“Because you look like you want to kill someone, and that’s usually Michael’s gig.”

“I don’t want to kill anyone.”

Except Tyler. And maybe Gabriel.

Chris came all the way into the room and dropped onto the side of the bed. “Becca told me to ask if you guys wanted to come over to her place tonight. We’re going to get a pizza, rent a movie. Hang out.” He waggled his eyebrows. “Et cetera.”

There was a time when Nick would have jumped at the chance, just to force other things out of his brain. And, he admitted to himself, to keep up appearances. He and Gabriel used to take girls out together, just because they could. But since he and Chris had been dating Quinn and Becca, they’d done the double date thing a few times.

Now, however, he was glad to have a reason to refuse. “I can’t. I told Mike I would babysit.”

Chris smiled. “Sucker. I knew you’d say yes.”

Of course he did. Nick always did what his brothers needed.

Maybe Chris read his darkening mood, because he lost the smile before Nick could say anything. “Well, I said I would ask.” He paused and looked at the wall like something interesting was happening there. He didn’t say anything for a long time, but the air felt heavy, and Nick waited. Chris wasn’t a talker, and when he had something to say, it took him a while to get around to it.

When he finally spoke, his voice was low. “If something is going on, you can tell me. I know you always tell Gabriel everything, but—I’ll keep your secret, too.”

Nick looked at him. He didn’t know what to say.

When Becca’s father had come to town to kill them all, he’d trapped Chris and Nick in a walk-in freezer. Nick’s leg had been broken, and he’d barely been able to move. Just another instance where he wasn’t strong enough to save anyone. Michael and Gabriel had rescued them.

For the first time, Nick realized that Chris hadn’t been able to save himself, either. And Chris might have been a year younger, but he sure as hell wasn’t weak.

Nick had been quiet too long. Chris finally turned away from the wall and met his eyes.

There were too many variables here. Nick worried the tension in his body might rattle it to pieces.

His cell phone buzzed on his nightstand. Nick jumped. He could see the screen lit up with a text message, but he couldn’t see the sender.

Chris was closer. If he looked over, he’d see it.

He didn’t look.

Nick ran a hand through his hair, putting some order to the mess Gabriel had made. “I need to finish getting ready for school.”