Chapter 14

14

D AVID

Sunday

David's Hotel Room

As ridiculous as it sounds, someone is trying to break into my room.

First, they knock on the door and then mess with the lock.

Is that Julie?

They do it again.

Sprawled on the bed, lying on my stomach, I lift my head and glance outside.

The sun is up. Way up. It must be ten or eleven.

I roll to my back, my arm folded across my face, blocking the sun.

The blinds are halfway down, partly containing the outside world when nervous fingers get busy with the lock again.

If this is Julie, why is she outside my door?

"David?"

It's Julie.

Her key card must not work again.

She was supposed to use it sparingly, for instance, in an emergency. Or if I was out.

Neither applies to the current situation.

I tug at the sheet and climb out of bed before wrapping it around me as I straighten.

Bare chested and half asleep, I head to the door.

I unlock it and slide it open before awoman with pink hair and blue eyes looks at me sternly.

She wears black from head to toe.

Normally, I'd comment, but she's making an effort, so I'll let it slide for now.

I asked her to look professional, but she couldn't take the goth girl out of her nineteen-year-old self.

She nodded in agreement when I asked her to do that––smart girl––and replaced her combat boots, ripped clothes, and layered jewelry with black pants, a button-up dress shirt, and rings on all fingers.

She's more 'dark academia' now––she told me, and I nodded, not having the slightest idea what the fuck that meant.But I believed her.

Although she looks more like someone I owe money to. With her eyebrows pinched into a frown and a harsh look meant to affect me.

She doesn't blink.

"What's the emergency?" I ask, spinning around with her on my heels. "I thought you were off today."

"James called me. He wanted to see you this morning. I explained to him––"

I flick my hand, cutting her off, while moving to the armchair where I left my pants. I reach inside my pocket and pull out my phone.

James called me once before leaving a brief message.

I couldn't hear a thing since I was asleep.

"Something happened?" I ask, running my fingers through my hair.

"No, I don't think so," she says in response to my lifted eyebrow. "He wanted to discuss business with you. And you're invited to his house this afternoon. It's some gathering they have. It's not a special occasion. You two can talk then."

"When did he speak to you?"

"A few minutes ago, I was worried when he said you hadn't answered your phone. That's why I'm here. Not to see your shredded abs."

Her jab at me makes me stifle a smile.

"So you're not off today."

"Uh… Obviously."

I like Julie's spunk.

She hates it when I call her Julie.

I think it's a beautiful name, yet she thinks it's bland and doesn't fit her personality.

According to her, her personality is anything but bland, and her image is important––hashtag life goals.

Laughing, I slide back into the armchair.

"Why have I hired you again?"

"Because I'm good at what I do, I have an interesting personality, and I'm not after dudes like you."

"Right. Is this the only reason you are here?"

She flicks her hair over her shoulder, making a beeline for the blinds.

"Let them be. I might go back to sleep."

"You probably won't."

She turns around, not touching them.

"Were things all right last night?" I ask.

"Yes, they were. Where were you, by the way?"

I give her a smile.

"It's none of your business."

"Be that as it may, it might still be my business. You made it my business when you asked me to come to you if I spotted warning signs."

"What are you talking about?"

"Sabina started to ask some questions after you left without a word last night?"

"Sabina is my employee."

"She is all that, but unlike me, she is into dudes like you."

"She is a sex worker."

"Allegedly." She snaps her fingers in front of me. "Newsflash. This is me you're talking to. We all know who she is."

"What's the problem?"

"The problem is she wants to know whether you're seeing someone."

"Interesting question coming from someone I hired to keep me company."

"She may be a sex worker, but she has a brain between her ears, in case you haven't noticed."

"Are you implying I've led her on? I sign her paychecks."

"And? You don't need to lead her on. Women fall for this kind of crap…" She flicks her finger down, pointing to my abs. "All the time…" she goes on. "Even more so when you're harder to read than a Sumerian tablet."

"Sumerian tablet, you say…" I murmur, amused.

She dismisses me with a clipped gesture.

"I'm not in the mood, Boss. I'm here to report the news. You said you wanted to know before it became an issue. I'm doing my job."

My eyes move over her face.

She's just the right mix of rebellion, innocence, and darkness.

"You know you're cute…" I say.

"And that would be sexual harassment, sir," she says, crushing a smile.

"It's not when you're not into dudes like me."

"That wouldn't hold in court, sir, if I sued your ass."

"Cute, as I said. Not in a sexual way. Just to be clear."

Rolling her eyes, she waves me off.

"And a spoiled brat…" I add, pushing up and closing the gap between us.

My hand wraps around her neck, catching her soft pink hair underneath.

"Tell Miranda I said hi. I'll stop by in two weeks," I say and kiss the top of her head.

She smells like cinnamon cookies and perfume.

Her eyes glint with surprise.

"It's not like I'm not seeing you before then."

"I'll be traveling next week."

"What about Thea's wedding?"

"I'll be back by then."

"And the wedding rehearsal?"

"I'll fly back before then."

"All right. Sounds good."

"Great, kiddo. Thank you for the heads up."

I pull away from her.

She doesn't move.

"Anything else?" I toss over my shoulder.

Our eyes meet.

"Let her down easy," she says quietly. "I know it's not her job to have a crush on you, but she has feelings."

"I will. I promise."

I give her a soft smile before she leaves my room, her floral perfume floating in the air.

It's like spring has paid me a visit and impetuously pulled away, leaving me bereft.

Julie has always had this unexplainable effect on me.

LIZ

Sunday around noon

Sunlight hits me at an angle, and my headache only gets worse.

I whip angry eyes at the shades I left open last night, and I close them just as quickly.

What a horrible migraine.

Rolling to my side to turn my back to the window, I learn that my bones hurt like hell.

Argh.

The pain is real.

I fall back.

My shoulders are pressed into the mattress, my head is tipped back, and my eyes are shut, and even so, the sun dilutes the darkness behind my eyelids.

Things don't improve, so I have to shut the blinds.There's no way around it.

Eyes closed, butt naked, I crawl out of bed and head to the window, feeling my way around, bumping into the furniture.

"Here. I got you…" I murmur, shutting them.

My room is finally dark, just the way I like it.

I totter to the bed and almost slide between the sheets when my phone rings in the other room.

Head in a fog, I groan, pick up a sheet, and clumsily wrap it around me before stumbling my way to the living room.

I made some poor decisions last night.

Leaving my phone in the other room.

And the shades open.

And then… Oh. David.

If my headache was prickling at my skull moments ago, now it feels like a jackhammer.

David.

David Moore.

The pain in my body.

My sore muscles.

And that ending when he watched me with growing satisfaction, his lips arched into a smile as he pulled up and fixed his pants.

Without a word, he walked into the kitchen, let the water run, and cleaned his pants with his hands.

Once he had no stains on them, he turned to me and asked me if I was okay.

I nodded.

What else was there to say?

And he moved toward the exit.

Eventually, I opened my mouth and spoke.

‘This has never happened,' I shouted.

‘It never happened, indeed,' he said in response.

I couldn't see his face as he walked out, but a smile lined his voice.

Grinning, I walked to the door and swiftly locked it.

A moment later, I was back, and tired, I drifted off to sleep. But what happened last night has stayed with me.

I scoop up my phone as it keeps ringing.

Oh, no. Not a video call. What the fuck, Thea?

I run into the bedroom, plop down on the bed, pull up a pillow to my chest and lean back while brushing my hair back with my fingers and pinching my cheeks so I don't look like a vampire waking up to a house full of light.

"Hi," I say as her face pops up on my phone.

"Hey. Did I wake you?"

How can she look so fresh with two kids, a man, and her wedding just around the corner?

"No. I mean yes."

"What time is it?" she asks, concerned, and I quickly gesture.

"Don't worry."

I glance at the clock on the wall, a marvel of metal and walnut wood, silent like a sleepy kitten.

"It's almost noon," I say. "I've tried to catch some sleep. I have a nasty headache."

"Oh, I'm sorry. Terry told me about your new place."

"Yes. I just moved in," I say enthusiastically.

She knows how much I wanted to have my own place.

She also knows how much of a financial strain it is for me, but I won't bore her with the details.

"How do you like it?"

"I love it. It's mine. It's cool. What else can I say?"

"I'm glad to hear that."

She pauses, looking down.

"So, are we still on?" she asks, lifting her gaze.

"On?"

Her eyes hover over my face.

"I'm talking about the wedding."

"Yes. Oh, yes. Of course. And the wedding rehearsal and all that. Let me know if there is anything I can help you with. I'm off on Friday and Saturday."

She moves her hand up.

"Everything is taken care of."

I chuckle.

"Look at you. Cool as a cucumber. I'd be a mess if I were you."

A smile lines her lips.

"There was that option, but I hired people to help me."

A pause ensues while I study her.

"I hope I don't sound too snobbish," she says.

"You don't. Maybe a little. But it's normal."

"You think?"

"You've changed. This life changed you… In a good way, though."

"I hope so," she murmurs.

"I like you like that."

Her curiosity piques.

"How exactly?" she asks, grinning.

"Calm. In control."

A chuckle rolls off her lips.

"Money solves a lot of problems."

"Tell me about it."

"Anyway… I called you to tell you that Rain is having a little gathering at her place this afternoon. It's only for us. You, me, Dahlia, Eve, and Rain. Maybe a few other friends. You can bring Chloe if you want to."

"Has she been formally invited? You know how fussy she is."

"Yes. I know. Rain gave me free rein to invite my friends. You and her are my friends."

I sag back against the headboard.

"I thought Rain and Dahlia were your new friends."

A smile tickles my lips.

"I'm allowed to have more than one friend. No?" she jokes.

"Yes, you are."

Slowly shaking her head, she looks down.

"You're seeing them more than you're seeing me," I say.

"You're right," she admits, and I cut her off with a small gesture as our eyes connect.

"Don't need to say anything else. I know you're busy juggling so many things. Besides, I don't want to sound ungrateful."

She weighs her words for a few seconds.

"I'm not seeing anyone much these days. It appears like I'm seeing them more than I'm seeing other people. The reality is we meet because of our husbands. Their husbands, and my future husband."

I gesture at her again, feeling bad about our conversation.

"Please forgive me for saying that. I've been in a funk lately. I'm sure my life will be just as busy at some point."

A slow smile tilts her lips.

"Are you trying to tell me something?" she says.

Unsettled, I give her a laugh.

"Like what?"

"Like you've… met someone?"

"No. That's not what I was talking about," I say, unable to stop chuckling, raising her suspicions.

"What's going on, Liz?"

"Nothing is going on."

She looks behind me.

"Is there someone else over there?" she asks, amused.

"No. How can you say that?"

"Why wouldn't I say that? You're an attractive redhead with brown eyes and the body of an exotic dancer. Why wouldn't you have someone in the room with you?"

"Uh… Really? Do I look like an exotic dancer?"

"I didn't say you looked like an exotic dancer. I said you have the body of a dancer. Come on. You knew that."

I pick up the tips of my hair and study it.

"My hair is not that red anymore."

"Well, if you dye it, it would look phenomenal against the tone of your skin."

"I'll do that. Anyway… So you say this gathering is informal? I don't need to wear a gown or anything?"

She breathes a cute laugh.

"Shut up. Of course, it's informal. Her backyard looks amazing––already decorated for Halloween. We'll have delicious snacks and drink coffee. Or fruity tea, in your case."

"Did Terry rat me out? How do you know about my tea habits?"

She nods.

"Yes, she did."

I ponder.

"The kids will be there?"

"Her kid, maybe. Mine will be home, sleeping."

Clutching the sheet against my chest, I contemplate what she just said.

"What time are you getting there?"

"Around three thirty. Are you coming?"

"Yes. I'll have to call Chloe first."

"Sure. I'll see you then."

"Uh…"

"What?"

"How are things with you?"

"Me?"

She blushes, and I find it cute.

"Yeah, you. How's Ed? How do you do it all?"

"Hmm…"

Leaning back in her seat, she mulls over an answer.

"Ed is perfect."

"Still very much in love?"

"Yes. Still very much in love, and believe me… Things only get better. Having kids so soon works wonders for us," she says, smiling happily. "They help us see all the good things that we have. It can't get better than this. Trust me, it just can't… And how do I do it all?"

She weighs her words for a second.

"I don't think about it. You know… I realized that a lot of ‘thinking about things' happens when you can't do much about them. When they're bad, no matter what you do, you can't accomplish much. No nugget of wisdom can save you from that shit. You just have to push through until you get to the other side. It happened when I lost my brother and my mother, and I divorced Nolan. It can happen any time things don't go your way. And when things are meant to happen, you don't have to think about them much. They take care of themselves. Even when you make mistakes and play it by the ear, you have to trust things will be all right. And they will. It's like they're following a secret script. You don't have to worry about them much."

"I'm happy to hear that."

"They'll happen for you too," she says.

"I'm not complaining. Things are good."

She laughs.

"You are such a bad liar."

"You talked to Mom?" I joke.

"Yes. She complained about you."

I flash a smile.

"Why would she complain? I'm out of her hair."

"She's worried. She's your mother. You have no idea how hard it is to be a mom."

Her words touch me, as I'm sure it's hard for her too.

"I'm happy for you—I really am," I say. You have one of the best love stories I've ever heard—you and Rain and Dahlia."

"And Eve," she says, and we share a smile.

"Yes. And Eve."

My eyes almost tear up.

Luckily, she speaks.

"Thank you. I have nothing to do with it," she says softly, and I'd like to argue with her, yet her expression changes as she goes on. "All right…" she utters in a different voice. "Get dressed. Do what you need to do. I can't wait to see you."

Moments later, we end the call, and I get out of bed, tap Chloe's name on my phone, and head to the kitchen.

Chloe doesn't answer, so I record a voice message for her.

"Hey, it's me. I hope you're okay after last night. I need you to come with me to Rain Sexton's residence for food, drinks, and some chatting with the girls. Yes. That Rain. Please don't say no, or I'll never talk to you again," I say, laughing.

I'm about to end the recording when a car engine rumbles outside, and a door gets slammed.

A few steps later, I stop next to the window, my finger still glued to the screen as I glance outside.

Wearing the outfit she had on last night, which is never good news, Chloe zips away from a sports car.

I can't see the driver, but I hear him calling her name.

She doesn't turn around.

"Oh, great. That's exactly what I needed. More drama in my life."

A moment later, she starts pounding on my door.