Page 6 of Orange Spell
When Deryn still hesitated, Curran pushed him in Palmer’s direction.Deryn stumbled, but he caught sight of Palmer again, and within seconds, he was gone.Curran huffed, amused.It wasn’t surprising that his best friend had ditched him for a cute boy.At least now, he’d be able to go home without Deryn whining.
He turned, ready to do just that, when his gaze caught with Birch’s.Curran’s brother was on the other side of the room, hovering next to Killian, who was talking to someone.They stared at each other for a moment, and Curran waved.He didn’t want his brother to worry about him, but Birch always did, almost as if Curran were still a child.
Curran didn’t wantanyoneworrying about him.He was an adult, and he could have fun and drink and then go home.
He squared his shoulders, snatched one last drink from a nearby tray, and made his way toward the exit.He was almost there when Birch caught up to him.
“I didn’t think you’d be here tonight,” he said.
Curran scowled.“Don’t you have anything better to do than bother me?”
“I’m not bothering you.I’m checking up on you.”
“You don’t have to.I’m fine and having fun.”Curran raised his glass so Birch could see it and drank all of it in one go before putting it down on the closest table.
Birch glanced at the glass.“I can see that.You’re not usually a big drinker, though.Are you sure you’re all right?”
“You’re not my father, Birch.I don’t need you to hover.Go do your job.”Killian was surrounded by other guards, but none of them were as good as Birch and Marlin.
“Killian will be fine for a few minutes.I’m going to find Marlin and ask him to walk you home, all right?”
That was the worst thing that could happen.“I don’t want you to find Marlin,” Curran snapped.“I want you to leave me alone.”
Birch wouldn’t.He was a protector, and he thought that Curran needed protection.
Curran had known that coming to this party was a bad idea, dammit.
* * * *
WHEN MARLIN NOTICEDBirch and Curran talking by the door, he knew things weren’t going well by the expression on their faces.That wouldn’t do.This was a party, and the two of them weren’t supposed to bicker like the brothers they were.
He downed his glass and moved forward, stumbling for a few steps before he got his feet under himself.He pushed his way through the crowd, smiling and nodding at people who tried to stop him.He didn’t let them.He had to reach Birch and Curran.
Curran was yelling when Marlin reached them.“I don’t need to be protected.I’m not a kid anymore.”
“You’re my brother,” Birch argued.
“So?Are you going to be overprotective until I’m sixty and married?Because I’m going to strangle you before that happens.”
“Stop fighting,” Marlin said as he gently pushed Birch away.“Aren’t you supposed to be working?”he asked Birch.
Birch glared at him.“Aren’t you supposed to be drinking?”
“I was until I had to stop because I caught the two of you fighting.What the fuck are you doing?”
“None of your business,” Curran snapped.
Marlin ignored him and kept his attention on Birch.Birch’s shoulders slumped, and he tilted his chin toward Curran.“Just trying to look out for him.Can you do that for me?”
“Yeah, you know I can.You have to get back to Killian.”
“As long as I know you’ll stay with Curran.”
“You don’t have to worry about that.”
“I fucking hate you both,” Curran muttered.“You’re talking like I’m not even in the room.”
He wasn’t wrong, but Marlin was trying to calm things down before they took a left turn.Birch needed to go back to protecting Killian, and he wouldn’t be able to focus if he was worried about his brother.The best way to ensure that he wasn’t was to promise to be there for Curran, and Marlin didn’t have a problem doing that.Hell, he considered Curran family, although not a brother.
