I looked around the room with fondness. The game machines were close to the bar. In the middle were several couches and an enormous wooden table, which we used to play board games and eat on.
The TV was on the right side of the room, where we watched movies and chilled. Another spacious couch was in front of it. It was oversized enough for almost all of us. The slowest one ended up on the floor with the big fluffy carpet. Sometimes, I would "forget" my drink on purpose, just to end up on all that fluffiness. Well, I used to. Years ago. There was no need to do that nowadays because it was only Bren and me most of the time.
I shook off the sudden nostalgia and focused on the other memories this room held. It was my favorite room in the house since it held some of my happiest memories with my brothers.
I looked back at Bren and answered his earlier question. “Yes, I’m ready for tonight. Do you need some help?” I pointed toward the food he was bringing from the kitchen.
“Sure. Though if you’d daydreamed any longer, I would’ve finished it all myself.”
I gave him an innocent smile, and he nudged my shoulder.
“Ouch!” I clutched my arm dramatically.
“Oh, please. That was nothing.”
Laughing, we busied ourselves with the preparations.
Bren made a couple of his famous sandwiches and a salad. We opened a few snacks and brought whiskey, vodka, and gin to the table. I loved preparing all of this with Bren.
Unsurprisingly, the first one to show up was Wild. A little after that, Luc and Andras came. Seeing Andras alone stirredsomething in me. Did I really expect Dagon to show up? It had been years since he last came to one of our nights.
As I was about to grab one of the sandwiches, I tensed. I couldfeelDagon approaching, and fuck if that wasn’t weird. I always knew somehow when he was around. I turned, and there he was, glaring at us like we had done something to him. I almost laughed. He had always been like this, but I knew much more was hiding behind his stoic mask.
“Finally!” Bren jumped from his couch seat. “So, what’s first? Games? Movie? Drinking?”
I chuckled because I could sense which one he was more eager about.
“Games,” Luc said while chewing on some snacks.
“Drinking.” Andras and Bren said at the same time. Huh, who knew these two could agree on something? Bren’s strange glance at Andras almost made me choke on my sandwich. I didn’t stop eating, though. There was no way you could stop when you started. Bren made the best sandwiches in the whole world. Some special mayo, crisp chicken, fried potatoes, fried onion, and arugula. So tasty! I could eat them all week, every day.
“Movie or games.” Of course Wild would choose a movie. He wasn’t the kind of guy who liked drinking.
Bren stared at me expectantly. Honestly, I was uncertain. I contemplated for a second, but in the end, I said, “It doesn’t matter to me.”
“Come on, you have to choose.”
My gaze connected with Dagon's, and I swear I saw a smirk on his face for a second. Glancing at all my brothers, I didn’t know why, but I got a feeling this would be the last time we were together like this. Chills ran down my spine.
I finally had what I’d wanted for so long, all of us together again. But I couldn’t shake this uncomfortable feeling in my gut. Not to mention, the voices in my head decided it was the perfectopportunity to grab onto these uneasy feelings and flood me with terrible images of one of my brothers dying or getting hurt. Shit. Couldn’t I have one goddamn ordinary night? Just one!
I remembered the times we had had the best nights, and I knew my answer. “Drinking with games and music,” I said.
Bren screamed, “Fuck, yes!” and pointed to Dagon. “Your opinion doesn’t matter. We already have three votes for drinking.”
Dagon shrugged like he didn’t care. I bet he would have chosen to drink anyway.
“Wait! How does his opinion not matter? We could be even if he says games.” Wild interrupted Bren, who threw daggers at him.
“Bro, haven’t you learned anything in so many years?” Wild’s genuinely confused expression was amusing. I tried not to laugh because I knew the best was coming. Bren waved his hands as he continued, “We,” he pointed to me and himself, “are the little brothers, so we get what we want. Our voices hold more power.”
Luc’s jaw dropped. “What about me? I’m the littlest!”
“You don’t count since there are two little ones voting for drinking and only one little one voting for games.”
They kept bickering, and I glanced at Dagon. If only he’d open his damn mouth and vote. As if he could hear me, he raised his voice and said, “I vote for drinking.”
Everyone fell silent for a second before Bren started screaming excitedly. Wilder groaned, and Luc sank deeper into the couch. I chuckled at the absurdity of it all.
