Page 31 of Roses, Pearls, and Hot Summer Nights
Barrett lifted his eyebrows. “Want me to have him thrown out?”
I didn’t turn around, knowing the man who stood behind me without having to check. I could almost feel his presence, and for just a second, it was like I couldn’t breathe. I managed to suck in a breath despite the tension in my chest, because if the guy who caused my nightmares showed up, I had to handle it … somehow.
“What does he look like?” I asked, pinching my eyes closed, as if I needed to know even if I couldn’t make myself look. My heart thumped hard, because I knew.
Jeremy turned his head, squinting a bit. “Bald. Big. Ugly suit. Let’s have him thrown out. You’ve gone pale.”
I shook my head, a jerk of motion that left me slightly dizzy. “No, it’s okay.” It wasn’t him. Not at all. I could breathe again. “I’m good. It’s fine. People stare for all kinds of reasons.”
The music picked up and distracted me, the tempo more upbeat. I let myself get lost in it, then time moved quickly. Before I knew it, people were getting up and leaving.What time is it?
I blinked fast, realizing I must have missed the conversation entirely. I looked at the guys. Julian and Barrett both watched the stage, but Jeremy’s gaze seemed locked on me. “You okay?”
I nodded. “Sure.”
“Good. Ready to go? It’s almost one.”
Almost one in the morning?My hands shook, surprised I lost so much time. “Yes, I think I’d better.” I needed to post an episode ofThe Poor Relationimmediately then go to bed.
“Okay,” he said easily, then took my hand. We rose together, and the other two followed us. “I loved this,” I said as I turned to Barrett. “It was magic.”
He stroked my cheek with his thumb. “It was. The whole day was magical.” He gestured with his chin toward Julian. “Leave it to you to pull off the impossible, Jules, but you did.”
I didn’t understand, but the car arrived, so we all piled inside the big, black SUV. I ended up next to Jeremy, his thigh warm against my own. Darkness blanketed the city, and I leaned my head against the glass, closing my eyes. Julian said something to Barrett …
I woke up when the car slowed down in front of my building, having missed the entire car ride. My head leaned on Jeremy’s shoulder instead of hard glass, though. I sat up quickly, embarrassment heating my cheeks. “Sorry,” I muttered while trying to recover my dignity.
“Don’t apologize. I loved it.” Jeremy spoke as Julian took my hand in his, his thumb roughly stroking across my knuckles.
We climbed out of the car, my cheeks still on fire. “I hope I didn’t drool or snore or anything weird.”
“You didn’t.” He slid his arm around me and followed his brothers into the building. I didn’t recognize the doorman, but then again, I didn’t usually come through the lobby so late at night.
In silence, they led me upstairs and to my door. “Thank you,” I said to all of them.
The door suddenly swung open behind me, and I turned to see my aunt—still fully dressed—stumbling forward, martinisloshing ahead of her. “What’re you doing out so late?” She slurred her words, blinking at us with unfocused eyes. “Do you know how ’barrassing it is, you are out this late?”
My eyes dropped to the floor automatically, head bowed. It only brought her bare feet to my attention, surprising me. Somehow, her feet struck me as so much worse than her shoes, carefully pedicured yet wrinkled like a pale raisin. “I’m sorry,” I muttered, my scripted response, my eyes locked on those feet.
It wasn’t like I had a curfew, but in any case, when family got angry, I learned it was easier just to apologize regardless.
She poked her finger into my shoulder roughly. “Your mother was such a bitch. Do you know what a bitch she was?” She shook her head. “Then she left me stuck with you. Died, and left me with her little bitch to raise!”
“Hey,” Jeremy began, stepping forward, but Barrett pushed past us both.
I wished I could vanish into the floor. It might be terrible normally to have her scream at me, but having them seeing it made it so much worse.
Barrett’s voice came out icy cold as he snapped, “We’re sorry she was out so late. We’ll be more considerate about getting her home earlier next time.” He glanced back at me. “It’s so late, Alatheia. So you should go straight to your room and stop keeping your aunt up.”
I understood his silent command—he wanted me to go to my room and shut the door while they were still there. It wouldn’t matter, though, which he didn’t understand. I hated nighttime, especially with no lock. Absolutely nothing stopped her from following me inside my room.
Julian’s fingers closed on my arm. “I’ll walk you there. Come on.”
“You can’t come inside our house. I didn’t say you could come inside,” my aunt slurred.
He ignored her, walking me past her and down the hall toward my room. In softer tones, he asked me, “Is she violent? I mean, I get that you’re private, and you like to keep things to yourself. I have to know, though, before we leave you here. Is she going to hurt you?”
I swallowed, realizing I couldn’t lie, not about that. “Not so far.”
