“The things Emmett talks about make zero sense to me.” She notices the water in my hand. “Emmett, dear, why don’t you get your date something better to drink? Ted’s gone all out for this party. He’s determined to outdo everyone, including himself.”
“I’m fine,” I say. Emmett and I should probably announce the baby at some other time, without so many genital balloons and topless women around. Just wholesome pink and blue balloons, everyone fully clothed. Plus, family only.
“
Are you sure?”
“I’ve already witnessed a lot of the going-all-outness.”
The impeccably shaped eyebrows arch again. “Oh, the decorations? You get used to them. They’ll probably be even more outrageous next year.”
If she’s trying to make me feel better, it’s not working. Emmett squeezes my hand, but that doesn’t help much either.
“Ted has certain things he enjoys. As long as we laugh and go along with him, he’s happy,” she adds. “So have you met Emmett’s brothers? Other than Grant?”
“Not yet.”
She nods, then waves at a couple of men some distance away. They begin to walk over.
The men have Emmett’s dark hair and square jaw. Plus they’re tall. But they also look remarkably different—from the shapes of their noses to mouths and the way they project themselves.
Emma turns to deal with a waiter who’s brought her another drink and some young woman who seems overeager to talk to her, so Emmett does the introductions when the men get to us.
“Amy. This is Huxley. He’s in advertising.” Emmett indicates a man who has to be marketing spices he hates from the vaguely annoyed look on his face.
But he smiles as he shakes my hand. “Hi.” The smile makes him seem friendlier.
“And Noah. He’s a wildlife photographer.”
“I also write fiction,” Noah adds with a wink—a light flirt and laid-back, nothing like Huxley.
“One book that’s been in progress ever since any of us can remember,” Huxley adds dryly, like not having finished a book is the greatest sin.
“I’d love to read it when you’re done,” I say.
“Oh, for sure,” Noah says. “It’ll have all the good stuff. Nobel-worthy.”
Emmett sighs with affection and exasperation, while Huxley looks skyward.
“Where are the others?” Emmett asks.
“Seb said he’d be late. Griff’s late, too. No idea why. Maybe debating if he should bring poison.”
Poison?
Huxley leans in. “Rat poison.”
There cannot possibly be rats in this mansion. But Emmett, Huxley and Noah all seem unfazed.
“Nicholas has some kind of stomach bug, but he’ll be here soon,” Noah says. “Didn’t get sick enough to be hospitalized.”
He almost sounds mournful, which is weird. Why would he want Nicholas to be hospitalized?
I make a mental note to talk to Emmett and see what the deal is with his brothers. Maybe there’s bad blood between some of them? If so, I want to know about it.
“So how did you two meet?” Huxley asks me. “I had no idea Emmett was dating.”
“Well—” My answer is cut short when a man slaps Emmett’s shoulder hard enough to make him take a step forward for balance.