TWENTY-TWO

BROTHERS

Jarrod was waiting for his brother in Hayden’s suite when Hayden arrived. He was drunk, staggering mostly through the door and blinking in surprise when he saw Jarrod. Jarrod was holding an empty bottle of wine in his hand, giving the illusion that he’d been waiting for so long that he had the wine keep him company.

Hayden hiccupped as he walked slowly into the room. “When the receptionist downstairs told me that I had gone in earlier and she didn’t see me leave, I actually thought she was being stupid, yet here you are.”

“Here I am,” Jarrod repeated.

“A pleasant surprise, brother. I was wondering when you were going to face me head-on, seeing as you’ve sort of spread some rumors with my name. It hurts, you know?”

Jarrod laughed. He stood up and brandished the wine bottle in the air as he spoke. “Look at you, coming back here wasted when you could have been elsewhere spoiling your name! You think I spread some rumors with your name? Look at you, Hayden.”

Hayden grinned. He pas