My Brother's Five Friends Page 6

  I love beating their asses at golf. Every single time, they think they can beat me, especially Carter. He thinks that just because he understands the physics behind all this stuff that somehow he can take me on. So every time, they bet big, and every time I win .

  It’s not really fair, to be honest. I’m the only professional athlete out of the group. I mean, I’m a tennis guy, but still. That sort of skill can bleed into other sports. It also helps that I get out on the course at least once a week .

  We head back inside the house. “I’m grabbing a shower,” Henry announces. “And then we’ll get dinner. Sounds good ?”

  We all grumble our assent and he heads off, disappearing upstairs. The rest of us gather in the kitchen. Aiden’s in there, drinking a beer and reading the paper .

  “How’d it go?” he asks. “Ryan win again ?”

  “Sure did,” I say, flashing him my fat wad of cash .

  He laughs. “How much did you idiots bet this time ?”

  “One hundred each,” Carter says, looking particularly sour. “He only beat me by five strokes .”

  “Still won,” I say, sitting down at the counter .

  “Yeah, yeah,” Carter grumbles .

  “Come on, gents, let’s get past that,” Daniel says, getting some beers from the refrigerator. He passes them out and we each crack one open. “To a good day and a better night .”

  We knock cans and drink. Aiden looks particularly happy, which isn’t normal for him. He’s usually more reserved than this, annoyed that we all went and played golf all day without him, but today he doesn’t seem to mind .

  “I was thinking about something,” James says suddenly .

  I look over at him. “That’s new .”

  He rolls his eyes at me. “Funny. Listen, I’m serious. I want to talk about it while Henry’s not here .”

  Everyone seems to perk up at that. All five of us are here: me, Carter, Daniel, Aiden, and James. I’m not sure where Emily is, and Henry’s washing the stink of defeat off of him .

  “What’s up?” Carter asks him .

  “Well, it’s about Henry’s game.” He looks a little hesitant, and I suddenly get a strange feeling about what he’s about to say .

  “Spit it out,” Daniel grunts .

  “I think he’s going to win,” James says. “I mean, he’s up by two now, right? And as far as I can tell, we’re all at a big fat zero .”

  I narrow my eyes. “That’s true,” I say. “Why is that? Not like this group to hold back .”

  Nobody seems interested in saying why. I watch their faces and I can tell something’s going on, but I’m not positive what it is .

  I don’t like hiding stuff from these guys. I don’t have a ton of friends in my life. It’s hard, I spend all day training, I work hard at my tennis, and I’m somewhat in the public eye. It’s difficult to keep friends, and these four have been incredibly good friends .

  But so has Henry, and the reason I haven’t slept with anyone else would hurt him. So I’ve kept it to myself, but maybe it’s time to get it out in the open .

  “It’s Emily,” I say simply. “Isn’t it ?”

  The guys all look at each other. “Yeah,” James admits. “It is .”

  “For me too,” Daniel admits .

  “Me too,” Aiden says .

  “Fuck.” Carter stares at them. “You guys can’t be serious ?”

  “I’m serious,” Aiden says. “I kissed her earlier .”

  “Kissed her too,” Daniel says .

  “Me too,” James adds .

  “Fuck,” Carter says again. “Ryan ?”

  “Not me,” I say. “Not yet, anyway .”

  “So what you’re all saying is, you’re not fucking anyone else because you all want to fuck Henry’s sister?” He stares at them then bursts out laughing .

  I grin at him. “What’s so funny ?”

  “I mean, that’s exactly why I haven’t fucked anyone yet,” he says, cracking up .

  I grin at him. “So it’s all of us, huh,” I say. “I’m not really surprised .”

  “Something about her,” Daniel says .

  “But what do we do about it?” Carter asks .

  “Not sure about you, but I’m pretty confident,” James says .

  Aiden just grins. “I don’t mind sharing,” he says suddenly .

  We all stop and look at him .

  He shrugs. “What? I’m just saying. We’re close enough friends that I don’t care. I mean, why not ?”

  “You want to… share her,” I say flatly. “How do you know she wants that ?”

  “Why wouldn’t she?” Carter cuts in. “Five guys like us …”

  “We can’t know that,” James says. He stands up and starts pacing. “I mean, shit. We’re all talking about fucking Henry’s sister, which would drive him nuts…. but we’d also lose his bet .”

  “Fuck his bet,” I say. “Let’s make a new one .”

  James stops pacing. “Terms ?”

  “Simple. We all try to get with Emily, and may the best man win. She chooses, and whoever she chooses, we accept it .”

  “I don’t mind sharing,” Aiden says again, grinning .

  “We heard you,” Carter says before turning back to me. “I’m in .”

  “Me too,” Daniel says. “Doesn’t seem fair for you guys, though .”

  I laugh at him. “James ?”

  “Yeah, okay. Fine .”

  “Aiden?”

  He shrugs. “Sure, whatever. Like I said — ”

  “We heard you,” I say over him. “Okay, so it’s settled. We’re letting Henry win his bet, and we’re all going for Emily .”

  “This is nuts,” Carter says. “I really like my globe .”

  “I really like my car,” Aiden adds, laughing. “But shit, she’s pretty great .”

  “Well. This is fucking weird. But I can’t pretend like I’m not excited about it,” I say .

  “Why?” Daniel asks. “Excited to lose ?”

  “I like this girl. She fascinates me,” I say. “Plus, she’s hot as hell. And add in some competition… just makes it better, I guess .”

  “Here’s to being a fucked up group,” Carter says, raising his drink .

  “Here’s to fucking Emily,” Aiden says .

  We all laugh, bang cans, and drink .

  The conversation drifts away from her, and Henry comes down not too much later. I can tell we’re all thinking about what this means for our relationship with Henry. I feel guilty as hell about it, and I don’t know what to do. I mean, he barely knows the girl, they’re not close at all. But he’s been clear about it: he doesn’t want us touching her .

  I’m torn. I feel loyal to Henry, hell, I love Henry, but I don’t know if I can stop myself. I want Emily, and I don’t want to back off .

  It’s a competition now, or something like that. And I’m very good at competitions. I can’t wait to get my taste, and it better be soon .

  9

  Emily

  “H ow’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, r
eally 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 ?”

  “Okay,” I say. “See you .”

  He heads off into the crowd and disappears outside .

  I can’t help but wonder what he was talking about. For a second, I think I saw something inside of my brother, maybe a darkness that I didn’t know about. Henry has this infectious optimism most of the time, but maybe his work is taking a toll on him. I have to ask him about that. I don’t want him to just suffer through it in silence. If I’m going to get closer to my brother and have an actual relationship with him, I have to try to reach out .

  “How’s our fearless leader doing ?”

  I turn around to see Ryan. “He’s good,” I say. “You know how Henry is .”

  “And how are you?” he asks, coming up to stand next to me .

  I lean toward him. He’s speaking a little lower than usual and the room’s pretty loud. “I’m doing okay,” I say. “Do you know anyone here ?”

  He shakes his head. The DJ changed songs just as he says something, but I miss it as a wash of heavy bass beats comes roaring from the speakers .

  “What?” I call out .

  He grins at me. “Come on,” he says, taking my hand .

  “Where are we going ?”

  He pulls me along behind him. I catch a glimpse of Daniel watching us, a little smile on his face, but he doesn’t get up to follow .

  Ryan takes me across the house and back behind the DJ booth. There’s a door I hadn’t noticed before. He pulls it open and a set of stairs leads up .

  I follow him up the steps. We pass up onto the second floor, but it’s a part of the house that I’ve never seen before. He goes through another door and shuts it behind us, closing off the music a bit, though it still grinds at the floor .

  “What is this?” I ask him .

  “I think it’s for the help,” he says to me, shrugging. We’re in a thin hallway with multiple doors. It looks like it winds its way through the entire upstairs .

  “You mean like, for cleaning people ?”

  “Yep,” he confirms. “Look.” I follow him down the hall and he opens a door. “My room .”

  I peek in past him. It’s neat and tidy. “Wow, okay,” I say. “This is so creepy .”

  He grins at me. “I know. I found this by accident on our second day here .”

  “Have you just been stalking through the walls all this time ?”

  “Pretty much.” He laughs and shuts the door. “Come on .”

  I follow him down the hall and around a corner. We stop outside of another door and he pushes it open .

  I follow him into a room I’ve never seen before. There’s a couch back by one wall and a huge screen on the opposite. There are shelves of books, movies and videogames .

  “This is Henry’s man cave,” he says. “I don’t think he lets anyone in here .”

  I laugh, looking through his books. “Lots of fantasy in here,” I say .

  “He’s a nerd.” Ryan comes up behind me, looking over my shoulder. “Are you much of a reader ?”

  “Yeah,” I admit. “When I get a chance, at least. What about you ?”

  “Not really,” he says. “I’m too busy with the show .”

  “The show ?”

  He shrugs. I turn toward him, curious, head cocked slightly. “That’s what we call the tennis tour,” he says. “You’re performing, always on. It’s exhausting, takes up all your time .”

  “Do you like it ?”

  He grins. “I love it .”

  Of all the guys in the house, Ryan has been the most reserved so far. I look deep into his light green eyes, and I’m reminded why he was one of the first guys I found attractive. He’s tan from spending hours in the sun every day training, and his body is tight and athletic. He’s tall, nearly towering over me .

  I turn back to the bookshelf and go to grab one of the books at random at the same moment that he reaches out. Our hands touch and I laugh a little bit, pulling back .

  “Sorry,” I say .

  “No, you go ahead .”

  I pull out some novel I’ve never heard of. “Maybe I’ll take this down to the beach tomorrow .”

  He looks at the book I’m holding and laughs. “Oh yeah, you strike me as a fan of the Broads With Broadswords kind of gal .”

  I grin at him, holding up the cheesy cover. It’s half-naked women in extremely ineffective-looking armor holding up a huge sword. “How does this even work?” I ask him. “I mean, why bother wearing a metal bikini ?”

  “Who knows,” he says. “That never made any sense to me .”

  I laugh and slide the book back into the shelf. I look up at him again and he smirks at me, reaching out to take my hand. I let him pull me against him, not really thinking about anything. The party is suddenly so far away, and he’s the only person around .

  “I’m going to be honest,” he says softly. “Bringing you up here was just an excuse .”

  “An excuse for what ?”

  “For this.” He leans forward and kisses me softly .

  I kiss him back, giving myself into whatever this crazy thing is. It feels good, and I’m awash in desire as soon as his lips touch mine. He slowly pulls back after a moment .

  “Come on,” he says. “Let’s go back .”

  “Uh, yeah, okay, sure.” I blink, surprised as hell. He keeps holding my hand as we head back through the hidden hallway .

  Once we’re halfway back down the steps, he turns to me and kisses me again. I let him, wanting more, wishing we’d stay back in that room. But I know I probably shouldn’t .

  He breaks it off again and we head back into the party. He says something about getting me a drink and heads off to the bar .

  I stumble back through the crowd, feeling crazy. I don’t know why I’m kissing all of these guys like this. As I turn the corner, I nearly collide directly with Carter .r />
  “Oh, sorry,” I say .

  “Hey, there.” He grins at me. He’s wearing these black rimmed glasses that make him look incredibly distinguished. “Fancy running into you .”

  “Literally,” I say, laughing nervously .

  “Come here, I want to show you something .”

  I think about arguing, since Ryan’s going to be looking for me, but he’s already pulling me along behind him. We head out to the front of the house, and I hurry to keep up as we walk down the long driveway .

  “Okay, here,” he says, stopping and turning to me. “Look right up there. What do you see ?”

  “Stars,” I say, following his fingers .

  “That’s right, but what kind of stars ?”

  I shrug. “I don’t know .”

  “Well, that’s Sirius. It’s the brightest star in the sky .”

  “Really?” I ask him, looking around, and I think he’s right. “That’s really cool .”

  “And that there? That’s Alpha Centauri, the third brightest star. The second brightest is only in the southern hemisphere .”

  “What’s that one?” I ask, pointing .

  “That’s Betelgeuse. See how it’s reddish ?”

  I nod. “Yeah, that’s so weird .”

  “It’s a red supergiant, about 13,000 times brighter than our sun .”

  “Wow. That’s insane .”

  “And this.” He takes my hand and points it up at the sky. “This is Procyon. It’s brighter than Betelgeuse, but it’s also way closer .”

  I stand there, letting him touch me, not thinking about stars anymore. A shiver runs down my spine, and I realize what’s about to happen even before it happens. I know this is insane, and totally outside of myself, but when he tilts my head back over my shoulder and kisses me, I can’t help it .

  I’m totally lost in his lips. I let him kiss me slow and long like that, standing under the stars together. I could listen to him talk about that stuff all night long, but I think I’d rather let him kiss me like this. He feels good, so fucking good, but I can’t get Ryan out of my head. Actually, I can’t stop thinking about any of the guys. All five of them now, they’re all lodged so deeply inside of me, and I want them all .

  And they all want me. It’s insane, absolutely crazy, but they all want me. I pull Carter tighter, kissing him deeper. He tasted different than Ryan, not better or worse, but just different. I like it, the contrast is nice, and he feels so good against me .