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I massage the spot between my eyes. I need a fucking joint. “If anything is said…”
“No one will.”
“Cartier already fucking knows!” I yell, squeezing my phone in my hand so hard I actually think I hear it click.
Speaking of the devil, she falls down onto the sofa opposite me, biting into an apple.
I flip her off.
“Well, you can be pissed at Perse for that.”
I don’t need another reason to hate her, but I won’t tell King that. Not that I hate Perse. This is a new thing. Like a two-day new thing.
“She’s pregnant thou—”
I hang up on him, tossing my phone onto the spot beside me. Motherfucker is using her pregnancy as an excuse as to why Perse is failing miserably at being Delila.
“You know, how many shares do we own in this hotel?”
“One-fourth, Cartier. Fuck. I thought that would be obvious.”
She ignores me, taking another chunk out of her apple. “You know, I don’t think I want to sleep in here with you.”
“Then fucking sleep somewhere else…”
Her eyes narrow, as she lowers the apple to her lap and leans forward. “Kyrin. Stop being a fucking mean brother. I want my other one back.”
“He’s not here right now.” I bring my eyes to hers. “You and I both know that.”
The nightmares are getting worse. I can feel it in the marrow of my bones every single time I close my eyes. I see them. They’re staring back at me with shame, like I have done something so bad and unmistakable. Unredeemable.
We got into the hotel last night and I went straight to the room I was assigned to, desperate to put some space between Eli and Kyrin. Though with Kyrin, I didn’t have to fight hard, since he was running off the plane faster than an officer on a rescue mission. Eli seemed distracted. I feel as though everything around me is caving in slowly. Like the walls I worked so hard to build up aren’t crumbling down, but they are coming closer and closer together. I’m not sure why we are here, but something doesn’t sit with me. People are quiet, everyone but Maya and Saskia. My phone is vibrating on the coffee table inside my studio room when I slide open the group chat from them.
Maya: Why the fuck are we here? I mean honestly…
Sass: I don’t know. Killian is being weird.
Maya: No, I mean, like this is new to you?
Sass: Shut up.
I start rummaging through my bags to find the outfit I want to wear today when there’s a knock on my door. I don’t bother to put clothes on, making my way there in a bra and panties. I open it up onto a young boy, holding a coat hanger with something zipped inside.
He gulps when he notices what I’m wearing. Cute. “Ma’am, your outfit for tonight. I will escort you, as your driver has fallen ill…”
I wrap my fingers around the gown, looking him up and down. He is cute.
“Thank you.” I shut the door and unzip the black cover, placing it carefully onto the dining table. My mouth almost drops open when I get to what’s beneath it. Soft pink? Seriously? Fucking pink?
“Agh.” I sigh, dropping onto the dining seat. I perk up. “It couldn’t be a bright pink? At least it almost looks white…” I’ll repeat that mantra inside my head all night while it’s wrapped around my body.
Pink, though?! Who the fuck did this? My fingers dig into the corner where a little card is hidden.
Your favorite color. Don’t lie… Eli. Instantly I smile, but then I stop smiling when I notice that I’m smiling because it’s from him.
Fuck.
Is this what other people feel when they like someone? I shoot up straight, eyes wide. Oh my God, I’m human. I flick the card on top of the dress and find my phone again, hitting dial on Sass.
She answers, and then Maya does, too, and suddenly we’re all on FaceTime.
I look among the three squares. “Okay, this is dumb. Come to my room.”
“On my way!” Saskia says.
“Already here,” Maya adds, knocking on the door. I hang up on both of them and pull open the door, not bothering to say hello to Maya before making my way back to the kitchen table.
“Okaaayyy…” Maya murmurs, closing the door behind herself. “Should I be worried about something here?”
“What?” I ask, turning to face her.
Maya is mixed, so she has the most beautiful and flawless skin, but her green, moss-colored eyes trap you. She has soft, natural lips, and straight white teeth. She is beyond beautiful, actually. Exotic and confident. She’s also everything you would want in a friend.
Maya makes her way farther into the kitchen area, opening the fridge and scanning over everything inside. “I mean, the whole answering the door barely naked thing.”
“Can I ask you something?” I cross my arms in front of myself.
