“What’s going on?” I ask, silently applauding myself for how strong and unaffected I sound. “You’re pawning me off on your men? That doesn’t seem like it has anything to do with getting to know me.”
His frosty embers burn into me as we take the final turn and stand by the door, his hand releasing mine to splay across the small of my back. “It doesn’t, but … I drove you here, so you don’t have your car. Plus, I’ll be busy tonight. I want to make sure you stay put.”
“You’ll be busy tonight?” I arch a brow, hating the venom lacing that question, but the thought of my mouth on him hours before he’s with someone else has me ready to poke his eyes out.
Not that he owes me anything, which is good because I don’t want anything from him. And still, my blood is on fire.
“Calm down, Lockhart.” He huffs a light chuckle, but in the next beat, stress and despondency line his features. “I’ll be busy because I fucked up a very important call, and my older brothers, who I happen to secretly idolize, are raging mad and looking for me. I can’t take you home because Idon’t want to involve you in whatever wrath is headed my way, and honestly”—he blows out a jagged breath, showing more vulnerability than I’ve ever seen in him—“that’s just the tip of the utter fuckery I’m involved in.”
“Thanks to me,” I whisper as the car pulls up.
I’m instantly mortified. The discomfort in my tongue and jaw burrows into my bones. Security won’t share this with anyone, but it’s still unnerving to have my fellow employees speculating on what’s going on here.
Kane strides toward us, garnering Maddox’s attention. “It’s all set, sir. The names of the guards accompanying have been emailed to you, along with all the necessary information.”
“Good work,” Maddox says before kissing my temple. “It’s all right, Tess.”
Even in his commanding role with Kane, he seems so boyish in the aftermath of the mess I created. Guilt strangles me. I don’t like seeing him this way. It fills me with an uncanny compulsion to wrap my arms around him. But that would be weird. I’m not really a hugger or even warm for that matter. The amber lighting and his uninhibited confession are muddling everything.
It’s too late anyway. He lets Kane guide me to the car, and he disappears into his hidden city.
TESSA
Three hours later, I’m showered and full from my favorite Mexican takeout place. I’m lounging in my bed, binge-watchingBrothers & Sisters. They’re all borderline terrible human beings that love their dysfunctional family. The constant conflict soothes me.
Halfway through an episode, Mercy texts me.
Mercy: You caused quite a stir today.
Me: Please tell me it isn’t all over the resort.
Mercy: We were out. But from what I know, only the penthouse is in chaos.
Me: You were supposed to go to the country house. You didn’t go because of this?
Mercy: It was a bunch of stuff. We’re going tomorrow afternoon and only staying for the night. I’ll be around after your family thing.
Me: Do not rush back for me. I’ll be okay.
Mercy: With the holiday coming up, we can’t be gone long anyway, so that’s a nonissue. But the Noire in question from today’s mess is still MIA. Know anything about that?
Just for fun, I send her one of my headlines.
Me: Girl dies too attached to the Noire family jewels.
Mercy: That reads like a riddle. I’ll be over tomorrow morning.
Me: That’s still all you’re getting from me.
Mercy: We’ll see about that. I’m here if you need me.
Me: I know.
Tossing my phone aside, I resume my activities. Other than watching the show, I’m working on a sketch, and I’ve also been writing a few new entries on this month’s list. It’s a method of letting things go that I picked up a few years back. I can’t attest to it always working, but somehow, if I know my grievance existson this paper, I don’t feel as compelled to keep carrying it. With things that don’t occur repeatedly, this practice is golden. With consistent gripes, the relief is short-lived. But there nonetheless.
Today, most of what I’m penning has to do with all the stupid choices I made. Thankfully, that’s a rarity. I’m usually confident with my decisions. I’m not sure what got into me this afternoon.
My phone buzzes with another text, and initially, I ignore it, assuming it’s one of my sisters. After the day I had, I can’t have anyone tell me how horrible I am with their passive-aggressive charm. But when the reminder ding sounds, I pause the show to check that it isn’t Mercy. Even if it is my family, I’ll answer quickly so they don’t text me all night.
