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In this space, no bad feelings or worry can get to me. Nothing can touch me right now. By the end of my bath, my body is so relaxed, I feel boneless, my muscles have turned to jelly sometime in the last thirty minutes, and now I can barely keep my eyes open.
“You ready to come out?”
“Yeah,” I barely nod.
Banks offers me his hand and helps me out of the bath while Sullivan grabs a bathrobe, holding it open for me. My arms slide into the fluffy fabric one at a time, and Sullivan closes the belt around my waist, tying me up like a perfectly wrapped gift.
“I like this,” I giggle. “You guys taking care of me. It makes me feel like a princess. Like I’m important.”
“You better get used to it,” Banks tells me, right before he surprises me by picking me up bridal style. Letting out a startled squeal, I throw my arms around his neck. “’Cause we’re not planning on stopping any time soon.”
He carries me out of the bathroom, and the strong citrus odor of cleaning solution tickles my nostrils. Room service must have already come and cleaned up the mess I made earlier.
Banks places me on the bed, and as if on cue, Oliver walks in, holding a tray of food and puts it on the bedside table, I look at it wearily. Crackers, an assortment of prepared fruit, hot tea, and ice water sit before me. None of it looks all that appetizing, but then again, I did just barf all over the floor.
“I had them bring up stuff that I know will ease an upset stomach,” Oliver explains as if he can read my mind. I don’t know what to say, so I just push from the bed a little and wrap my arms around his middle. Oliver bends down and returns the hug.
“Thank you, no one has ever taken care of me the way that you all do.”
“Stop saying thank you. We do it because we want to, not because we’re obligated to.
“We love you, Harlow, and nothing has, or ever will change that. Not our parents. Not yours. Nothing. The circumstances of our relationship might not be perfect, or even common, but that doesn’t make what we all have any less special.” Banks intercepts, and my heart swells, growing bigger with each beat.
Tears well in my eyes. I’m consumed by them. My heart beats for them each in its own way. There is no me without them.
“We’re supposed to hate each other, but it seems all we’ve ever done is love each other.”
“Because we weren’t meant to. Before, we just let our parents dictate our lives, but that won’t happen again.”
“Good, because I don’t know what’s going to happen next,” I admit while nibbling on one of the crackers. Not only do I feel like crap, but I truly have no idea where to go from here. Do I stay hiding out with the Bishops for eternity? Not that I wouldn’t like that, but it’s not really all that feasible of an option.
Out of the corner of my eye, I see Banks rubbing at his chin. He looks to be lost in thought, and I wonder what he’s thinking about. Each brother is handsome beyond measure, how the hell did I end up with all three of them?
Sullivan clears his throat, drawing all the attention in the room to him.
“You said our father was in the photos you found in your father’s desk. The one with the mystery woman… Phoebe?”
Swinging my gaze to him, I stare in confusion. “Yes. Your father was in some of the photos. I had planned to ask my dad more about it, but as you know, he hung up on me before I had the chance. He won’t talk to me again until I go back to North Woods, and none of you will allow that.”
“Because your father is crazy,” Banks chimes in.
“Because Shelby is still out there walking free,” Oliver adds another brick of worry on their ever-growing pile. “We need to tell the police, Harlow. Are you up for that?”
All of their concerns weigh heavily on me, weighing down my heart. I don’t take them lightly because I see how much I mean to them now and how dangerous things really are, but I didn’t escape one ivory tower just to be trapped in another.
“Yes,” I sigh. “I’ll call them, but I still want to talk to my father. Staring down at the comforter, I say, “I understand why you don’t want me to see him right now, and I’m okay with that, but I’m not some fragile piece of glass. I don’t just want answers… I need them, which means eventually I won’t have an option but to see my father again.” Silence blankets the room, and I peek up through my lashes to see if they’ve disappeared into thin air.
