Ruby giggled. “I prefer Nine Inch Nails. Trent Reznor is the man.”
This time, Hanna joined in the laughter. “I can’t believe a ten-year-old likes Nine Inch Nails. I blame your father. Claire tells me he’s a huge Marilyn Manson fan.”
“Oh. My. God. No, no, no. He keeps getting confused between Marilyn Manson and Marilyn Monroe. He’s a fan of the blonde bimbo, not the singer. He’s such an embarrassment.”
Richard barked out a laugh in response to Ruby’s words. Steven was always trying to keep up with the latest trends, and usually made a complete ass of himself in the process. Not that he ever minded; the ability to laugh at himself was one of his father’s best attributes.
“Is that you, Richard? Are you sneaking around again?” Ruby’s voice rang out clearly. He climbed up the last few steps, seeing his sister sitting next to Hanna, leaning on her as they talked. Hanna’s legs were propped up, her knees hugged to her chest. He was finding it hard not to stare at her calves.
Hanna glanced up at him. “You caught us. Now are you going to be a good Prep Boy and keep our secret, or do we have to gag you?”
Richard felt the urge to respond with a dirty comment. He bit back his retort, reminding himself that his sister was sitting nearby.
“What are you doing up here, Squirt? I thought you didn’t want to come to the party?” He smiled at Ruby indulgently. If he’d known she wanted to join in, he would have happily escorted her.
“I wanted to watch the midnight celebrations. I’d hate for anybody to ask me what I was doing when the new millennium arrived, only to hear that I was hiding in my bed like a social misfit.”
Richard winced. Sometimes she was so grown up, and over-perceptive. He hated that she felt like a freak.
“I’m sleepy now, though,” Ruby continued. “Hanna, would you take me to bed?” She held up her arms and looked like a child again.
“Let me help you, Hanna,” he breathed, suddenly liking how her name felt on his tongue. Turning to Ruby, he scooped her up. “Your carriage awaits, milady.”
Ruby giggled as he carried her along the hallway, putting her hand up to muffle the sound so the guests below wouldn’t notice her presence. Hanna followed closely behind them, making Richard hyper-aware of her close presence.
Feeling docile, Ruby nuzzled her head into her big brother’s tuxedoed shoulder.
“Thanks Richard. You make a great big brother.”
“Better than Nathan?” Richard carried Ruby into her bedroom, twisting slightly so that he could angle her legs through the doorway.
“Nathan isn’t a brother, he’s an animal. Every time I see him, he throws me up in the air. I’m always scared he isn’t going to catch me.” Ruby’s voice was slurred with sleep. Laying her down on the bed, he pulled the covers back over her. Hanna was standing at the door, watching them. Smiling at her, he could feel the flesh at the corners of his eyes crinkling. When she returned his smile, her plump lips curling up at the corners, he felt something in his stomach drop.
“Well, Squirt, I can promise I’ll always be there to catch you,” Richard whispered, kissing his sister’s forehead. Ruby was already asleep, her short, soft breaths coming out in a gentle rhythm.
“Your sister is very sweet,” Hanna said, as he met her at the door. “She’s the opposite of my evil sisters. You’re very lucky.”
“You have sisters?”
“Half-sisters,” she replied. “I like to remind myself we are only half-related. They’re the devil in the guise of eleven-year-old twins. They already think I’m their social inferior.”
“They sound delightful.” He drawled his words again. Something flickered in Hanna’s eyes.
“They’re a real treat. We can swap, if you like.” That made him smile. Her sisters sounded like just the sort of kids who would treat Ruby like crap.
“What are you doing up here, anyway? Aren’t you supposed to be stuffing canapés down unsuspecting guests’ throats?” It was funny how light-hearted he felt, upstairs with Hanna, away from the party and the crowds.
“I’m on a break. I have…” Hanna glanced at her watch, “fifteen minutes left.”
“Wow, all the things you could do with those fifteen minutes. Endless possibilities.” He grinned, his body brushing against hers as he walked through the door on the way to the hall. “Would you like to come to my room?”
“Bloody hell! You don’t waste any time do you?” Hanna exclaimed, making Richard re-examine exactly what it was he’d said.
“Oh shit, I didn’t mean it like that.” He twisted his hands nervously.
“Seriously, it wasn’t a proposition, not that you aren’t cute or anything. What I meant was…I have a new PlayStation, a Tony Hawke game, and two controllers with our names on them. Would you like to join me?” He was flustered now, taken aback by his own obtuseness and her vocal response.
“In that case, how could I say no? I have to warn you, though, I’m absolutely useless at computer games.”