Page 76 of Reflections of Peonies
“You were wearing Burberrys the other day, too.” Bryce was giving me a curious look. “Are you obsessed with shoes?”
“I am not obsessed!” My happiness faded into embarrassment within seconds, and I glared at Bryce. “I just like to take care of my feet.”
“Are they all luxury brands?” Bryce stroked his chin, seemingly in deep thought. “That’s surprising. Abigail is extremely frugal. But even if you convinced her, that’s hundreds for each pair.”
“Well, they weren’t fromher.” I wanted to wipe that contemplative look right off his face. Besides, how did Bryce know anything about women’s shoes?
“He got them for me.” I pointed at Finn, and his face turned red. “And I earned them.”
“You earned them?” Damen glanced at his brother. Suspicion laced his tone now. “How exactly do you earn shoes?”
“I took care of him.” I shrugged, not sure why they cared. “He likes things done a certain way.”
“Why,” Finn said, rubbing his temples. “Why is it always this way?”
What way? I frowned at him.
“Bianca.” Julian gently turned my face toward his, his voice laced with concern. “What do you mean by ‘take care of him’? Like… how?”
“Um.” I glanced at Finn for help, but he still wasn’t looking at me. I fought the urge to throw something at him. My eyes returned to Julian’s, who seemed increasingly tense.
“In the bedroom?” I said slowly, thinking through the chores. “And then the kitchen, the living room, and—”
Julian looked as if he might break, but he’d asked, hadn’t he?
“The bathroom, too,” I added with a casual wave. “He’s got some weird standards in there.”
“Finn!” Julian growled, and Finn opened his eyes. “You have ten seconds to explain yourself!”
“She was cleaning!” Finn snapped, stepping back. “Geez!”
Damen and Bryce, who’d stepped forward, stopped, and Titus and Miles’s twisted expressions cleared. But it was Brayden who spoke next.
“Cleaning?” He covered his mouth, clearly scandalized. “But you have servants!”
“That’s not the problem,” Damen replied. “Why—”
“I had to think of some way to get her stuff; it’s not like she’ll take gifts unless it’s a special occasion.” Finn waved his hand in my direction. “She’ll only accept things if necessary, like clothing. Sometimes, she’ll resist even that. But I noticed she looked at different brands online—”
“You stalked her searches to discover what she likes?” Miles asked dryly.
Finn’s jaw clenched. “She picked them out herself.” His attention returned to me. “Do you want the ones in my car or not?”
My chest tightened. I’d been following the conversation, of course. But the torrent of conflicting emotions made it difficult to decide how to feel. I felt violated. But it wasn’t news that he’d been monitoring my phone. It hurt, but…
I’d worked so darn hard for those shoes.
The smell of Finn’s laundry would forever be etched into my senses. The mental scars would stay with me for the rest of my life. What kind of person would sit and eat cookies while their friend scrubbed their marble floors?
He always got crumbs all over everything.
Besides, they were mine. And if I didn’t take them, no one—besides maybe Bryce—would appreciate them the way they deserved.
I would have to punish Finn accordingly, but there was no need to waste perfectly good flats.
“I want them.” I stepped forward, holding out my hand for his keys. “Give them back.”
Bryce followedat a distance while Julian casually gestured to various window displays, giving away his preferences. Hischoices leaned heavily toward skinny jeans, short skirts, and thigh-high boots—all in dark shades.
