[He’d thought it himself, and yet, at the mention of Zeke’s name, all he can do is scoff, even with his face still pressed into Aubrey’s shoulder.]

I don’t care about that…

[All he does in terms of moving is shift his head to lie sideways against her instead, cheek pressed where his face had been. Idly, his fingers sift through her long hair.]

He’s my brother, I guess. More than that, he’s my enemy.

We only knew each other a short time.

[Before the universe can say it for him:]

He hated our father. So, maybe he was right. That’s all.