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Andrew was annoyed the moment he turned the corner and saw the cars in the driveway. The two of you had recently moved into the house and his brothers took your ‘the door is always open’ a little too literally. He made sure to park where he wasn’t blocking anyone in. They’d be leaving soon.
He entered the house, eyes running over the group gathered in his living room. You were nowhere to be seen. Deran and Adrian sat on one of the couches while Craig slouched on the other, obviously high. “Where is she?”
Craig pointed toward the ceiling. “Where she always is, man. The roof.”
Andrew froze, his eyes darting over to Deran who merely nodded.
“You knew she was heading up there and you just let her?” Pope’s voice was all gravel by this point, fists clenching at his sides.
“Let her?” Adrian said with a laugh as he gestured at Craig. “He helped her.”
Pope took a step toward his idiot brother.
Craig held up his hands. “Listen, she was doing it anyway. I just helped out.”
“Doing what?”
When Craig didn’t answer, Pope shifted his attention to Deran again. “She built a ladder into the side of the house.”
“She couldn’t find yours. Said it would be easier anyway,” Craig said with a shrug.
“I hid it.”
Craig blinked slow as he processed his brother’s words. “Why?”
“Probably to keep her off the roof, genius,” Deran said.
Craig blinked again. “Oh.”
Pope ignored them all, his long strides carrying him through the house and up the stairs until he reached your bedroom. The door to the small balcony was open, curtains blowing in the breeze. He stretched his neck and took a deep breath forcing himself to calm. He was Andrew for you. Never Pope.
And he wasn’t mad. Not at you. He was worried. Terrified actually that you’d slide right off the edge of the roof one day and he wouldn’t be there to catch you.
After one more calming breath, Andrew climbed up the ladder you’d screwed into the side of the house. It seemed sturdy but he’d examine it later to make certain. As soon as his head cleared the eave and he could see you, something in him just eased. Even when you were putting yourself in stupidly dangerous situations, your mere presence was enough to calm him. Slightly.
“We talked about this,” he said in lieu of a greeting.
Your head snapped over and he watched your whole face light up at the sight of him.
“Andrew! You’re home.” You patted the patch of roof beside you.
“Thought you weren’t going to come up here anymore.” Even as he said the words, he took his spot next to you. It was where he belonged. Where he always belonged. But he’d prefer it if you were on the ground. He could be next to you on the ground, too.
“I told you I’ve been doing this for years,” you said, leaning into his side and resting your head on his shoulder. You’d been escaping chaos and seeking peace on rooftops since you were a kid.
He kissed the top of your head. “It’s not safe.”
“But it’s so peaceful up here and look at the view.”
Andrew shook his head. You were already next to the beach. Why you needed to see more water he didn’t know. “It would be quieter if you quit letting my brothers come over.”
You nudged his side. “They don’t mean any harm. They like it here. Besides, I told them if they make a mess, they can’t come over any more.”
He huffed. “They can be clean and still be loud.”
Your laugh was quiet but Andrew loved to hear it just the same.
“I don’t like you coming up here.” It was the same discussion the two of you had been having since the first time he’d found you perched on the roof.
“Andrew—”
“Let me finish,” he interrupted. “I’ll put a railing along the edge. In case you fall. If I’m home you tell me and I’ll come up with you.”
You tilted your head to look up at him. “Won’t that look weird? Having a railing on the roof?”
“Who gives a shit?” He didn’t care what it looked like to anyone else. He just wanted you safe.
After another moment, you looked out at the view again, hands wrapping around his arm. “Okay, Andy, but don’t make it too tall. You’ll ruin the view.”
He hummed in acknowledgment. “Can’t have that.” He pulled out his phone and called Deran. “Leave,” was all he said when his brother answered, then he hung up.
You laughed again, the sound brighter, louder this time.
Andrew’s lips twitched up into a smile. “We should go inside. It’s time to eat.”
“Five more minutes.”
“Five more minutes,” he agreed immediately. “Then we go inside. And no coming out here without me until I get it fixed up.”
“K. Love you.” Your words were slow and tired.
“Love you,” he echoed. He’d give you your five minutes then you were going inside. The last thing his nerves needed was you falling asleep out here.