Page 27 of Dahlias, Sapphires, and Cool Autumn Dusk
7
Idressed in my uniform then started on laundry from the day before. I never minded picking up, mostly to spare the maid from having to do it. Rosalind Lent didn’t live here, and she wasn’t seeing her sons very much at the moment. Still, she paid for them to be comfortable, which meant I benefited from her generosity with her children.
It didn’t mean I had to make things harder for the staff. Instead, I tried to make their lives easier, hoping they would be less likely to get rid of me.
I shook my head. Jules said we were forever, but was I not capable of comprehending that time, or did I not believe him?
Barrett poured a mug of the coffee I’d brewed when I entered the kitchen. After a glance at me, he said, “I know it’s the same outfit every day, but I’m never going to get enough of you in it.”
I hugged him, only blushing a little at his compliment. “Okay, so today you have Intro to Con Law at eight, Philosophical Foundations of Justice at ten-thirty, and Music and the American Experience at six p.m.” I made a face after I said the last one. “It’s your late night.”
He rocked with me, just slightly, almost dancing with me in the kitchen. “Yes, my late night. I’ll be off all afternoon while you‘re busy then just when you get home, I leave. Still, I’ll be home by ten, so if you went to bed early, I promise to crawl into the room quietly.”
It wasn’t the first time we had the conversation, because it came up ever since he got his schedule. “It’s your bedroom. I’m not going to go to bed in your room, especially if it might keep you from being able to use it.”
He kissed my nose. “Sweetheart, it’sourroom now, not my room. The others barely use their rooms, if you haven’t noticed. If I need some kind of space when I get home to do something, I can use Jeremy’s room. I don’t care about the space anymore, just that you’re nearby.”
We sipped our coffee, and I glowed under his attention, so I cleared my throat. “Okay, well, I’m not sure I buy it, but we’ll see.”
“You’re sweet to care. I will be looking forward to bed.” He frowned. “So last night I couldn’t get a few thoughts out of my head. I ended up playing the piano for a little while so I could think.”
I took a deep breath to get a good whiff of his scent, hoping to keep it with me all day. “Yeah, I saw you.”
He blinked. “You did?”
“Yep. You must have been pretty heavily concentrating to miss me watching.”
He nodded, his gaze going distant. “Right. So, I cleared my head and went back to my homework, but I have thoughts about Collins.”
I scrunched up my nose. “Yuck. Really?”
“Right?” Barrett laughed. “Listen, Collins should be long gone, and I don’t know why she hasn’t retired. People don’t get to stay at the school if they’re mean to the kids, normally,since we’re rich and entitled. Yet she is still there and has been forever, which means someone or something must be protecting her. Due to that, please be careful, even if it might be impossible not to trigger her. I don’t know our best options, and I hate not knowing, but we are protected. Nothing will happen to the Lents unless our secret comes out, but you’re a different matter. You’re not a scholarship kid, but your family won’t protect you. If she figures that out, I don’t know how we’ll be able to protect you from her.” He kissed my nose again. “But I’ll figure this out, and then I’m going to stop her.”
I tugged on his shirt. “Not your job, lawyer. Your job is to go learn something and have some fun.”
He shrugged. “I have many jobs. See you tonight.” He winked at me as he left.
I caught my breath, realizing it was my first time actually alone in their apartment. Usually, the space seemed filled with their energy, noise, and it seemed bizarrely empty without them.
Like right after the holidays, I thought,when the decorations come down and everything seems just a little drabber and dull.
With a half hour until I should leave, I headed into the living room and thought about watching the television. Soreness in my arms from swimming made me stretch, and I sighed.
The door opened and closed behind me and I turned, wondering what Barrett could’ve forgotten. But it wasn’t him. My breath caught in my throat, shock jerking through me in an adrenaline hit. Phoenix lurked in the doorway, disheveled as all hell, red-eyed, and looking worse than I had ever seen him.
I rushed to him but stopped just short of throwing my arms around him. Not only did he smell like smoke, his body language spoke volumes—leave me alone.
I read the message, and I controlled myself.
We stared at each other, not speaking, because I worried so much about him, even if he didn’t want me to touch him. Finally, I couldn’t stand the silence anymore. “Are you okay?”
“Why wouldn’t I be okay?” He lifted an eyebrow, the derision in his expression hitting like acid.
A question instead of an answer. Deflection. I might not know what was wrong, but I knew he wasn’t just tired.
“Is something wrong? Did I do something?” I asked.The big change is me, so I must be the problem.
He ran a hand through his dark hair, his dark eyes wounded as he seemed to realize my fears. “No, you didn’t do anything. I hung out with friends last night, no biggie. I’m allowed. It’s not like I have a bedtime. Do I have to, what, check in with you and get permission before I go somewhere?”
