Page 18 of Anti-Hero (Kensingtons: The Next Generation #2)

B ash is the one who opens the front door of my grandfather’s house. “Hey. How was Vegas?”

I yawn. “It was—wait, what are you doing here?”

My brother rolls his eyes before stepping to the side so I can enter. “Nice to see you too, bro.”

“I mean, why aren’t you at school?”

Bash hasn’t even been gone a month. Normally, he doesn’t come home until Thanksgiving.

He cocks his head. “Why do you think?”

“Lili,” we say in unison.

I shake my head as I step inside the entryway of my grandfather’s mansion. The soaring ceilings and sparse furnishing have always reminded me more of a mausoleum than a home.

“Classes going okay?” I ask.

Bash shrugs. “Yeah, they’re easy.”

“Right.”

Bash is the brainiac in the family. Lili struggled in school because of her dyslexia, and I was always more interested in socializing than studying. Bash doesn’t seem to spend much more time studying than I did, yet he’s never brought home anything except an A.

A massive gilded mirror hangs directly across from the staircase. I check my reflection in it as we pass and straighten my tie. I changed on the plane back from Vegas, during landing because I had fallen asleep as soon as I was on board.

Above the staircase hangs the one sentimental decoration. A family portrait of my father, uncle Oliver, grandfather, and late grandmother. Everything else—the rugs, the vases, the furniture—is swapped out on a regular basis. But that painting has never moved. Not during my lifetime at least.

“I don’t get why we all had to meet this guy here ,” I complain to Bash as we continue toward the sitting room, where drinks get served before dinner. “Not to mention, we’ve all already met him.”

“He wasn’t dating Lili when we met him,” Bash replies.

“What difference does that make?”

“What difference does meeting a random guy or Lili’s boyfriend make? C’mon, Kit. She’s our sister. We need to check this guy out.”

I snort. “You gonna threaten him to a duel or something? Because that would make this dinner worth attending. ”

“I know it’s a foreign concept to you, but this is what people in relationships do. They spend time with each other’s families.”

“I’m twenty-three. Since when is that the time to settle down?”

“You’d understand this dinner more if you’d ever been in a relationship, is all.”

“Because you’re an expert?”

Bash dated one girl in high school and hasn’t gotten serious with anyone since. He’s always refused to talk about it, so I have no clue what went down between them.

“More of an expert than you,” Bash retorts, then strides ahead into the sitting room.

I sigh and follow.

The beagles my parents adopted after becoming empty nesters are the first to greet me. Ben drools on my left shoe while Jerry leaves a noticeable tuft of white fur on my navy slacks as he rubs against my shin.

Mom reaches me third, pulling me into a tight hug. Since she’s wearing her usual heels, the top of her head fits right under my chin. “You look tired, honey,” she says when she releases me, straightening my even tie.

I grin. “Been working hard.”

“He just got back from Vegas,” Bash comments, sprawling out in one of the armchairs angled in front of the fireplace.

I flip him off behind Mom’s back.

“He has been working hard,” Dad states proudly from his spot on the couch.

He’s transferring some caviar—the only hors d’oeuvre my grandfather serves—onto a plate. Ben and Jerry have abandoned their welcoming-committee roles in favor of begging at his feet .

“Thanks for the support, Pops.” I clap him on the shoulder as I pass the couch and continue toward the armchair beside Bash. “Where’s everyone else?”

Belatedly, I’m realizing there’s no sign of Lili or Charlie. I swear, if she made me come to this, only to not show up, I’ll?—

“They’re on their way,” Mom says. “Arthur invited them for seven thirty.”

I check my watch. It’s seven fifteen. “Then why the hell did Dad tell me to show up at seven?”

I shoot him an accusing look, and he avoids my gaze.

“Because Mom knew you’d be late,” Bash supplies.

I scowl. “Turns out, I’m early .”

“What a refreshing change, Christopher.”

Bash sits up straight when our grandfather enters the room. So do I. Arthur Kensington has a presence that’s impossible to ignore.

“The butler is dealing with an … incident.” Grandpa casts a disapproving look at the dogs, which makes me think they were somehow involved. “So, I’ll be serving drinks. Scarlett, what can I get you?”

“Some white wine would be lovely, Arthur.”

Grandpa nods. “Crew?”

“Usual scotch, Dad, thanks.”

“Christopher?”

“I’ll take a Sex on the Beach.”

Bash makes an awful attempt at covering his laugh with a cough.

“I don’t know, nor do I want to know, what that is. Would you prefer scotch or cognac, Christopher?”

I stretch my legs out and cross my ankles. “Scotch.”

“Sebastian? ”

“Same. Please .” Bash shoots me a superior grin.

He’s always been a suck-up.

Grandpa delivers our drinks, then takes a seat on the empty couch opposite Mom and Dad. Unfortunately, his keen eyes focus on me first. “How is it going at Kensington Consolidated, Christopher?”

I down a healthy amount of my scotch, hoping refills are self-serve. “All right. Company should break even this month.”

Bash quickly raises his glass to cover his smile.

Grandpa doesn’t appear amused. “I hope you manage to act more professional at the office,” he states.

“Stop by sometime and see.”

A few beats longer than his usual response time pass before Grandpa responds, “Perhaps I will.”

Dad casts a startled look in Grandpa’s direction.

As far as I know, my grandfather hasn’t been to Kensington Consolidated’s headquarters since stepping down as CEO of the company decades ago.

He’ll attend various events, and he’s always present at the annual company gala, but he’s totally removed from daily operations.

I assume that’s by choice because my grandfather is relentless when it comes to getting what he wants.

Ben and Jerry, who just settled on the rug, suddenly leap to attention and dash out of the room.

“I doubt the butler will be thrilled about that,” Grandpa states.

But he doesn’t sound all that peeved by the dogs’ behavior. This is an awfully big house to live in alone. Must be quiet when it’s just him and the staff.

Lili and Charlie appear in the doorway. My sister crouches down to rub Ben’s belly while Charlie’s watching Jerry sniff his shoes.

“You’re late,” I drawl .

Lili straightens and props a hand on her hip. “Did Mom tell you six thirty instead of seven thirty? That’s the only explanation for why you’re here on time.”

Bash chuckles.

I roll my eyes, but I’m tempted to smile.

I missed my siblings. It’s been strange, returning to an empty penthouse after having Bash crash with me for most of the summer.

And it feels like Lili just returned to New York, and she’s about to leave for Ireland to redesign a college campus in Dublin.

After tonight, I probably won’t see Lili or Bash until Thanksgiving.

“We’re just glad you made it,” Mom says, going over to greet them. “It’s so good to see you, Charlie.” She gives him a hug, then embraces Lili.

I study Charlie as he shakes hands with Dad. And I get, a little more, what Bash was talking about earlier. I’ve met plenty of guys Lili has dated. But this feels more symbolic than a simple dinner, like he’s joining our family for more than just tonight.

Bash and I are up next.

“Nice to see you again, Kit,” Charlie tells me as we shake hands.

“Hullo, Your Highness,” I say. “Blimey, am I chuffed to see you.”

Bash groans. “ Kit .”

“What?” I reply in my normal voice. “That was my best British accent.” I glance at Charlie. “Pretty good, right?”

Charlie gains some points in my book for keeping his expression serious. Then again, he’s British. Don’t they usually look stoic?

“Very impressive,” he compliments.

I shoot Bash a ha look. He scoffs in response, then starts telling Charlie about his recent trip to Alaska. I mainly tune the story out since I’ve heard it several times before .

Grandfather’s engrossed in conversation with Lili, sporting the first smile I’ve seen all night.

Mom catches my eye, nodding toward the dogs and then pointing toward the back of the house. Take them out? she mouths.

I nod, heading for the doorway. En route, I pause at the bar cart to top off my tumbler.

A low whistle draws Ben’s and Jerry’s attention. The beagles trot after me eagerly, claws clicking on the marble floor as we pass the twin curved staircases. Glass doors line the far wall, overlooking the pool and the manicured backyard. I open one, letting the dogs out onto the grounds.

Ben—at least, I think it’s Ben; they’re hard to tell apart—releases a joyful bark and beelines toward a hydrangea. Jerry hustles after him, tail wagging at full tilt, and they start wrestling on the grass.

Those beagles went from being next on the list for euthanasia to playing in paradise. Talk about a lucky break.

The patio furniture hasn’t been brought in yet, so I take a seat on one of the loungers. It’s long enough that only my shoes hang off. I recline, folding my hands behind my head.

The sun’s just starting to set, spreading pastels across the sky that reflect off the calm surface of the pool.

“Mr. Social sitting alone? That’s a rare sight.”

I reach for my scotch, sipping some before relaxing deeper into the cushions as I watch Lili approach. “You left Charlie to fend for himself?”

I’ve never met a significant other’s parents, but I imagine it’d be a rather stressful experience to face alone.

“He’ll be fine,” Lili says casually. “I was headed to the bathroom and saw you sitting out here. ”

I yawn. I might have to limit my scotch intake to stay awake during dinner. “Mom asked me to take the dogs out.”

Lili glances toward the beagles. “They’re probably going to ask you to pet-sit when they visit me in Dublin.”

“Hard pass.”

Lili smirks as she slips her shoes off and lies down on the lounger opposite me. “Keeping your schedule open for another Vegas trip?”

I shake my head. “Do you think there’s anyone in Manhattan that Bash hasn’t mentioned that to?”

Lili laughs. “C’mon, Kit. He’s just trying to be like you. Bash worships the ground you walk on.”

I laugh too. “No, he doesn’t.”

He usually acts more like my older brother than a younger one. If anything, I’ve provided him a blueprint of what not to do.

“Of course he does,” Lili insists. “Why do you think he did that trip to Alaska? Because you’re always returning from some crazy adventure or sharing some wild story.

He admires you. He’s trying to act like you.

People pay attention to me and Bash because we’re Kensingtons.

They pay attention to you because you’re you . ”

“You’re good at making outlandish ideas enticing.”

When Collins said that, I was taken aback.

Not only because it was vaguely complimentary, but because I’d never thought about my choices in those terms. I’ve pursued what appealed to me, knowing other people often got entertainment out of it.

But never thinking it was an ability or something anyone would admire about me.

“Is this humbleness Charlie’s influence?” I ask. “Because we both know you could change your last name and still draw plenty of attention.”

“Maybe,” Lili says seriously. “He makes me see the world differently. Does that sound dumb?”

“Nah. That doesn’t sound dumb.”

“How’s it going with Collins?”

I was expecting that question from Lili at some point this evening, so it’s easy not to react. “Good. Fine.”

“Really? You downgraded from good to fine in the span of two seconds.”

I huff a laugh. “I didn’t mean to downgrade.”

“Did something happen?”

“Don’t sleep with him.”

I tap my finger against the side of my glass. “We … argued on Friday.”

“I’m pretty sure you and Collins have argued every time you were in the same room together.”

“Yeah, well, we haven’t been arguing lately, so I … feel badly. I was stressed about some other stuff, and I took it out on her. I’ll apologize on Monday.”

“You’d better. What was the argument about?”

“Just a work thing.”

“Huh.”

“She wanted me to say hi to you, by the way.”

“If she’s talking to you on Monday, tell her hi back.”

“Ha,” I reply, but unease twists in my chest.

Her strip club comment couldn’t be categorized as professional , but I definitely didn’t de-escalate things by interfering in her sex life.

“There you two are! I’ve been looking everywhere.” Mom walks out on the patio.

“You told me to come out here,” I point out.

“Twenty minutes ago. I figured you’d been back inside for a while—oh no.” Mom’s fixated on a spot by the pool.

I twist to look, too, spotting the hole that’s been dug in the pristine grass immediately. It stands out, unfortunately.

“You can explain how that got there to your grandfather’s gardeners,” Mom states before heading inside with the dogs. They trot after her in tandem, the picture of perfect obedience.

I sigh. “I’m never dog-sitting again.”

Lili sits up and slips her heels back on. “C’mon, Kit. A little responsibility won’t kill you.”

“You weren’t exactly keeping a close eye on things yourself,” I call after her.

Lili just laughs as she heads inside.

I drain my glass, stand, and follow.