Page 14 of Honest Boys Don’t Play

When we get to the house, Jeffrey pulls up to the front door. “Elise prepared two bedrooms, but if you’d prefer to use one room that’s fine as well.”

“Two rooms is fine,” Luke answers before I can.

“I’ll park and bring your bags in,” Jeffrey says. “Give me a few minutes and I’ll be up with them.”

I lead Luke up the steps and to the massive front door. He looks around, but his face betrays nothing of his thoughts on the sheer mass of the house.

“So, this is the Rhode Island house,” I say hollowly. I swing the doors open to the foyer with a sweeping staircase.

“It’s beautiful,” he says, but I’m not quite sure he means it.

“It’s cold,” I mutter. “And showy. Like everything else my parents do.” Smoothing my hair back, I force a smile. “Are you hungry? There are always prepared meals in the fridge.”

“Are you hungry?” he counters.

I shake my head.

“Then I’m not either.”

“I just want to go to bed,” I admit. “I’m already tired and I haven’t even told them yet.”

I start up the stairs and he follows.

“I’m sorry they’re not here.”

I shrug off his words. “It’s probably for the best. I’m not sure walking in tonight and dropping this news on them would play out for the best anyway.”

“My room.” I point to the left. “And I’m guessing they put you in this room.” I lead him to the one next door. Swinging the door open, I step inside and spin around to gauge his reaction.

He lets out a low whistle. “Wow.”

“It’s gaudy as hell,” I sigh, taking in the large monstrosity of a bed piled high with covers and pillows. The wood furniture glimmers when light hits it thanks to the gold painted in strategic spots. “Everything is always for show,” I mutter. “But”—I clap my hands together— “the good news is that it’ll probably be the best sleep of your life. The mattresses are superior.” When he doesn’t say anything, I keep rambling. “Closet.” I point to one door. “And bathroom.” I point to the other.

“Does your room look like this?” he asks, curious. “Or did you decorate it?”

I shake my head. “I call it my room, but it’s a guestroom like this one. I just stay in the same room whenever I’m here, so I call it mine.”

His brows furrow. “So, it’s not personalized to you at all?” I shake my head. “What about a different house of your parents?”

My throat feels tight as I cross my arms protectively over my chest. “No. When I went to college all my personal items were cleared out and it became a standard room.”

It’s been years since that happened and it still stings. I came home for Christmas break to find that my parents couldn’t even be bothered with being home and that I didn’t even have a room anymore. Not really, anyway.

Luke rubs his jaw and looks like he wants to say something else but chooses to keep his mouth shut.

“Anyway,” I say when the quiet has gone on too long for my liking. “Jeffrey should be here any minute with our bags. I’m going to shower and go to bed.”

“All right.” He looks around the space, and I’d give just about anything to know what he’s thinking. “You know where I am if you need me.”

I leave him to it and scurry next door to my room.

When the door closes behind me, I finally let a few tears escape.

I can’t believe I told them I was coming home and they’re not even here.

Pressing my hand to my stomach, I say, “Baby, I promise to never ever make you feel like this.”

CHAPTER 5