Page 81 of Submission

“That’s my mother?’ Lena touches the photograph reverently.

“Yes, and that’s you who she’s holding.”

“She’s so pretty.”

“She was. As are you,” I tell her, looking at her. “When you were about two years old, I used to have long hair, and you liked pulling on it. I would pretend that it hurt so badly, and you would laugh and laugh.”

I recall a small room with a faded carpet and shabby pieces of furniture. For a moment, I can recall the scent of my mom’s famous beef stew cooking on the stove and the small weight of Lena on my shoulders as I ran around the room, the laughter of the little girl echoing in my ears.

My chest feels tight to the point of suffocation.

I haven’t heard Lena laugh once since she’s been back in my life.

Does she even remember how to?

“I’m not sure how you made it out of the house, Lena, but I’m grateful that you’re here,” I tell her. “And I’m sorry for not finding you before.”

Lena’s eyes sparkle with tears and she just shakes her head, keeping her composure. “It’s okay. You found me now.”

The sound of a door opening interrupts the touching moment between my sister and me, and when I see the vision walking toward me, I almost forget how to breathe.

Megan looks stunning.

She’s clad head to toe in the clothes and jewelry I purchased for her, and her hair is delicately curled in soft ringlets thatframe her gorgeous face. Her makeup has been applied tastefully and makes her skin appear as if it is glowing from the inside out. The black halter dress shimmers with each movement of her hips and it’s a perfect fit if I do say so myself. Her shoulders are exposed, as is a part of her back, giving her a high-end look without showing too much skin.

“Well, how do I look?” she asks the room.

“Whoa, you look rich as hell,” Naomi says as she sits up. “You look like you wipe your ass with hundred-dollar bills, bitch!”

Megan checks herself out again in the full-length mirror near the front door as if she’s second-guessing herself.

“What do you think, Lena?” she asks my sister.

“You kind of do,” Lena agrees. “You’ve got the whole socialite thing going on. Those earrings look like something someone from the royal family would wear.”

“Shut up, you two,” I order before taking Megan in my arms. “You look like the gorgeous artist you are. The dress fits you like a glove, and the jewelry is appropriate.”

“For a college student?” Naomi adds. “Or a Kardashian?”

“She’s absolutely stunning,” I affirm, looking straight into Megan’s eyes.

“Thank you, Hunter.” She beams at me with a faint blush on her cheeks. “You look amazing yourself.”

She confidently picks up her clutch purse and tells Naomi, “I ordered you two large pizzas. They’re coming in thirty minutes.”

“Two large?” Naomi gives Megan a puzzled look. “What am I going to do with two large pizzas?”

“Christian and Vaughn might drop by to watch Netflix.”

“Wait.” Now Naomi stands up. “You’re telling me that those two adult men with full-time jobs are coming over to use our Netflix account?”

“Why are they visiting your apartment?” I scowl at Megan. “I didn’t tell them to drop by here. Are they bothering you often?”

“They’re not bothering me,” Megan paints a coat of iridescent pink gloss on her lips. “They come over every now and then, and I didn’t want Naomi to be alone. Plus, Christian is kind of cute. They might–“

“Hey,” I narrow my eyes at her. “Those two are not for admiring.”

“I’m not,” Megan chuckles. “I’m trying to help Naomi find a man.”

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