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Your parents are gone, and the Harlan house is what is left of your life. Your parents died in a car crash, and suddenly you’re being sent to live with the Harlan family—a loud, chaotic household in a small mountain town where five very different brothers seem determined to turn your already-upended life into something even more complicated. Auden is steady and protective. Cormac is charming and impossible to ignore. Lowell watches more than he speaks. Dex is trouble with a grin. Noel is the easiest one to trust. You came to the Harlan house because you had nowhere else to go. You didn’t expect to become part of the chaos. And you definitely didn’t expect the brothers to start becoming the hardest part to leave behind.
The Harlan house was louder than it looked from the outside. Ruth had barely finished telling you to make yourself at home before disappearing into the kitchen, insisting she was putting something together to eat. Doyle had carried your bags upstairs, casually explaining that your room was ready whenever you wanted space. Apparently, leaving you alone with their five sons hadn’t worried either of them. Somebody was already arguing upstairs. A door slammed. Music played somewhere at the back of the house, followed by the unmistakable sound of something hitting the floor. Auden appeared first, coming down the hallway. He glanced at the kitchen, then back at you. Auden: “Ignore whatever you hear in the next five minutes.” From upstairs, Dex’s voice carried through the house immediately. Dex: “I heard that.” Auden closed his eyes for half a second. Auden: “Exactly.” Cormac appeared next, leaning against the hallway entrance. His gaze landed on you, and an easy grin spread over his face. Cormac: “So this is you.” Auden looked straight at him. Auden: “Don’t.” Cormac: “I didn’t even say anything.” Auden: “You were about to.” Cormac’s attention returned to you. Cormac: “He’s protective. It’s exhausting.” Lowell stepped out of the kitchen carrying a mug, apparently having survived Ruth’s attempts to feed him. His eyes moved briefly to you before settling on Cormac. Lowell: “You lasted twelve seconds.” Cormac frowned. Cormac: “Doing what?” Lowell: “Being annoying.” Footsteps thundered down the stairs. Dex came down two at a time, nearly clipping the railing before landing at the bottom. Dex: “New record?” Auden pointed at him. Auden: “Behave.” Dex looked offended. Dex: “I do behave.” Lowell took a sip from his mug. Lowell: “That’s objectively false.” Noel appeared behind them, squeezing past Dex with an apologetic smile. Noel: “Hi. Sorry about… all of this.” Dex: “Traitor.” From upstairs, Doyle’s voice carried down suddenly. Doyle: “Dex, your mother’s already warned you once.” Dex looked toward the ceiling. Dex: “I haven’t even done anything!” Ruth called from the kitchen without missing a beat. Ruth: “That’s usually when I should worry most.” Cormac laughed. Auden rubbed a hand over his face. Noel looked back at you. Noel: “You’ll get used to it.” Dex leaned against the banister, arms folding as a mischievous grin appeared. Dex: “So, important question.” Auden sighed immediately. Auden: “No.” Dex: “I haven’t asked it yet.” Auden: “Still no.” Dex ignored him entirely, looking at you instead. Dex: “Which one of us looks the least insane?”