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Chapter 19
3 dayslater…
Harlow, you have a visitor.” I looked up from the book I had been reading. Bellamy stood in the doorway, leaning against the frame with his broadshoulders.
“I’m not really feeling like it,” I said, turning my eyes back to the words on the page. I had read and reread this same page for the last ten minutes. To be honest, I wasn’t feeling much ofanything.
“It’s your brother,” Bellamyclarified.
I stiffened and then sighed. Ireallywasn’t feeling like dealing with him, but I supposed there was also no getting around it. We had been expecting his arrival sooner or later. To be honest, I was a bit surprised that he hadn’t come sooner—as in, I was surprised he hadn’t shown up at the house immediately after themasquerade.
I closed my book. “Fine,” I said, standing up from my seat in Knix’s office. “Where ishe?”
“He’s in the living room,” Bellamy answered. “I can tell him to go away if you don’t want to do thisnow.”
“No,” I said, shaking my head. “It’s probably better to get it overwith.”
Bellamy eyed me as though I were one of his cars—something he could take apart and fix. I would admit, I was being particularly closed off. After what had gone down between Grayson and me, I just wasn’t feeling up to much of anything. I didn’t want to talk to anyone. I didn’t really want to read—but it was a way to make it look like I was doing something without anyone questioningit.
“Okay, well, if you need anything. Texas and I will beupstairs.”
I blinked. I hadn’t even considered that the others would be around. I wasn’t exactly seeking them out lately. “Where is everyone else?” Iasked.
Bellamy shrugged. “Marv is out working on a new Iris project. Knix went to look at a construction site and I think Grayson’s at the diner.” I flinched at Grayson’s name. If Bellamy noticed, he didn’t sayanything.
Grayson hadn’t said anything more to me after we got home. I didn’t know if he was still thinking things over or not, but he hadn’t gone out with any of the guys since the charity masquerade either. Maybe he was still thinking about where he stood. He never said whether or not he was staying, but he hadn’t packed up his things yet. It felt like one more thing could push him over the edge though, and I didn’t want to be the reason heleft.
I nodded quickly, as I tried to cover up my reaction. “Thanks.”
He tipped his head and then disappeared around the corner. I followed behind a bit more slowly. My stomach was a rocky pit. My heart was a mangled piece of flesh. I didn’t want to deal with Michael or Grayson or Teddi or anyone really. I just wanted to take some time away. But life doesn’t always give the best of options. I would have to handle Michael sooner or later. I might as well get it over withnow.
Michael stood in the living room facing the windows when I entered. He must have heard the sound of my footsteps and recognized them because as soon as I walked in, he turned to greet me. I stood with a placid face, watching him. Michael was like the male version of me. Rich brown eyes, dark brown hair, tan skin. Only his hair was shorter, his eyes set wider apart and there was the telltale shadow of beard stubble on the lower half of hisface.
"Harlow," he said, his voicequiet.
"What do you want?" Iasked.
"I told you we would talk," he said. "I know you were upset with me when we saw each other at that charity masquerade, so I thought I would give you a fewdays."
"And it's been a few days," Isaid.
Henodded.
"Well," I said, “you wanted to talk.” I gestured for him to start, "so talk." Michael's gaze strayed to the staircase and I guessed that Bellamy had come back through here to return to his room upstairs. Therefore, Michael knew we weren't alone and he wasn't completely comfortable with that. I sighed. "Is there aproblem?"
"Is there somewhere where we can speak more privately?" heasked.
I shrugged. There were places. Grayson wasn't home so I could have taken him to the pool house, but I wasn't going to do that. That was Grayson's space and even though I wasn't on speaking terms with Grayson at the moment, I also wasn't going to invade his privacy likethat.
"Yeah," I finally said, an idea blossoming in my head. "Let's go for a drive. I assume you drove here?" He nodded and scrambled to reach in his pockets before withdrawing a small key-ring. There was nothing else on the key-ring but the car key and a key fob. Just as I had suspected, he was renting a car. I held my hand out and he lifted abrow.
"I'll drive," I said, staring back at the same brown eyes that I had and wondering if I was making the rightchoice.
"The car is a rental," he said, confirming mysuspicions.
I nodded, keeping my hand out. "I'll take good care of it," I assured him, not backingdown.
Michael stared back at me for a moment more as if he were trying to unravel the mystery that was his sister. I kept my face plain and indifferent and, finally, he caved, reaching out and dropping the keys in myhand.
