Page 112 of When We Ignite
Henry nodded, satisfied, and headed back toward the elevator. “Let’s grab a drink before the tailor,” he said, pulling out his phone.
During the drive, he called someone—likely the owner or Realtor of the property. The entire conversation was a mix of pointed questions about the space, location, and traffic flow.
It caught me off guard. Henry was still himself—making jokes, laughing loudly—but there was a sharpness in the way he spoke, an expertise in his field I hadn’t expected. Sometimes I forgot he was Sebastian’s brother.
At the bar, where Henry seemed to know everyone by name, he got us a table immediately despite the crowd. Drinks appeared without us ordering—two gin and tonics, one presumably lighter on the tonic.
“Can I ask you something?” I said, finishing my first drink as Henry rambled about whether to visit the Miami location.
“If it’s not about Ash, sure,” he replied with a grin.
“Why bring me to see the place? Why not your brother? Or someone who knows more about the business?”
Henry took a sip of his drink, unbothered. “I’m not expecting opinions from you, Ethan. I just wanted the company. If I were serious about it, I’d probably ask Oli. I can never get Ash to come—he’s never taken me seriously.”
“I don’t think that’s true.”
Henry shrugged. “Ash thinks he’s so different from Dad because he’s gay and loud about it, but they’re the same person minus the conservative ideals. They both have this rigid idea of success, and nightclubs don’t fit into it.
“To them, I’m next to nothing. Did you know I have a bachelor’s from Harvard, just like Oli? An MBA from Wharton, just like Ash? I even interned at the company. But when I said I didn’t like where it was headed and went off-script, everything I’d done became worthless. I’m just the spoiled kid chasing a whim.”
“I had no idea.”
“Of course you didn’t. To you, I’m probably just Ash’s lapdog, the guy who gets into clubs easily. Good for laughs, bad for business,” he said, sarcasm lacing his words.
“I don’t think that at all,” I said firmly. “You’re not their lapdog. The three of you have an enviable relationship. And you’re allowed to go after what you want. Go check out Miami. If you’re running it, it’ll be a success. People cozy up to me just because they think I can get them into your clubs. It’s the place to be, apparently.”
Henry’s shoulders relaxed, and a small smile tugged at his lips. “You’re quite the cheerleader.”
“That’s what I get,” I said dryly, earning a laugh.
“Thanks, E. It’s easy to lose perspective. Sometimes, it feels like Oli’s the only one in my corner. It’s nice to know I’ve got another brother who feels that way.”
“Don’t call me your brother.”
“Sorry,” he said, lifting his hand to order another round.
I tapped my fingers on the table, debating how much alcohol I’d need to tackle the next part of the conversation. Ash had once told me Henry was the least judgmental person on the planet. Guess this was a great time to find out.
“I have another question. It’s personal.”
Henry gave me a nod, gesturing for me to go on.
My face flushed, and he snorted. “Are you going to ask me something sex-related?”
Sometimes, I really hated the Langleys. “Not if you’re going to be a dick about it,” I muttered.
Henry laughed, leaning forward on the table. “No, go on. I’m sorry. I’m just not used to being the one people come to for advice on this. I’m all ears,” he said, barely holding back a grin.
I took a deep breath. “How did you deal with coming to terms with your sexuality? Like, how did you accept it?”
Henry’s eyes widened, clearly not expecting that question. “Well, that’s...a bit complicated. And weird,” he said, scratching his chin. “Remember when I told you I’ve only walked in on Ash twice?”
I nodded.
“The first time was when I was fourteen, and Ash was back home from college. He wasn’t out yet—or at least, I had no idea. One night, I was walking toward the kitchen and heard something. I went into his room—which, yeah, I know, was a big no-no—and I caught him kissing a guy.
“It was a shock. They didn’t notice me at first, and...that image sort of got stuck in my head.
