After dinner Carl and Casper helped Holden with the dishes which Jake and Seth thought was funny. The kitchen being as small as it was made the three men look like sardines in a can. Holden was wider and taller than the brothers and looked out of place as he stood in the middle of the speed-talking duo. Holden kept up with the conversation and laughed and joked right along with them.
With the dinner dishes put away and a couple of hours of mindless TV watching later they turned in for the night. Holden and Casper slept in sleeping bags in the living room. There was a movie on TV they wanted to watch. Seth took refuge in his room, locking the door behind him, and Carl and Jake shared the bed in the spare bedroom.
They shared a few kisses but nothing more. Tiredness took hold over both of them and they didn’t have the energy to go for a second round. It was probably for the best. Seth was driving them home first thing in the morning.
Home.
Jake couldn’t wait to get there and start his life with Carl.
Chapter Sixteen
The drive from Clawson back to Nehalem felt ten hours longer then the drive up. It had to be because Jake was eager to get home.
Seth had woken everyone up before the sun had even risen. They all walked around like zombies as they loaded up the Jeep and climbed inside. Jake sat in the middle with Carl and Casper on either side of him. As soon as they hit the highway both brothers fell asleep, leaning on him.
“Nehalem five more miles.” Holden pointed out. “I can’t wait to get home.”
“You missing Carson?” Jake asked.
“I am. I just came into his life and I don’t want him to forget about me.”
“Like Noah or Skyler would ever let that happen,” Jake reassured his friend.
Seth dropped him, Carl, and Casper off first then took Holden home. Jake thanked Seth for all he did to help them. Seth said not to mention it being as he was the one who brought Holden and Jake to Clawson in the first place.
It didn’t matter the reason behind it. Jake still thanked the man. He hoped to see more of Seth in the future but he wasn’t so certain of that. Seth liked his solitude and Jake didn’t think having him and Holden around changed that too much.
As Seth pulled away Jake waved one last goodbye, then shouldered their bags and walked up the steps of the Carsten house. He hadn’t grown up here but the house still felt like his home.
Home wasn’t necessarily where a person grew up, it’s where they make it and he made his here. Jake just hoped that Carl and Casper loved it just as much.
“This place is huge,” Casper said in awe.
“Yes it is.” He grinned over at the young wolf. “And plenty of room for everyone.” He dropped the bags on the porch and poked his head inside. “Hello!” Jake called out as he opened the door but no one answered back. He walked inside first. In the past he’d walked in on some of the mated couples going at it hot and heavy and didn't want his mate or his younger brother to witness that.
The house was quiet. No TV blaring in the family room or bickering brothers. Devon, Viktor, and Erik were brothers and as of lately Devon and Viktor had had their hands full with their younger sibling. Teenagers were an emotional sort of human beings.
Jake looked in the kitchen but no one was there either. “Huh, they all must be out.” Not too weird but Jake couldn’t think of a time since he moved in that someone hadn’t been home.
He pulled out his phone and was just about to dial Cole’s number when a car pulled up outside. Jake went to look out the front window and recognized Jensen’s, his brother Josh’s mate’s, car.
Josh hopped out of the driver’s seat and Jake headed for the door. He’d had his problems with his twin but damn those differences seemed so trivial now.
“Josh!” he hollered out as he ran down the steps. Shocked flashed across Josh’s face as Jake engulfed him in a bear hug. “I’ve missed you, brother.”
“Missed you too.” Josh hugged him back. “What’s going on?”
Jake had always been the quiet brother and neither he, Josh, or Cole had ever been overly affectionate with one another so this must have been awkward for Josh.
“Nothing.” Jake took a step back and looked into the face that resembled his own. “Just happy to see you.”
Josh stared at him for a moment longer then smiled at him. It was Jake’s turn to be surprised when Josh pulled him in for another hug. “Things are going to be different between us. I swear it.”
“I’m going to hold you to that.” Jake’s eyes stung with unshed tears. He’d already lost so much in his life and seeing what Carl and Casper had gone through made all the stupid grudges he had toward Josh for leaving after their father died seem petty. It was time for them all to let go of the past and live in the now.
He took a step back and rubbed a hand over his eyes. “I got some people I’d like you to meet.” Jake waved for Carl and Casper to come down the porch stairs. “Carl, Casper, this is my brother Josh.”
“Good to meet you.” Josh shook Casper’s hand then Carl’s.
“You look just like him,” Carl said in wonder as he stared up at Josh.
“We’re twins,” Josh said with a smile.
“I know but it still blows my mind that god put two gorgeous men like you on the planet.” Josh chuckled. Carl’s cheeks reddened and he dropped Josh’s hand. “Sorry I didn’t mean to say that out loud.”
“No worries.” Josh turned to Jake and nudged his head toward the
