Page 94 of Roses, Pearls, and Hot Summer Nights
“No. I think I’ve got to go. I’ve just got to.”
His brothers released me from their snuggling, and I got out of bed. “Go where?”
“I don’t know. I just need to move.” He shook his head.
I drew him to me in a hug, his bare chest hot against the fabric of my thin nightie. His body felt sticky with sweat, despite the coolness of the room. “Then tell me where I’m going. Remember what you said to me? If I went somewhere you would follow? Same goes here. Tell me where you’re going, so I can follow you.”
He kissed my shoulder. “I’m sorry. I know I’m being crazy.”
“I don’t like that word. It’s okay. This is going to pass.” He made no motion to release me, so I didn’t either, stroking my hand up and down his back. “In Chicago, when the storms come in, the city seems to take on a green tint. The sky gets green, and it’s scary. But in San Francisco, they always seem to have more of a drizzle. Like, it’s nothing really, just mist. They almost never have lightning or thunder.” I took a deep breath, remembering farther back, to the time before.My life is always made of abefore and after.“In North Dakota, there was no cover. We could see the storms rolling in for miles, so we had lots of time to make sure everything outside had been secured. Thenboom,the storms would hit in this dramatic, real, scary, visceral way. Then they howled, but we could get tornadoes. I remember neighbors watching the warnings, looking for hooks, worrying they were headed for us. Our little trailers wouldn’t have held up well under the assault of even a small tornado. Fortunately, we were lucky. No tornadoes, just warnings, but it was so scary. I don’t remember Colorado that well, but my mom once told me it seemed like it always rained there in the afternoon.” I pulled back to look at him. “Storms do funny things to us all. Don’t worry.”
Barrett jumped out of the bed. “Sleep next to Alatheia tonight, Phoenix. I’ll go tomorrow.”
“I don’t want special treatment,” he said, his chin jerking up proudly.
“Phoenix?” Julian shook his head. “You’re sleeping for the first time in years when you’re with her. Go to bed. When you’re on some kind of regular schedule, we’ll make it even. For now, just go with it.”
He met my gaze, stroking a fingertip across my forehead. “Do you mind?”
“Come to bed. It’s fine.”
I wanted everyone safe and secure. I didn’t know if Phoenix really would be able to sleep next to me in the storm, but if they thought it might help, I was thrilled. Jeremy met my gaze. I couldn’t tell what he was thinking. I crawled in next to Julian who pulled me back into position. Phoenix curled up against my other side.
“I hate being needy,” he whispered.
“We’re all needy sometimes.”
The thunder boomed, and the lightning lit up the room.
26
To my relief, Phoenix fell asleep almost immediately upon snuggling up against me. He breathed low and soft, not so much snoring as he had been. Maybe it had been exhaustion, and since he was more rested, it was easier for him to just relax. But Julian snored, and after their interaction, it made me smile. Barrett might be out, but I couldn’t hear or see him well. When Jeremy came over and touched my foot gently, it didn’t surprise me he was awake.
“Don’t say anything. I don’t want to wake them. What you just did for my brother, Princess? That was magic. You’re magic. I just thought you should know that.”
He squeezed once more as my heart clenched. I hadn’t done much at all, just talked about storms everywhere I lived. He stayed a second longer then went back to his futon. Minutes passed before I heard he snored, too. Everyone was asleep but me. I wasn’t sure why I was awake.
The storm raged on, lightning crashing and thunder rumbling. Phoenix murmured something but didn’t stir. He squeezed me tighter and his forehead found the back of my shoulder blade.He really does love that spot.
I still wore my pink pearls. I touched the strand, thinking I should remember to take them off at night, but tonight would have to be a wash. My eyes finally closed. That night, if I dreamed, I don’t remember it.
Light lit the room when I awoke, and I sat up quickly, trying to figure out what time it was. Dina said the stylists would be there for me around noon. The clock on the wall read six—still very early.Why am I awake?
Abruptly, I noticed that although both my bedmates were still out cold, parts of their bodies had awoken. Both Julian and Phoenix were hard against me, and the knowledge sent a visceral shiver of electricity down my spine. I’d never thought about it before, because honestly, morning wood wasn’t part of my life.
It justhappenedto men in the morning, I remembered reading. Or maybe it meant they were both attracted to me? In any case, I smiled, glad they thought I was beautiful. I wasn’t ready for sex yet—I didn’t think—but somehow it felt like a win that they wanted me.
I closed my eyes, dozing off for a while longer.
Barrett roused me a second time. He walked over, kissed my forehead by leaning over Julian, shook his head and headed for the bathroom. The clock said eleven, so I figured I should probably get up, but I was cozy.
Do I have to?Ooh, my inner thoughts were being bratty.
Barrett cleared his throat as he exited the bathroom. “We’ve got to get going. Up. Sorry, guys, I was asleep too, but we havethatday ahead of us, and we can’t put it off.”
Phoenix sat up, resting his head on his knees. “Fuck this day.”
“I know.” Barrett laughed. “Trust me.”
