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massage his nut-brown back.
    The younger girl looked up at me, her heavy blond mane hanging over one eye. “Can I help you?” she asked suspiciously, even possessively—there was no room for a petite brunette in their ménage quartet. I wasn’t sure, could she? Should I say something?
    But I didn’t speak, as I knew he’d recognize my voice, so I just shook my head. Then walked away.
    Dumbstruck, I ambled back to Dad and sat with him by the bar.
    He handed me my drink. “Honey, what’s up?”
    “Will,” I said, “will be just fine.”
    Dad glugged down a whole glass of water and let out a satisfied gasp. “I wish I could believe that.”
    “Trust me, dad, he’s fine.”
    “How do you know?”
    “Let’s just say I have evidence.”
    “You saw him?”
    “Yeah,” I said, in a dazed monotone, “I saw him.”
    “And? Where the fuck is he?” My parents were never the kind to stop swearing in front of the children—my dad was like a friend, not a typical father.
    “He’s occupied with a bunch of . . . ” –I wanted to say ‘girls’ but they were too worldly for that—“females,” I spluttered. “I didn’t want to break the spell for him—the older sister clucking around like a mother hen, you know.”
    “Whores?”
    “Ssh, keep your voice down. I don’t think so . . . just opportunists. I don’t want to disturb him. He’s ‘scored,’ you know, and this could be his first time—I mean this must be his first, surely? I don’t want to ruin his Vegas experience.”
    I assumed Will had won money, but then again, he was damn good looking. Even so . . . three ?
    I expected my father to feel proud of his son initiating his manhood, but he brought up a very good point: “You think he knows about safe sex, Janie? I doubt it. And what if they’re all taking copious amounts of drugs?”
    “Good point,” I said, feeling like the child now. I couldn’t believe my dad was so on the ball, for once. “You’re right.”
    He glared at me. “So, where is he?”
    “At the other end of the pool. He didn’t look like he was going anywhere fast, though. I’ll try calling again.” I took my cell out from my shorts’ pocket. Will’s phone jumped to voicemail, just as I expected. I didn’t bother leaving a message, I’d already left so many already. “Okay, Dad, I’ll go over and . . .” –I didn’t know what my plan was, but Dad was agitated, and I thought it best I spoke to Will alone—“you stay here.”
    I walked over to Will and his harem of girls, mulling over how stunned Dad and I were by Will’s new independence manifesting in a way neither of us had ever anticipated. My brother was sitting up now, and our gazes instantly met. A slow smile crept on his face—a face which looked older than I remembered, and less boyish. I hadn’t seen him in more than six months.
    “Hey,” I said, leaning down to kiss him on the cheek. “See you’ve set yourself up nicely. Dad and I’ve been calling you non stop.”
    He squinted at me, the sun in his eyes. “You didn’t get my message?”
    “Noooo, Will, we’ve been checking our cells every five minutes!” I tried to stay calm.
    “Candy, Stacey, Jill, this is my sister, Janie.”
    “Hi,” I said, trying not to be unfriendly. It wasn’t their fault.
    Will spoke with a grin, like a giant sticker, slapped across his handsome face. My glare did not deter his happiness for one second. “I left a message early this morning with the concierge, there should be a note . . . a note . . . in Dad’s inbox,” he said, beaming.
    “What happened to your cellphone?”
    “I dove in the pool with it by mistake. I have it, but it’s not so happy, not so happy. I won a lot of money, Janie, at Blackjack. Won a lot of money.”
    The last thing Will needed was to be boasting in public about all the money he’d made.
    “Will, can I just . . . Dad’s worried sick . . . can we just talk in private for a second?”
    He lifted