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Ew.
“Dinner is what the plan was, not whatever this is,” I spoke up, shaking off the weird feeling this whole conversation was giving me. I didn’t give them a chance for rebuttal. I headed for the door and they were quick to follow behind me.
Our progress was quickly impeded by someone coming up the stairs.
Orion.
His eyes went wide at the sight of us, not because he was surprised they were here, I’d told him they were coming. My immediate assumption was that he wasn't expecting me to be dressed for leaving the house—which I hadn't, in the week that passed since the attack.
“Hey, Lex,” he greeted Alexis first, and she gave him a nod.
“Hey, Ri.”
“Morgan,” he said and as usual she was doing too much.
“Heeey, Mr. Sterling,” she sang, making him chuckle.
And then, finally, he really looked at me, giving me a head-to-toe examination that made me want to melt into a puddle.
“Looks like you ladies were planning to head out?” he asked, and I nodded.
“Just dinner.” I shrugged. “At 81stand Clarke.”
Not that I needed permission.
I was trying to offer him some security.
He pushed out a sigh, shoving hands into his pockets. “I'm afraid I have to discourage you from that,” he said. “I mean… if you insist, I’ll make sure you have proper protection, but I’d rather you didn’t. EJ is under control, but regrettably, I don't know who he might have working for him or who be coming to ask questions on his behalf. And unfortunately… that same caveat applies to your father.”
Shit.
No matter how badly I wanted to argue… he wasn't wrong.
And honestly, I’d considered the same thing.
I’d just been hoping no one else would bring it up.
Hoped I was simply overthinking it, and that maybe even through sheer luck, everything would be perfectly fine—no weird run-ins, especially knowing that security would be following me, and that I'd be with my homegirls.
…Not that being followed by security had prevented the other attack.
Which was probably the same thing on Orion's mind.
“If it's any consolation, I can run back downstairs and have the chef whip up enough dinner for everybody,” he offered. “So you’ll be well fed either way. Ladies… please help me convince my wife that caution is the way to go?” he asked, appealing to my friends, even though it was unnecessary.
They were the ones who needed convincing, not me.
“No wait time and top shelf liquor Iknowyou’ve got somewhere in this house?” Morgan asked. “Lex, you're on designated driving.”
“Hey,” Alexis fussed, following her down the stairs, past Orion. “Not if I get a shot in me first, bitch!”
“Sorry to ruin your fun,” Orion said, pulling my attention back to him.
I shrugged. “It’s fine, but I do eventually have to leave the house again, you know?”
“Another unfortunate truth I have to reckon with.” He nodded, climbing a few more stairs to get closer to me. “Give me another week. I’ll have this all sorted.”
I raised an eyebrow. “What about my father?”
