Page 103 of Massacre Monday

My mind is all over the place, heart racing from the noise and movements.

But the stone statue standing at my window is unfazed. IwishI could grab some of his serenity.

Throughout the evening, even with gossip to distract me, I gnaw on my lower lip, unable to focus on anything or enjoy myself.

It’s apparent that no one ever really pays attention to Henry, but he tries so hard to get it. I guess with two older superstar brothers, he has to make a show for anyone to see him.

Amelia and Duke bicker the entire time. About everything. Duke is an even bigger charmer than his sister, so he weasels his way out of the spats with a smooth line here or there.

By the time Amelia says she needs to head back toSigma, I’m exhausted and begging her to take the boys with her.

“Can’t do that,” Henry says, but Duke agrees to leave with silent Bo, who did not, in fact, speak one word the entire evening.

Once the two Josephs and Bo leave, I awkwardly glance around the wide-open studio apartment. Ryan probably wouldn’t like Henry seeing me in my pajamas, I’m assuming. Where is he going to sleep?

All the lightheartedness leaves his countenance as soon as the door shuts behind the visitors. He slumps on the couch and takes off his jeans, then eyes the blanket at the end of the bed. “Can I use that tonight? I’ll just stay on the sofa. You won’t even know I’m here.”

“Sure.”

I grab it for him and a pillow, too. When I hand them over, he looks a bit downtrodden. His normally chipper and cute face has fallen as he situates himself under the covers.

“Are you worried about Ryan?” I ask.

His crystal-blue eyes glance up at me. “Yeah. Aren’t you?”

I nod, swallowing roughly. “Yes, I am.”

“I have to protect you. He would kill me if something happened to you.”

For the first time in hours, I feel more at ease. I think Henry can understand me.

“Should we tell your parents?”

“No. Let Aiden handle it. He’s good at that stuff. But I’ll shoot someone if they come up here.”

He sets his gun on his lap and tucks the pillow under his neck, looking so much like a young Ryan that my heart aches. This kid has never hurt anyone, I can tell. Yet he’s willing to do what it takes to protect me because of his love for his brother. They’re a close-knit family, just like mine.

“I’ll be in the bed over there.”

“Okay.”

The room is dark and strange when I turn off the light. Normal nights lately, I’m snuggled up with Ryan, who should be here next to me. It feels like I’m in the wrong place without him here.

A tiny voice cuts through the still atmosphere. “Pippi?” Henry asks.

“Yeah?”

“Thanks for loving my brother.”

Tears heat my eyes. If something happened to him. If…

Words were never exchanged. I’ve kept my emotions hidden, too afraid to share them for fear of getting rejected. Regret surges through me until my heart seizes with longing.

I never told him that I love him.

A sad smilecomes over my face when I wake up in the morning. My boyfriend’s younger brother is sprawled over the sofa, long legs in all directions, with his gun on the coffee table (where I placed it when I sneaked over in the middle of the night to make sure it was safe). And he looks like his brother. His presence has been a comfort I didn’t know I needed until he showed up.

After I get ready and make oatmeal for the two of us, Henry becomes my little escort. We get dressed, and he walks me to my class on Monday morning—Criminology with Professor Hall.