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Emily
“How’s it going so far?”
Henry smiles at me, sipping his beer. Another party rages around us, and I have no clue how these guys can possibly put up with it. Henry, for his part, seems to enjoy all the work and the attention that goes into throwing these things. To be fair, he caters them and hires people to clean up, but still. It’s stressful for me, and it’s not even my house.
“It’s going great,” I say to him. “Honestly, I can’t thank you enough.”
He waves that away. “I’m just happy you’re here. I’m sorry we haven’t gotten to spend more time together.”
“It’s okay,” I say. “I mean, I did crash your plans.”
He laughs. “Okay, yeah, we didn’t expect to have my little sister around, that’s true. I hope this isn’t too much… bro stuff.”
I shrug. “The guys are really nice.”
I glance away from Henry and catch Daniel watching us, a little smile on his face. My breath catches in my throat and I really, really hope that Henry doesn’t read into my comment too much.
“Good,” he says, totally oblivious, thankfully. “They can be totally assholes sometimes, but I told them to be on their best behavior. And that you’re off limits.”
I look back at him. “Off limits?”
“Sure. I mean, they’re a bunch of players. I don’t want you getting wrapped up with them.”
“Players?”
He shrugs. “We’re all… how do I put this without sounding like an asshole?” He sighs and sips his drink. “We’re all of a certain status. And when you’re a single guy, sometimes that status helps get what you want.”
“I get it,” I say, not really needing a lecture on how attractive people get what they want from my older brother. Sometimes he thinks I’m still a little kid or something, like I’ve never been out in the world.
“Anyway, they’re a bunch of bachelors. I don’t want you to get hurt.”
“I can take care of myself,” I say, and regret it immediately.
He frowns at me. “I know that. I’m just trying to be a better older brother.”
“I know, I know,” I say quickly. “And I appreciate it, I really do.”
That seems to help a bit. He looks away from me, out at the crowd of people. “I barely know anyone here,” he admits.
“Really?”
“It’s always like that. I invited ten or fifteen people, and fifty show up.”
“Why don’t you kick them out?”
He grins at me. “Because I like it. And because I’m a good host.”
I laugh a little bit. “Okay then. I guess you’re the best host around. I wouldn’t be able to put up with it.”
“Normally, I wouldn’t either, but I’m forcing myself to have a good time this month.”
“Forcing yourself?”
He nods, a little distracted. “You know I’m doing well financially, but that comes at a price.”
“What kind of price?”
He stares out at the people, clearly thinking about something. He looks back at me suddenly and grins. “Nothing,” he says. “Look, I better mingle. Have a good time, okay?”
