Page 93 of Roses, Pearls, and Hot Summer Nights
I shook my head, laughing. “No.”
“I love that you’re being honest with me. Feels like that Italian dinner was a million years ago. You know, the one when you wouldn’t talk to me.”
It really did. “I’m glad you pushed. I’m happy in a way I didn’t expect. I know I’ll always remember feeling this way, and it’s really because of you. All of you.”
Julian admitted, “I’m happy in a way I never expected to be, too. That might be hard to believe but it’s true.”
It wasn’t hard to believe, not with what I’d seen firsthand about his life. “Then I’m doubly glad you pushed.”
We made it inside my room as the first crack of thunder rumbled through the sky. He whistled. “Going to be a big one.”
I nodded toward the bathroom. “Get the sand off your feet. I will, too. I don’t want the maid to hate me because she has to change my sheets every day because of the sand.”
“Sure, I’ll do whatever you want. We don’t want you panicking over the maid again.”
Panicking?I felt … frantic. Was that what it was?
We washed off our feet and after he exited the bathroom, I quickly changed into a nightie—white with spaghetti straps. Julian sat on the edge of my bed and held out his hand. He only wore boxer shorts, which showed off his strong, well-defined abs. “Come cuddle with me.”
Another crack of thunder sounded, and I jumped as my screen door opened, letting the other three Lent brothers inside.
They were wet, so the rain must have started. “Thanks for waiting,” Jeremy shot at Julian who raised his eyebrows.
“I didn’t want Alatheia to get wet. Go wash off, you three. She doesn’t want the maid upset about sand.”
Phoenix shook his head. “What?”
“Just do it,” Barrett said as he passed him on his way to the bathroom. The night sky out of the window lit up from the lightning and the ocean seemed angrier. It was louder, the usual gentle roar more of a growl.
I walked to the doors and stared for a second as rain spattered the patio. Lights illuminated their property, givingsmall golden globes of light, but it still seemed darker than before—which was both ridiculous and yet somehow also true. I locked the doors, watching as another flash spidered its way across the clouds. “Will we be okay in here?”
“Yes. It’ll blow over.” Julian locked the door to the hallway before returning. “It might be loud, but it’ll be fine. Want me to see if I can find a fan or download a noise canceling app?”
“Maybe she should do that anyway, Peanut, to cover up your snoring.” Jeremy grinned, grabbing two blankets and pillows from the closet, before taking his place on a futon. Shirtless, like Julian, his muscles glistened in the flash of the lightning. He threw a pillow and blanket onto the other futon.
“I don’t snore. You do.” Jules lay down on the bed then drew me to him, tugging my hand until I obeyed. His body blocked me from the rest of the room.
“I’ve got news for you.” I grinned. “You both snore.”
“They do.” Phoenix said as he stared at the situation, seemed to frown, then dropped onto the futon.
“You do, too,” I pointed out and he lifted his head.
“No. I do it? Shit.” He lay back down, tucking a pillow over his head.
“Only because you’re exhausted.” Barrett was the last out, shutting the bathroom door behind him before flipping off the light. “We need to bring phone chargers in here. It’ll be easier than figuring it out all day.”
The room fell quiet other than the pounding rain and the sounds of the storm outside. Barrett climbed in on my other side, the bed dipping under his weight. Julian pulled me close against his side while Barrett rolled toward me, wrapping an arm around me from his place by the doors.
No one was sleeping, I realized. Since I knew what they all sounded like when they were out, I could tell they were awake. Was it just the storm?
“I hate this weather.” From his futon, Phoenix kicked his blanket off. “I fucking hate it.” He flopped over onto his stomach. “Before they can tell you, Red, it rained really hard the whole time I was kidnapped. I’ve never been able to tolerate it since.”
Jeremy reached over and placed a hand on his brother’s arm. “We’re here. We’re all inside. You’re safe.”
So, it wasn’t that he remembered nothing from that time. His body remembered, and he’d been scared of the storm. I loved the smell of the storms approaching in Manhattan. The petrichor was pleasant. A coastal storm felt different; it threatened violence.
Phoenix jumped up and walked to the closet. He leaned on the wall, and I sat back on my elbows to see if he was okay. “You okay?”
