So after he walked out, taking his sex appeal with him, I hauled up stairs and into the bathroom he just vacated. I leaned against the wall, still smelling him. The ash from the cigarette he smoked before. I used the bathroom, sitting on the toilet seat, shaky and horny. When I cleaned myself up, I touched my pussy and discovered I was slick, swollen, and more turned on than I had a right to be, considering that he walked away from me. Getting up, I turned on the water and froze when I saw the chunky silver ring sitting on the shallow edge of the porcelain sink, glass sink.
His ring.
My fingers touched the cold, smooth metal. I examined it closely. Two snakes wrap around a skull, their bodies surrounded by bones. There were some red and yellow bits and pieces in the ring, and I rinsed it, picking out the dried brownish flecks. It looked like dried paint, and I wonder if he does other art besides tattooing. I slid it on each finger, testing its fit, and the only one it somewhat fit on was my thumb. It felt strangely good on my finger.
Don’t ask me why I went to the guest room I use at Jace’s house and found an old pair of shorts I left behind from some summer long ago. Don’t ask me why I pulled on those cut-off jeans and stuffed his ring in the pocket. Don’t ask me why I didn’t walk back outside and tell him I found his ring. Don’t ask me why I pushed my hand in my pocket and fingered his ring, twirling it in my pocket like Bilbo did in The Hobbit, seeking comfort from it. I intend to take it with me when I leave. Don’t ask me why, because I have no fucking clue why I’m stealing his ring.
Especially not after I came outside to find him sitting next to Dru on one of the low pool loungers. It bothered me. I bit my tongue, schooling my facial features, refusing to show how much it bothered me that one of my new friends was cozying up next to him. My feet were rooted to the ground when I saw how much Stone was clearly into her, and honestly, I could see him with Dru. Yeah, she’s dating Silas or whatever the fuck they’re doing, but who knows what will happen. Something very well could because he had no issues touching her arm.
I turned away and sat on one of the loungers, pushing back on my sunglasses even though the bright sunshine was long gone. I was jealous of my friend, enraged that he’d had no problem smiling with her when I got scowls.
The sound of Sophia shouting has me looking up. Silas is dragging Dru up the hill into the house, and she’s putting up a fight, telling him to let her go. My brother is trying to hold Sophia back, and she pushes against his arm, cursing him loudly in Spanish. Whatever she’s saying doesn’t sound complimentary. Too bad I didn’t study Spanish. It sounds like a tongue lashing, but my brother just smiles, pulling her closer.
“You’re an asshole!” Dru yells, yanking on Silas’s hand.
“Yes. I am.” Silas nods.
There’s no apology behind his words, and I raise my eyebrows. It’s the first time I’ve ever heard him speak in such a tortured way. He looks ready to kill, and again I wonder what he fuck is happening between them. His hold on her arm is not how you hold your employee. He leans down to Dru, whispering in her ear. Eventually, she goes with him into the house.
Sophia keeps cursing and shoving my brother back. “Keep your hands to yourself, Park! Men need permission to touch me.”
I don’t listen to his response, suddenly exhausted. Between their bickering all day, the intensity with Dru and Silas, and my nuclear implosion around Stone, I’m drained.
“Fifty bucks says they are going to end up fucking.”
Jacks grins, chugging on a bottle of water.”
“That’s an easy bet to win,” Sloane Alexander, the new CFO of Silas’s company, responds, lifting his own bottle of water. Everyone laughs, but I can’t help but think about what Dru and Silas may be doing, envious of them.
When they return 15 minutes later, Dru looks wrecked, her hair a mess. Silas looks sweaty and very relaxed. I grin, giggling when Jace shouts, “Did you two fuck in my bathroom!?”
Everyone is quiet, then Jace squeaks, “Not in my goddamn bed!? Those sheets have a 1,000 thread count!”
Silas and Dru don’t answer, but I see Dru’s blush. Jace groans, shaking his head. “Dammit! I hope you at least cleaned up!”
“Will your car make it back?”Jace leans against the kitchen counter, folding his arms. His BBQ is long over, guests gone, and it’s just the two of us.
I wince. The engine of my Beetle has been rattling for the last month. I remind myself that I need to get the engine checked out. I can still hear Kingsley’s scolding lecture about my car.
“I get it, babe. You want to stick it to dear old dad, but this is nuts. You’re driving around a death trap of a car when you could easily buy a brand new one. You’re going to stop in the middle of the highway one day.”
King was right, but I liked my vintage 1960s Volkswagen Beetle. The mint green color was so cute. Yes, the engine needs work, but I haven’t had time to research someone who could fix it. I am determined to live on my own terms, and if that means that I have a shitty car, that is preferable to being chauffeured around and waited on.
“Yeah. I think so. She still has some life in her.”
“You need to dump that piece of shit car, Camryn. Buy something new.”
He rolls his eyes, observing me. It’s a running argument between us on how I deal with the discomfort I feel about our wealth, well, my father’s wealth. I shake my head. “I like my car, Jace. I bought it for myself.”
His eye-roll makes me smile. He’s always trying to take care of me, and as much as I appreciate it tonight, I’m not in the mood for his interference. “No, you bought it to irritate Tae.”
Direct hit.Did I buy it to irritate my asshole father? Maybe. Probably.“The same way you work for Silas,” I quip.
He laughs, throwing his head back. “Touché.”
“Thanks for throwing the party. It was good to unwind.”
“It was certainly eventful,” Jace laughs, shaking his head.
