caesar love me?”

“Caesar. Mom and Dad. Eva. Everyone.” Spencer tried not to sound bitter, but he didn’t have much success. He sounded bitter because he was bitter. “How is it that you can disappear for months at a time—years, even—and show up only to have everyone fall at your feet? What is it about you that’s so lovable? What do you have that I don’t?”

That last question came out dangerous, and Spencer could only hope his brother understood that his anger had nothing to do with Caleb and everything to do with himself. His whole life, he’d done all the things he was supposed to: got good grades, was kind to animals, paid his bills on time, and bailed his brother out when he needed it. When none of that made him happy, he’d changed course. He’d fallen for Ruby, broken all his self-imposed rules, and offered her everything he had.

And she’d rejected him.

“Is this a trick question?” Caleb stopped in the middle of petting Caesar, his hands poised motionless above his fur.