henry:

[henry albright]

H E N R Y
"kind of a pretty boy, isn't he?"

GOLDEN CHILD, LION BOY
TELL ME WHAT IT'S LIKE TO CONQUER.

[henry albright]

TAKING THE HIGH ROAD. That wasn't the conversation I wanted to have at a party I wasn't even invited to. Cal's twisted requests and the deals, spinning in my mind as I walk away from whatever the fuck that was. I give him one more glance over my shoulder, brow furrowed and my body tense as he's stood grinning. Still not sure how he even received that private information. Kitty must have said something, right? But why would she spill the truth to Dominic's supposed best friend? Their personal affairs laid, scattered on a chess board with  other various players. Something I didn't want to even think about. No one was to know. We agreed to keeping this little rearrangement, divorce spoken of, for the future. If that even happened. We fought this battle before, both giving up after a few back and forth pushes. Colton is exactly where I left him; beer in hand and close to the bar. The drink in my hand was already growing warm, so a second one would be on the horizon soon enough. He's not alone though, Mirren and Ruby finding their way to the final piece of their trio. It's obvious from my body language that I'm ruffled after that little talk. Colton must notice, he looks over to me a few times as he sips his beer. Mirren too, she looks at my curiously before I throw a warning in her direction. As we stood on the outskirts of the party, I watched her speak with Dominic. Forever a thorn in my side for long as long as Kitty legally held my last name.. even if she didn't truly go by it. "I'd be careful around Dom, okay?" She mumbles back, nervously, Uhmm, Okay. "Want to bounce soon, Colt? I'm over this." The girls talk us into tequila shots before leaving. Or at least me. No matter the amount of alcohol, this would be my last drop on in this vicinity. Colton may want to stay after a shot or two, and he was free to do whatever he wanted. Ruby volunteered to go get the shots, tugging Colton along with her as another set of hands. My phone vibrates in my pocket. Wife: Leave Now. I try not to laugh. At her demands. Did she really not expect me to make an appearance at the party?  When I was so close by? We hadn't officially greeted each other this evening, so she must have seen me from afar. My eyes search the backyard, out to the beach where the carousel stood in the sand. There she was. Stunning as ever, dressed up completely for the theme. Even from a distance, I can see the way the dress hugs her body, in all the right places. Antlers attached to that..sweet head. The two of them walking the carousel, until Kitty sits upon the horse of her choosing. Forcing Dom's back to me, keeping me out of the sight. Of course she was. She didn't want me to be seen, so I ignore the text. Stuffing the phone back into my pocket as I begin to hear some commotion towards the bar. Suddenly aware that the group that was just around me is nowhere in sight. Sasha, the one Colton had warned me about, was yelling their business to the patrons of the bar. Before I can intervene, seeing the shock expression cover my best friend's face, I'm intercepted. Cal. We're moving in the direction of the door, the drama unfolding behind me as we keep walking the opposite way. All I can hear now is arguing and gasps. It's then I know that Kitty's sent him to escort me. He only confirms. Best not to get involved in that..Kitty's requesting you get out of here anyway. Figured I'd do you a favor after what you've given me. To be sure that I'm gone from Dominic finds out. Irritation floods me again. "Whatever." I start in the direction of my parent's Hamptons home. The whole night replaying in my head, feeling the built up anger with each recollection. I didn't enjoy being dismissed. Certainly not by Kitty. Or that weird group. I know she fought to keep us separate, for whatever reasons but I was annoyed. Feeling like a little pawn in some game she was playing. All I wanted to do was go home and light one of the joints in my nightstand. My parents were gone for the weekend, back in the city. Sitting out on the patio, drinking their fancy liquor and getting Getting high and forgetting about the girl who made my heal spin. I stop, already two houses away when I realize I've left Colton - who didn't even want to attend in the first place. Not caring if I ran in Dominic trying to recuse him. Or maybe he already went back to Dunmere. I had to chance it though. Not leaving him to the den of vipers. Sneaking back through the door, he's easy to spot in his white tank top and jeans. Almost as if he's looking for me too, I shout his name. "Colton."  "Henry. Where did you even go?" "Long story.  Let's get the fuck out of here." "You don't have to ask me twice." "Let's go back to mine. You alright?" Silence is only interrupted by a sigh. You know what? Don't answer that." Let the night of commiserating began.

[henry albright]