Page 18 of Always Been You
I open my mouth to respond to her unexpected apology, but before I can get a word out, Elisa claps her hands, shattering the moment. The tension in the room cracks like ice, leaving behind a strange, almost awkward quiet. She stands up at the same time as Lauren; their movements synchronized like they’ve been waiting for this cue. My suspicion flares. Those two are up to something.
“Alright, ladies! Time to stop moping and start living!” Elisa declares, her grin wide and infectious. She winks at me, clearly determined to lighten the mood. “Lawliss, you’re coming out with us tonight, no excuses.”
I raise an eyebrow, half-laughing. “Are you serious?”
“Oh, she’s serious,” Lauren chimes in, her eyes gleaming with mischief. “We’ve already decided.”
I glance at my mother, expecting a frown or some small protest, but she surprises me by giving a tiny nod of approval. “Go on, Lawliss. You could use a night out,” she says, her voice softer than usual. There’s a look in her eyes I can’t quite read. It looks like a hint of worry, maybe pride. I’m not sure.
I let out a breath, feeling the tension of the evening slip away, just a little. “Alright,” I say, letting a smile tug at my lips. “Lead the way.”
I stand as well, then meet my sisters halfway. We pick up our stuff and prepare to leave.
“You can leave her with us,” Mum says to Aria, noticing her leaning toward Janette, who’s fast asleep on the couch.
“Are you sure?” Aria asks, hesitating. She glances down at Janette, uncertain.
“What, you don’t trust us? We raised you, didn’t we?” Dad chimes in with mock offense, drawing giggles from all of us.
Aria chuckles, “If you say so.”
We say our goodbyes, and Mum waves us off with a soft, “Have fun tonight.” I can feel her watching us as we leave, her words laced with something more than she lets on.
As we head for the door, Aria wraps an arm around my shoulders. “Tonight’s all about you, sis. Time to shake off the past and make some memories.”
I inhale her sweet honey scent and lean into her. Those words coming from her are more than encouragement. Aria has been through a lot, leading her to be calm and collected. She’s the steady one among us.
I’m yet to deal with the media just like she did and I don’t know what to expect. Thanks to my family’s support, I’m prepared for what is to come.
I step outside, breathing in the cool night air and I still can’t quite shake the nagging thought of Eddie and that damn document.
* * *
We arrive at the bar and Elisa gets us in without joining the long queue outside. As we pass the long line outside, I can feel the curious gazes turning our way, a quiet buzz of whispers trailing after us. Elisa flashes the bouncer a knowing smile, and with just a nod, we’re whisked inside, skipping the line entirely.
Elisa has always been a charmer. She moves with such ease that the whole world knows her name, and I can’t help but wonder how she manages to make it look so natural. Not that our family isn’t popular but it's just that Elisa knows how to use it to her advantage.
Inside, the pulse of the music hits me like a wave, thick and intoxicating, the bass reverberating in my chest as we make our way towards the VIP section. We pass the noisy ground flow to another section and suddenly, I’m stepping into a different world. The dim, golden glow bathes everything in a kind of luxurious haze, and the soft leather couches and perfectly arranged crystal glasses feel miles away from the chaos of the crowded dance floor below.
Aria’s arm is draped over my shoulder, grounding me, while Lauren’s is wrapped around my waist, relaxing me. Being in a place like this is way out of my comfort zone. My face is usually buried in a book or documents. Running my own firm and being the head of my family’s legal sector leaves little to no room for other commitments.
We arrive at a designated booth and take a seat. The server comes by to take our order.
“What would you like?” She asks me but Elisa jumps in, listing off drinks for all of us without a second thought. Lauren leans in, feigning horror.
“Remind me again, why are you picking drinks for everyone?” Aria’s playful tone cuts through and Elisa gives a careless shrug. “Someone’s gotta save you from yourself.” I shake my head, smiling as I watch my sisters go back and forth with Lauren joining in. I swear, Elisa and Laurel should’ve come as twins; they always have an endless banter only they understand, filled with teasing one minute and laughter the next.
“So…” Lauren raises her glass at me. The server had come back to serve us with our order. I raise my head, looking at her skeptically. Elisa is sitting beside me and Aria and Laurel are opposite us with a glass table separating us.
“So, what?”I ask.
“Don’t play dumb Lawliss. We all know you are too smart for that.”
“What?” I whisper and she raises a brow at me. I belatedly realize why they want me to come out with them. They want to grill me about what happened in Florida. Shit. There’s no backing out of it now.
“Oh, that…” I feign ignorance as I take a sip of my drink.
“Yeah.. that.” Elisa bumps my shoulders slightly and I instantly regret sitting beside her with what I’m about to share.
